Physics Teacher SOS

The Northern California/Nevada Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers is an association of high school, college, and university Physics teachers interested in promoting physics education, professional development of physics teachers, and communication between physicists, physics teachers, and the public.

PTSOS is an NCNAAPT-sponsored project, funded by a substantial donation, allowing us to deliver top quality help to physics teachers in their vulnerable first years of teaching. PTSOS is headed by Paul Robinson, Dean Baird, Stephanie Finander and Lonnie Grimes. Other veteran teachers are being signed up to help out small groups of local teachers through mentorships and also to help run workshops.

PTSOS is a multi-year project (started in about 1996) which has the potential not only to help teachers in northern California, but to serve as a model for other AAPT sections around the country. Thanks to Michael Barnett who brought the donor together with NCNAAPT.

If you know someone who is new to teaching physics, please let them know about this program. They don't have to be an NCNAAPT member to attend the workshops. (We will sign them up after they have attended!)

Our program has four parts.

1. Each new teacher will be assigned a veteran or retired Physics teacher as a mentor/buddy. The mentor/buddies will meet with the new teachers in the early fall to help them in any way they can, especially to help them to understand and use the demonstration and lab equipment in their classrooms.
   
2. We will have several New Teacher Workshops on Saturdays during the school year taught by veteran Physics teachers.
   
3. We will establish an email listserv where the new teachers can ask any questions that they have and get answers from veteran or retired teachers.
   
4. The new teachers will be encouraged to attend the Fall and Spring meetings of the section where they can attend the main programs and special sessions for them, including a free lunch with their mentor/buddies.

Participation in the program will be free of charge. Even registration fees for the meeting and the first year's dues are waived for new teachers.

Learn even more about PTSOS at http://www.ptsos.org.

New teachers should email Stephanie Finander for more information on how to get signed up for next year's program now.

Last updated October 2, 2005