"This award is recognition of the impact I have had as a result of my deep-seated passion for STEM and being a role model for both STEM and STEM education within my community.”
Oklahoma science and math teacher Heather Voss is a recipient of the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST).
Voss teaches advanced placement math and physics to high school students in the Computer Science Academy at Francis Tuttle Technology Center. Within the last year, Voss began teaching college-level physics to students enrolled in a dual-credit program through Wichita State University.
“Receiving this award is an extraordinary honor,” Voss said. “It serves as a validation of my unwavering commitment to providing my students with a rigorous, hands-on learning environment, one that empowers them to excel far beyond my classroom. This award is recognition of the impact I have had as a result of my deep-seated passion for STEM and being a role model for both STEM and STEM education within my community.”
Recipients of the award have demonstrated a deep understanding of the subjects they teach and an ability to adapt to a broad range of learners and teaching environments. Educators are nominated and complete a rigorous application process before they are selected by a panel of distinguished mathematicians, scientists, and educators from the state and national level.
As a recipient of PAEMST, Voss will receive $10,000 and will attend a ceremony at the White House.
Voss is an educator with more than 20 years’ experience, with the last ten of those years at Francis Tuttle Technology Center teaching science, mathematics, and computer science to 10th-12th grade students in its Computer Science Academy. She currently teaches Advanced Placement Physics 1, Advanced Placement Physics 2, Project Lead the Way Digital Electronics, and Honors Chemistry. Previously, Heather spent nine years teaching physics and calculus for the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics at several regional center locations. She has also taught biology at Pasco High School and algebra at Azle High School.
Heather is passionate about encouraging STEM education. Outside of her classroom, she participates in outreach activities with local elementary and middle schools. Heather is an active STEM leader for her daughters’ Girl Scout troop and guides girls in various grade levels in hands-on STEM activities in areas such as coding and engineering design. Recognizing the importance of identifiable role models in STEM, it is her goal to be a positive role model for girls like her daughters. Heather has received the Girl Scout Outstanding Volunteer Award for her STEM work with the troop.
Heather was the President of the STEM division of Oklahoma Association for Career and Technical Education during the 2022-23 school year. She is currently the state high school representative for the Arkansas-Oklahoma-Kansas (AOK) section of the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT).
Heather has a B.S. in mathematics from Oklahoma State University, a B.S., with honors, in physics from Oklahoma State University, and an M.S. in nuclear physics from Iowa State University. She is certified for multiple levels of mathematics and several sciences. Heather is a National Board Certified Teacher with a focus of science for adolescent and young adulthood.