Heather Voss

Oklahoma City, OK | 7-12, Science, 2023

What motivates you to contribute to excellence in STEM teaching?

My motivation to continue to contribute to excellence in STEM teaching is my daughters and my students. I want to see the moment a concept clicks and what impact they will have on the future. My "former" students regularly reach out, so I can see the impact that my classes have had on them as they go to college and enter the workforce.

Using your platform as a Presidential Awardee, how do you hope to advance our nation in STEM?

I hope to use my platform as a Presidential Awardee to advance education of students like my own daughters. I want to see student interests explored and expanded so that they learn science based on inquiry.

Biography

Heather Voss is an educator with more than 20 years’ experience, with the last nine 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, AP Physics C: Mechanics, 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 is currently the Past-President of the STEM division of her state's Association for Career and Technical Education. She is also the state high school representative for the regional section of the American Association of Physics Teachers. 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 in her state 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.

High-resolution version of the teacher profile photograph

The views expressed in awardee profiles are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of NSF or the PAEMST program.