Receiving the Presidential Award as an early-career educator is evidence that I am following the path to make change in science education. The thoroughness and holistic approach of the award process demonstrates that I am not measured only by my achievements, but in my authentic interactions with my students as well. I strive to be a role-model of life-long learning for my students, and receiving the Presidential Award will show others the value of striving for self-improvement.

Rebecca Vieyra Cary, IL | 7-12, Science, 2013

The official biography below was current at the time of the award.

Rebecca Vieyra is a 2014 Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow in Washington, DC at NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate to advise on aeronautics education initiatives. Previously, she taught Physics, Physical Science, and Engineering to 11th-12th graders at East Peoria Community High School and Cary-Grove High School. Rebecca is passionate about bringing physics education research and educational technology to the classroom. She has published articles in the Journal of Physics Teacher Education Online, the Physics Teacher, and the Science Teacher, and has given talks and workshops to her colleagues and in Indonesia and Mexico. She co-published a book, Teaching High School Physics, and also helps develop free data collection apps for mobile devices: Physics Toolbox Apps by Vieyra Software. Rebecca has received the National Science Teacher Association’s New Teacher Academy Fellowship, the Illinois Science Teacher Association’s New Teacher of the Year Award, and the Barbara Lotze Scholarship. Rebecca received her B.S., summa cum laude, in physics education from Illinois State University and her M.A.S. in science education from the Illinois Institute of Technology. She is a National Board Certified teacher, Google certified teacher, Google education trainer, and serves as e-mentor and coordinator of the American Association of Physics Teachers eMentoring Program.

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