An Increase in Production of Physics Teacher at the University of Houston: A Collaborative Effort

At the University of Houston, in the decade before 2014, the Department of Physics, teachHOUSTON, the STEM teacher preparation program, nor the College of Education had graduated a certified physics teacher. Through a collaboration of these entities, the Department of Physics is now graduating two certified physics teachers per year. Implementation of a recruitment model, a physics by inquiry course, and degree plans, which allows students to complete the physics degree and teacher certification program in 4 years, has led to an increase in the number of physics teachers produced. With the established infrastructure, the Department aims to combat the shortage of qualified and certified physics teachers in the Houston area. This poster outlines the collaboration, its outcomes and highlights successes of the physics teachers produced.