Susan Johnston

Physics Instructor with 20+ years of experience. Teaching emphasis inquiry based learning at all levels of instruction. Expertise in collaborative work environments, inclusive classroom atmospheres, professional development, department leadership, and professional learning communities (PLCs).

• 2010- present Green Engineering Academy for At-Risk Youth - A California Partnership Academy (CPA) to motivate our most fragile community to study STEM fields. Received national recognition through a "White House Award for Excellence in Educating Hispanic Youth (2015) as well as a Golden Bell Award (2012), CA Golden Ribbon Award (2015) and the California Distinguished School Award (2018).
• 2000 - present LVJUSD Science Odyssey - In collaboration with district wide staff, developed a district wide Science Celebration promotes project-based-learning (PBLs), Began in 2000 continued with hundreds of projects, events, community participation, food, music, etc. continues as a district wide event to this day.
• 2010 - 2019 Calculus Camp - Weekend Camp To Review for the AP Calculus and Physics exams in a fun, collaborative environment. Camp grew from 25 (2010) at one high school to more than 150 students (2019) from two rival high schools. In year end course evaluations 100% students rated the camp experience as highly beneficially to their understanding of Calculus and 23% rated Calculus Camp as their best academic experience in their high school years.
• 2014 - present "Seniors Helping Seniors" High School senior engineering academy students design and build devices to make life easier for senior citizens with memory loss.
• 2016 - present Adopt a Physicist - Four week program with students and physicists from around the United States culminating with a teleconference with several prominent physicists.
• 2009 - present "Physics in a Box" - Students create laboratory activities of which the lab supplies fit in a shoe box and sent to a physics class in under served communities in the US and abroad.

• Educator of the Year - Livermore High School 2011.
• Sandia National Laboratory - STEM Teacher of the Year 2012.
• UC Davis C-STEM Center Teacher of the Year 2014
• California State Science Fair Teacher of the Year 2009
• Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Outstanding Curriculum Award - "Seniors Helping Seniors" 2016
• PAEMST (Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching) California State Finalist 2013. Top 10 from a field of more than 5000 nominated individuals.

• Phone Physics: Using Cell Phone Sensors for Distance Learning Experimentation. American Association of Physics Teachers, Summer Meeting, July 20, 2020.
• Robotics In the Classroom - Inspiring Struggling Students to Study Advanced Mathematics, University of California, Davis Key Note Speaker at Annual Conference on Integrated Computing and STEM Education. November 12, 2016.
• Video Capture and Analysis Projects to Engage Students, American Association of Physics Teachers, Winter Meeting, January 5, 2014.
• Engineering in the Physics Classroom. American Association of Physics Teachers, Summer Meeting, July 15, 2013.

• American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT), Member 'Physics in the High School" national committee and trained "Physics Teacher Resource Agent" includes extensive training to mentor inexperienced teachers.
• American Physical Society, STEP-UP Ambassador; Trained to work with teachers across the nation in lessons to make all physics classes inclusive for all students.
• Director, Zone 7 Flood Control and Water Conservation District. Water District elected position.
• National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), CA Science Teachers (CSTA), and CA Math Council.