Texas State renews membership in 5+ Club with 7 new physics teacher graduates

For the second consecutive year, Texas State University has been recognized as a member of the 5+ Club from the Physics Teacher Education Coalition (PhysTEC).

Texas State qualified by graduating at least five qualified physics teachers in the 2020-2021 academic year. This puts the university in the 99th percentile of all U.S. colleges and universities. Texas State is among 10 universities in the country and the only one in Texas to receive the 5+ Club designation.

The American Physical Society (APS) and the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) launched PhysTEC in 2001 to address a severe national shortage of qualified physics teachers. In 2015, Texas State became a comprehensive PhysTEC site — focusing on the national effort to improve the number of physics teachers and the quality of their preparation. Eleanor Close and Hunter Close are associate professors in the Department of Physics and PhysTEC Site co-leaders.

Although the number of high school students taking physics continues to climb, the great majority of colleges and universities graduate fewer than two physics teachers per year. By graduating at least five physics teachers, Texas State is among the national leaders addressing this critical shortage. 

The seven Texas State physics graduates for 2020-2021 are Cassandra Danhof, Austin McCauley, Patrick McClaferty, Nicholas Moore, Sean Tarter, Jason Trent and Greer Vincent. Each student earned their teaching certificate in 2021.

These awardees will be recognized at the 2022 PhysTEC Conference. Winners will also receive a letter to their university presidents and placement in the 5+ Club online directory.