Receiving the Presidential Award confirms my long-time dedication to the important role that science education has in students' lives. I love teaching science and feel fortunate that I have always been surrounded by great teachers, highly supportive administrators, and, most of all, incredible students who inspire me to work harder and reach higher on a daily basis. I am humbled and honored by this recognition.
Jeff Schoonover has been teaching for 14 years, the past 9 years at Portsmouth High School, where he teaches Advanced Placement (AP) Physics and Physics First. He spent his first 5 years at Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School in Massachusetts. Jeff enjoys working with students across the entire high school spectrum—from freshmen, who are developing their science skills, to seniors, who are demonstrating the problem-solving, analytical, communication, and inquiry skills they have acquired and refined over 4 years.
Jeff serves as Science Department Chair, a role through which he leads his department in the development of curriculums that challenge students to be self-directed learners engaged in scientific inquiry as they become more scientifically literate and skillful. Jeff organizes the school’s annual science fair and was responsible for bringing the Physics First curriculum to Portsmouth and for significantly expanding the AP science curriculum.
Jeff also teaches physics courses to high school teachers from Rhode Island and Massachusetts who are implementing Physics First programs.
Jeff has a B.S. and an M.S. in Physics from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, where he now serves as a visiting lecturer. Jeff is a National Board Certified Teacher and holds his secondary certificate in physics.
- High-resolution version of the official portrait photograph
- Awardee holding Presidential citation between the Director of the National Science Foundation, Dr. Subra Suresh and the Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, Dr. John P. Holdren
- High-resolution version of the teacher profile photograph
