Scott Michael Panik teaches physics courses at Green Valley High School in Henderson, NV. He has been employed by the Clark County school district for 13 years. He teaches physics at the AP, international baccalaureate, and honors levels. He serves as the Science Olympiad advisor and is the moderator and organizer of the Teachers for Teachers forum, in which teachers discuss best practices, including strategies and techniques to promote better learning in the classroom and communicating with parents. Previously, he served on the county’s high school physics textbook selection committee and as a mentor teacher for the Nevada High School Inclusion Program. For the national Board for Professional Teaching Standards, Mr. Panik served as an assessor, trainer, and member of the Benchmark Committee.
Mr. Panik is a teacher who is admired and respected by students, fellow teachers, and administrators. He is known to engage his students by using various teaching methodologies to capture diverse learning styles. He helps the students build relationships with each other, and he challenges his students to think. Demonstrating his passion for the subject, he uses his “Physics is Life” construct to help the students understand physics principles.
Mr. Panik received the National Education Association Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence, Nevada’s Teacher of the Year Award, Clark County Distinguished Educator Award, and a Clark County Rave Review Award.
Mr. Panik holds a certification in physics, grades nine through twelve. He has a B.S. in physics from the State University of New York at Fredonia and an M.Ed. in educational leadership from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.