For new physics teachers, connecting to a community or support system helps reduce the isolation that often comes with being the only physics teacher in a school. These networks provide a space where teachers can share resources, troubleshoot challenges, and gain practical classroom strategies from more experienced colleagues.
Of equal importance is the ongoing exposure to new ideas, content knowledge, and research in physics provided by these communities, which helps teachers stay current and confident in what they teach. That combination of support and professional growth often leads to stronger instruction and better outcomes for students.
Below, we offer examples of networks you can tap into to find a teacher community. Many of these organizations provide several opportunities to become involved. Those listed here are some examples of high-value, low-barrier opportunities that require minimal "activation energy” but offer significant returns for professional development.
National Physics Teacher Communities
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American Physical Society
- Sign up for STEP UP newsletters and the online community
Activation energy: low
Commitment: <1 hour
Cost: $0 - Apply for the PhysTEC Teacher of the Year award
Activation energy: low
Commitment: <1 hour
Cost: $0
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American Association of Physics Teachers
- Join us for an energizing hour of connection, curiosity, and conversation. Each Coffee hour starts with a brief, engaging presentation and flows into a lively, facilitated discussion where your voice matters. Whether you're sharing ideas in the chat, jumping into the dialogue, or just listening in with your favorite mug in hand, you'll find a welcoming space to learn, connect, and grow with others who care about the same things you do.
Activation energy: low
Commitment: 1 hour/month
Cost: Free
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QuarkNet
The NSF-supported QuarkNet collaboration empowers physics teachers through sustained professional development and direct collaboration with the scientific community. It fosters community and provides classroom resources, and authentic data analysis experiences to bring contemporary physics into high school classrooms.
- QED (QuarkNet Education Discussions): Virtual “coffee hours” in which teachers meet to learn about contemporary research, and to share physics resources, and pedagogical discussions.
Activation energy: low
Commitment: 1 hour/month
Cost: Free - Center Workshops: QuarkNet centers across the U.S. offer high-quality professional development and foster a strong community through workshops held each year. These collaborative experiences connect teachers with physicists and fellow educators, deepening their understanding of current research while supporting meaningful ways to bring contemporary physics into high school classrooms.
Activation energy: medium
Commitment: ~2-3 days/year
Funding available: $120/day
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Physics Teaching Resource Agents (PTRA)
- The PTRA program is a national network of experienced physics educators dedicated to advancing excellence in physics teaching. Through workshops, mentoring, and professional development, PTRAs support teachers at every stage of their careers by sharing effective instructional strategies, fostering collaboration, and promoting student-centered learning. As leaders in physics education, PTRAs help strengthen the teaching community while inspiring the next generation of physics learners.
Activation energy: high
Commitment: >6 days/year
Funding: Many PTRA opportunities receive grant or organizational support for participant expenses.
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American Modeling Teachers Association
(10% PhysTEC discount for new teacher)
- Coffee Hour with Chemistry, Physics and Physical Science Modelers
Activation energy: low
Commitment: 1 hour/month
Cost: $0 - ConnectEd: Semi-annual virtual conference
Activation energy: low
Commitment: ~1 d/year
Cost: $0–10 - Modeling Workshops™
Activation energy: high
Commitment: 1–2 weeks
Cost: $450–950/week - Distance learning courses (DLC)
Activation energy: med
Commitment: 1–2 weeksCost: Varies by length ($300 - $950)
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PEER Physics
PEER Teacher Cohort Community: Curriculum, Professional learning, and community support for teachers exploring innovative physics instruction. PEER Physics is a Professional Learning community dedicated to supporting physics teachers in understanding and implementing scientific practices, through immersion experience, collaboration with other teachers implementing PEER Physics, and understanding the underlying pedagogical approach of the PEER Physics curriculum. This community of teachers engages in implementing PEER Physics and researching effects on their practice and their students.
- Professional Learning Sessions
Activation energy: medium
Commitment: Monthly
Cost: Pricing Information: Associated costs will be negotiated based on the size and scope of the partnership. - Professional Learning Sessions: Summer Institute
Activation energy: medium
Commitment: 2-3 days, (e.g. July 8-10, 2026, 9 am-12:00 MT)
Cost: Pricing Information: Associated costs will be negotiated based on the size and scope of the partnership. - Single 1-year cohort:
- Class set of 15 spiral-bound Student Guides
- Spiral-bound Teacher’s Guides (1 guide per chapter)
- Lifetime access to web-based teacher resources
- Virtual Implementation Training for the first year (Summer Institute and monthly sessions
Activation energy: high
Commitment: 1+ years
Cost: $3655/teacher *$1,000 fellowship available for teachers facing financial limitations that might otherwise prevent participation.
- Full Cohort:
- Class set of 15 spiral-bound Student Guides
- Spiral-bound Teacher’s Guides (1 guide per chapter)
- Virtual professional learning for years 2 & 3 of implementation (~10 hrs/year)
- Lifetime access to web-based teacher resources
- Virtual Implementation Training for the first year (Summer Institute and monthly sessions*)
Activation energy: high
Commitment: 3+ years
Cost: $5155 *$2,000 fellowship available for teachers facing financial limitations that might otherwise prevent participation. Fellowship teachers commit to attending PL sessions in the first year.
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Knowles Teacher Initiative
National community of support for early-career math and science teachers.
- Knowles Academy 90-minute workshops: We offer a variety of workshops designed to promote curiosity and increase student engagement. Join this community of educators and collaboratively explore your teaching practice.
Activation energy: low
Commitment: 90-minute
Cost: $0 - Knowles Academy Courses: We offer a variety of courses designed to promote curiosity and increase student engagement. Join this community of educators and collaboratively explore your teaching practice.
Activation energy: medium
Commitment: Virtual 6-week courses meet once a week or 3 day in person course
Cost: $25 registration fee and $50 gift card upon completion - Knowles Teaching Fellows Program: Each year, Knowles Fellows receive an annual budget, with up to half available for stipends, helping to reduce the financial burden and support professional growth. Grants are awarded to cover classroom materials, professional learning, and leadership activities that extend beyond their own classrooms. Our program staff and Teacher Leader Mentors provide professional learning for Fellows, regularly check in with Fellows and help them plan and reflect on instruction, discuss professional dilemmas, and provide support through personal challenges. Connects teachers through 3 communities: Cohort (35 teachers), Regional network, and the national community of fellows.
Activation energy: high
Commitment: 3 travel weekends/ July Annual meeting (4 days), and 5 hours/month asynchronous work.
Cost: $0 - Knowles Coaching: Our coaching offering includes three cycles of coaching, each with three stages: Imitation, implementation, and reflection for a total of 9-10 one-hour sessions with a Knowles coach. Within a confidential one-on-one relationship, a Knowes coach supports the professional growth of an educator in their chosen area of focus by guiding them through individualized inquiry-based coaching cycles.
Activation energy: high
Commitment: 9-10 one-hour sessions
Cost: $1100
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AP Physics Readers
Visit Website for Activities, Commitment, Costs, and/or Stipends
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Noyce
Visit Website for Activities, Commitment, Costs, and/or Stipends
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PhysPort
Visit Website for Activities, Commitment, Costs, and/or Stipends
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NSTA
Visit Website for Activities, Commitment, Costs, and/or Stipends
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Physics Bowl
Visit Website for Activities, Commitment, Costs, and/or Stipends
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Regional & State Physics Teacher Communities
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Northern California/Nevada: Physics Teacher SOS
Visit Website for Activities, Activation energy: medium, Commitment, Costs, and/or Stipends
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Isle Physics Network
Facebook group: To become a part of the community of teachers implementing the ISLE approach, please join the Facebook group “Exploring and Applying Physics”. When you apply to join, do not forget to answer the question.
Activation energy: low
Commitment: <1 hour
Cost: $0
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New Jersey Section of AAPT
Visit Website for Activities
Visit Website for Commitment, Costs, and/or Stipends
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Other AAPT Local Sections
Visit Website for Activities
Visit Website for Commitment, Costs, and/or Stipends
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State/Province Chapters of NSTA
Visit Website for Activities
Visit Website for Commitment, Costs, and/or Stipends
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Starting your Physics Teacher Community: Guidelines and Resources
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Phase 1: Getting the word out!
- Create contact list: peruse local school websites to find contact information for Physics teachers, department chairs, and/or administration who could offer help with internal communication.
- Think about different virtual options for connecting and platforms(Moodle, Canvas, Google Classroom) to see what fits your needs.
- Plan the first meeting dedicated to building connections and laying out a vision for the community.
- Resources: Start your community check list
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Phase 2: Implementation-the first meeting!
- Use this meeting to learn what teachers want from future meetings to help you create a network that is effective and useful to teachers, including both meeting topic ideas and the best time(s) to meet. For this first hour meeting, allow participants time to get to know each other and to have structured conversations around needs and wants for the participating teachers.
- Introduce an online space
- Introduce agenda
- Schedule next meeting
- Resources: ATLAS Looking at Data Protocol from the Center for Leadership and Educational Equity, Brainstorming Protocol informed by the ATLAS Protocol and Peeling the Onion from the School Reform Initiative
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Phase 3: Maintaining connection and Focus
- Review online space to nurture and keep active as well as model the cultural expectations for this learning space. (space where lessons and resources are shared)
- Each meeting and topic will depend on the needs your group identifies. Advise 1-2 hours to include social time and light refreshments.
- Choose a facilitator rotation schedule and agenda.
- Resources: Principles of Facilitation
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This work is supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation under Award No. 2325980. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation, APS, AAPT, any AAPT local sections, QuarkNet, PTRA, AMTA, PEER Physics, Knowles Teacher Initiative, AP Physics Readers, Noyce, PhysPort, Physics Bowl, Isle Physics Network, Northern California/Nevada: Physics Teacher SOS, NSTA, any NSTA state/regional sections.