I'm Marianna Ruggerio and I am the physics educator at Auburn High School within the Gifted Academy for Rockford Public School district 205. I'm also an educator of educators! Starting fall 2022 I will be teaching a physics course for aspiring elementary teachers. I present extensively through the American Association of Physics Teachers and write through a variety of channels.

I believe that rich student diversity in background and expression is what gives life and vibrance to our school hallways. As educators it is our responsibility to show students that they belong and are capable of success in any course of study they desire, because we need that same vibrance from diversity of thought and experience in order to tackle the complex problems in our world."

I have taught physics at all levels, freshman through calculus-based AP, including designing and teaching short and long term enrichment programs for gifted programing through Northwestern University's Center for Talent Development.

I have a Master's in Urban Education from Rockford University and a bachelors' of science in Physics from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign where I also served as a teaching assistant for Physics 140 and co-founded the Society for Women in Physics in 2007.

I was selected as a 2021-22 APS STEPUP Advocate and currently serve as a fellow with the University of Illinois Partnership for Secondary Schools I have served on the executive boards for the Chicago and Illinois sections of AAPT and currently serve on the editorial board for The Physics Teacher.