Jeff Whittaker, founder of PhysicsLessons.com, is currently the president of the award-winning educational toy company known as Panelcraft, Inc. Before becoming president of Panelcraft, Jeff had a 25 year career teaching high School and college physics. During that time he helped form Dearborn's ’s first magnet schools for math science and technology, the Academy of Engineering & Technology, and the Dearborn Center for Math, Science & Technology(DCMST). Jeff’s involvement in the DCMST led to him becoming the lead-teacher in 2010.
Jeff is a former executive board member for the Metro Detroit Science Teacher's Association(MDSTA) and reviewer for the Journals of Physics Teacher Education Online(JPTEO) and The AAPT Journal "The Physics Teacher". He has published articles in the Journal The Physics Teacher, created the award-winning Web Site www.PhysicsLessons.com, developed online courses for the Michigan Virtual High School. During his time as a physics teacher he invented magnetic climbing technology , which was marketed and distributed throughout the world via the company Jeff founded, Spider Climbing, Inc. Jeff has given more than 100 workshop presentations on STEM/STEAM education topics at conferences including the Michigan Chapter of the American Association Physics Teachers, National Head Start and the National Association for the Education of Young Children(NAEYC). His passion for improving STEM/STEAM education led him to co-found Panelcraft, Inc. with Chad Richert in 2014. Working with Chad, Jeff has developed numerous educational block play products and in 2022 Panelcraft introduced an innovative electronic circuit building toy called Magcircuits. In his spare time, he enjoys competing in triathlons and 5k running events and spending time with his wife and four children.
