Tyler Junior College professor Amanda Storer has been named the 2020 recipient of the Texas Physical Therapy Association’s Outstanding Physical Therapist Assistant Faculty Award.
Storer joined the TJC Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program faculty in 2015. She also serves as sponsor of TJC’s Student Physical Therapist Assistant Association. She has been a licensed physical therapist assistant since 2007, having worked primarily in outpatient and home health pediatrics.
“I am honored and humbled to have received this award,” Storer said. “All physical therapist assistants are educators. We educate patients, caregivers, families and other disciplines. When we choose to serve as clinical instructors, we also have the unique opportunity to educate students and train the next generation of therapists.”
Christine Melius, TJC PTA department chair, said, “Amanda’s contributions as a faculty member, mentor, community servant and active Texas Physical Therapy Association member make her an excellent candidate for this award. She is especially good at utilizing instructional techniques that engage students and emphasize critical thinking.”
Melius continued, “Within the TJC School of Nursing and Health Sciences, Amanda is one of the most effective instructors with integrating new technology into classroom instruction. Plus, she consistently incorporates her experiences as a home health PTA into the classroom. Our program has greatly benefited from Amanda’s contributions. She is intelligent, hard-working and always pushes her colleagues and students to new limits.”
A native of Henderson, Storer earned her Associate of Applied Science for physical therapy assistant from Kilgore College and her Bachelor of Applied Science for physical therapy assistant from Centenary College of Louisiana. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree in educational curriculum and instruction with an emphasis in educational technology from The University of Texas at Tyler.
She serves as a mentor through the Mentoring Alliance, president and adapted tricycle liaison for Tyler Area American Business Clubs (AMBUCS), and member of the Disability Review Board for the City of Tyler and the Disability Rights of Texas Board.
About the TJC Physical Therapist Assistant program
Physical therapist assistants (PTAs) provide physical therapy services under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist and assist the physical therapist in the treatment of individuals with medical and health related conditions which limit their ability to perform functional activities.
The goal of physical therapy treatment is to restore function, reduce pain and prevent disability. PTAs provide care for people in hospitals, outpatient clinics, patient’s homes, schools, work settings, nursing homes and fitness facilities.
For more information, go to TJC.edu/PTA.