APA TOPSS Excellence in Teaching Awards

Teachers of high school psychology are invited to apply or can be nominated by a colleague, supervisor, student or administrator. 

Nominees must be high school teacher affiliates of the APA (high school teacher affiliates are automatically members of the APA Teachers of Psychology in Secondary Schools (TOPSS) — see the high school teacher affiliate application.

Application Procedure

Nominated teachers are asked to provide the following:

1. Application form (PDF, 19KB)
2. Three letters of support, one from each of the following categories:
   1. Former Student or Parent
   2. Superintendent or Principal or Administrator
   3. Colleague
      1. Letters should attest to teacher’s commitment to academic and  professional  excellence, passion for teaching, and/or impact on student learning
      2. The support letters must be separate from nomination form as linked below
3. A two-day lesson plan designed for a topic in psychology
   1. The lesson plan must contain appropriate content and be accurate.
   2. The lesson plan must be correlated to the National Standards for High School Psychology Curricula.
   3. c. The lesson plan must include any activities and demonstrations used.
4. A brief personal statement (no more than three double-spaced pages) that discusses or describes:
   1. The factors that influenced you to become a teacher.
   2. What you consider to be your greatest contributions and accomplishments in the teaching of psychology.
   3. What you do to strengthen and improve your teaching of psychology.
   4. Any roles and initiatives that demonstrate and/or promote professional development activities and provide leadership for others, especially those in the field of psychology. 
5. A CV or resume.

Judging Criteria

Submissions will be evaluated using the TOPSS rubric. The award committee is appointed by the TOPSS Chair and will include no less than three members. Incomplete submissions will not be considered. The committee reserves the right not to confer an award if submissions do not meet minimum requirements.

Time Line

• All supporting materials must be postmarked by March 15, 2013.  Electronic submissions on CD are welcomed. Please submit materials to Emily Leary Chesnes, APA Education Directorate, 750 First St, NE, Washington, DC 20002. 

• The winners will be announced in the Psychology Teacher Network newsletter.

A nomination form (PDF, 124KB) is available for those interested in nominating a colleague or friend. For additional information, please contact Emily Leary Chesnes at (202) 572-3013.

2012 
Laura Brandt, Grayslake Central High School, Grayslake, Ill.
Kimberly Patterson, Cypress Bay High School, Weston, Fla.
Maria Vita, Penn Manor High School, Millersville, Pa.

2011
Nancy Diehl, PhD, Hong Kong International School, Tai Tam, Hong Kong
Sheryl Freedman, MA, Walt Whitman High School, Bethesda, Md.
Melissa J. Kennedy, PhD, Holy Names Academy, Seattle, Wash.

2010 
Scott Reed, Hamilton High School, Chandler, Ariz.
William James, Miford High School, Highland, Mich.

2009
Trudy Loop, The Altamont School, Birmingham, Ala.
Jeff Norby, West De Pere High School, De Pere, Wis.

2008
Katherine Minter, Westwood High School, Round Rock ISD, Austin, Texas
Allyson J. Weseley, EdD, Roslyn High School, Roslyn, N.Y.
Mary Jarvis, Wausau West High School, Wausau, Wis.

2007
Susan Spencer, Arthur L. Johnson High School, Clark, N.J.
Michael McLane, Sterling Heights High School, Sterling Heights, Mich.
Jacquelynn Norman, San Marcos High School, San Marcos, Texas

2006
Annette Jordan, Woods Cross High School, Woods Cross, Utah
Debra Park, West Deptford High School, Westville, N.J.
Lynn Pleiss, Dartmouth High School, Dartmouth, Mass.

2005
Wendy Hart, Brentwood High School, Brentwood, Tenn.
Julie Tedford, Freeburg Community High School, Freeburg, Ill.
Deborah Costello, Trinity Preparatory School, Winter Park, Fla.

2004
Viviana Mendoza, American Cooperative School, La Paz, Bolivia

2003
Audrey Dill, Monmouth Regional High School, Tinton Falls, N.J.
Rob Johns, Westside High School, Omaha, Neb.

2002
Kristin Whitlock, Viewmont High School, Bountiful, Utah
Jeanne Blakeslee, St. Paul’s School for Girls, Brooklandville, Md.

2001
Charles Greiner, James M. Bennett High School, Salisbury, Md.
Faye Johnson, Paint Branch High School, Burtonsville, Md.
Terri Ann Lindenberg, Lake Park High School, Roselle, Ill.

2000
John Billingslea, Franklin High School, Reisterstown, Md.
Mary Boteler, Sherwood High School, Sandy Spring, Md.
Pamala Coburn, Davis High School, Kaysville, Utah
Al Kirton, Natick High School, Natick, Mass.
Baird Wiehe, Shaker Heights High School, Shaker Heights, Ohio