Examples of Platform Statements
(Submitted by Winning Candidates from the 2004 TOPSS Election)

Statement of Mary Jean Voigt
Candidate for Chair-Elect

Present Position:

• Teacher-Advanced Placement Psychology, Boylan Catholic High School, Rockford, Illinois, 23 years
• Chairperson-Social Studies Department; Commission for Peace and Justice
• Formulated and Coordinate-Boylan Wellness Program offering small group counseling aimed at addressing adolescent developmental concerns
• Extra-curricular- established Teen Impact, a drug-free extra-curricular organization aimed at mentoring grade school aged children

Past Experience:

• Education-BA in Behavioral Science1967; MS in Community Mental Health Counseling 1990
• Teacher-Sociology, Psychology, 20th Century History, Government, English Composition
• Extra-curricular-Student Council Moderator 12 years; Senior Advisor 7 years
• Yale Summer Program-Instructor for Robert Sternberg’s triarchic study on teaching high school psychology, 1993
• Gifted and Talented Summer Program-Instructor for Robert Sternberg’s study on teaching psychology to gifted and talented middle-school students at Johns Hopkins, 1996
• Consultant-For Robert Sternberg and Elena Grigorenko’s proposed study on alternate AP testing format, 2000

Organizational Positions:

• Table Leader at AP Psychology Reading, 2003, 2004
• AP Reader, 2000-2002
• Member, APA TOPSS, 1992-2004
• Member, American Counseling Association, intermittently from 1990-2000
• National Science Foundation-Texas A &M Curriculum Development of original lesson plans offered by TOPSS members through APA, 1992

Goals for Chair-Elect:
As teachers of psychology we are frequently found in situations that compromise our ability to maintain a current knowledge base in a discipline that is constantly changing.  I would like to continue investigating the possibilities of offering development using online workshops.  By offering this type of workshop teachers foster self-development with only a click of the mouse.  This encourages us to use our time wisely, and offers us confidence in teaching an ever-changing curriculum.

I would also like to continue pursuing a way for each of us to be recognized by our states as credentialed professionals who have fulfilled the necessary requirements for a psychology endorsement as part of our certification. Other areas of the social studies have specific endorsements and as professionals who teach an area of scientific study such endorsement gives credibility to who we are and what we do.

Finally, I wish to add a fresh perspective to TOPPS from someone who previously has not been part of the leadership team.  I am in a position to devote time to an organization I believe in, encouraging membership through a variety of venues, and investigating the possibility of electronic networking of high school and college psychology teachers by geographic areas using links on the TOPSS website.  Overall, I wish to provide all teachers of Psychology resources grounded in scientific research along with having them recognized as consummate teaching professionals.

Statement of Carol Farber
Candidate for Member-at-Large

Present Position:

• Teacher – Regular, Pre AP (Honors), and AP Psychology Miami Killian Senior High School, Miami, Florida
• Consultant - AP Psychology, The College Board
• Psychology Club sponsor

Past Experience:

• 22 years teaching in Dade County Public Schools
• 10 years Consultant for AP Psychology for The College Board
• 13 years teaching AP Psychology
• 12 years Reader for AP Psychology
• 3 years past board member of the Dade County Council of the Social Studies
• Participant in test development of the Certification Exam for teaching secondary school psychology in Florida
• Developed initial teaching objectives for the course of AP Psychology in the state of Florida
• Presenter on Psychology topics at two state Social Studies conferences
• Participant on state textbook adoption committee for Psychology texts
• Prior Florida state coordinator for TOPSS
• Participant in 1991 Summer Institute at Texas A&M
• Group Facilitator during 1992 A&M Summer Institute
• Participant at Nebraska-Wesleyen Summer Institute
• Co-author of TOPSS module “Emotion and Motivation”
• Reviewer of Blair-Broecker and Ernst text Thinking About Psychology

Platform Statement:

My experiences with district, state and national workshops, as a consultant for The College Board, and as an AP reader have made it clear that a common need for most of us is better communication with our peers. Most of us teach in isolation from other Psychology teachers. With the exception of Advanced Placement, opportunities for seminars and workshops for most Psychology teachers are less common than the unicorn. Most are unable to attend whatever is offered due to conflicts with school/related expenses.

My primary goals will be to expand awareness of the support and other benefits available to teachers through TOPSS membership. Also, I would like to develop better systems for communication among psychology teachers not only within school districts, but also within state organizations. One possibility might be to establish e-mail trees within regions so that people are aware of district and state developments, as well as timely opportunities for participating in decision-making.

Another particular concern I have is for developing some support system for the new teacher – especially those who are teaching the subject for the first time, or those who have no background in the subject – which I have seen happen in AP as well as at the regular level. The first year teacher with three different preps is not in an uncommon situation.

Overall, I hope to help increase membership in TOPSS. In addition, I will work to establish information systems which provide both academic assistance and moral support to those of us who are alone in the classroom – with no colleagues in our schools, and little to no contact with other psychology teachers in our districts.

Statement of William Elmhorst
Candidate for Membership Coordinator (From 2005 TOPSS Election)

Present Position:

• Instructor:  Advanced Placement Psychology, Advanced Placement Modern European History, Western Civilization Honors, Marshfield High School, Marshfield, WI, 15 years
• Chairperson: Social Sciences Department, 3 years
• Extra-curricular: wrestling, track, and cross-country coach, chess club advisor

Past Experience:

• BA in History and Broad Field Social Science (Emphasis in Psychology) 1990, MA Education 1996, MS Education Administration 2001
• Psychology teacher for 15 years, AP Psychology teacher, 7 years
• AP Modern European History Teacher, 3 years
• Developmental and Abnormal Psychology instructor, University of Wisconsin Marshfield,  2 years
• TOPSS Plains Region Coordinator, 1 year

• Developed Plains Region e-mail exchange
• Developed Plains Region news letter

• Psychology Program consultant for area high schools
• Professional development presenter on topics related to psychology and education

Organizational Positions:

• Reader for AP Psychology, 2 years
• Reader for SAT, 2 sessions
• Member, APA TOPSS
• Member PDK, 10 years

Service:

• Staff Parish Relations Committee:  Zion United Methodist
• Music Ministry:  Cedar Rail Assisted Living Center
• Wisconsin Elks Hoop Shoot
• Compassion International Sponsor

Goals for Membership Coordinator:

• Promote TOPSS and encourage new membership
• Advance existing means of communication with TOPSS members
• Facilitate the exchange of classroom ideas related to the instruction of psychology
• Connect psychology teachers with helpful web based and print resources
• Encourage discourse between TOPSS members via list serves,  e-mail exchanges, and news letters
• Collaborate with other psychology teachers to raise awareness of initiatives in the teaching of psychology
• Continue to develop state level representatives for TOPSS