PEOPLE & PROGRAMS
15 Years of TOPSS
Compiled by Marissa Sarabando and Laura Brandt
1992 Interim Executive Steering Committee
Chair: Bates Mandel
Past Chair: Karyn Hale
Chair-elect: Laura Maitland
Secretary-Treasurer-elect: Charlie Blair-Broeker
Member-at-Large: Randy Ernst
Member-at-Large: Joseph Lamas
Marissa Sarabando
Elliot Applestein
Faculty Advisors: Ludy Benjamin, Jr., PhD, Samuel Cameron, PhD, Trevor Sewell,
PhD, and Irwin Altman, PhD
APA Staff
Cynthia Baum, PhD, Mary Rose Janya, Peter Petrossian
Milestones and Metamorphosis
- Interim Steering Committee Formed
- Rudiments of the organization set in place; define concept statement, goals
and objectives and identify needs of high school psychology
- Begin development of first TOPSS unit plan, Sensation and Perception
- Student Essay Contest founded
- Award for Most Outstanding Psychology Student established
- TOPSS logo designed
- TOPSS invites liaisons from other organizations (National Council for the
Social Studies, National Science Teachers Association, American Association
for the Advancement of Science) to attend meetings
- TOPSS invited to speak at Division Two programming at the APA Convention
in Toronto, 1993
1993 Executive Committee
Past-Chair: Bates Mandel
Chair: Laura Maitland
Chair-elect: Charles Blair-Broeker
Secretary-Treasurer: Marissa Sarabando
Secretary-Treasurer-elect: Alan Feldman
Member-at-Large: Randy Ernst
Member-at-Large: Joe Lamas
Member-at-Large: Karyn Hale
Faculty Advisors: Ludy Benjamin Jr, PhD, Samuel Cameron, PhD, Trevor Sewell,
PhD, Charles Spielberger, PhD, and Charles Brewer, PhD
APA Staff
Cynthia Baum, PhD, Joanne Callan, PhD, Rick Short, PhD, Mary Rose Janya,
Peter Petrossian, Chris Cubby
Milestones and Metamorphosis
- TOPSS Committee officially formed by the APA Council of Representatives
- APF grants awarded to high school student research submitted in Westinghouse
Science contest. TOPSS allowed to select behavioral science entries in order
to award the prizes
- TOPSS requests permanent funding for initiatives from BEA
- TOPSS BEA liaisons become full members of the BEA Undergraduate and Pre-college
Panel
- TOPSS begins marketing items to benefit TOPSS membership
- Discussed the possibility of developing a high school psychology student
honor society/ organization for students
- TOPSS is the official designation for the high school affiliate program
in mailings and membership renewal forms.
- Unit plans on Development, Introduction to Psychology, and Biological Bases
of Behavior are up for production and distribution to membership
- TOPSS requests convention time for APA Convention
- First membership recruitment drive in place; establishment of State Coordinators
- Discussion of National Psychology Standards begins with formation of development
committee.
1994 Executive Committee
Past-Chair: Laura Maitland
Chair: Charles Blair-Broeker
Chair-elect: Randy Ernst
Secretary-Treasurer: Alan Feldman
Secretary-Treasurer-elect: Nancy Grippo
Member-at-Large: Karyn Hale
Member-at-Large: Abigail James
Faculty Advisors: Charles Spielberger, PhD, Charles Brewer, PhD, and David
Holmes, PhD
APA Staff
Cynthia Baum, PhD, Joanne Callan, PhD, Rick Short, PhD, Mary Rose Janya,
Peter Petrossian, Chris Cubby, Julie Goldstein
Milestones and Metamorphosis
- BEA approved funding to set up a task force on the National Standards
- TOPSS advocates for more control over workshops and PTN; assistant editorship
possibility for chair or chair-elect
- APF monies made available for distribution amongst the 50 states for promotion
of high school student research
- Drs. Charles Spielberger and Frank Farley secure ten hours of convention
time for TOPSS beginning in 1995
- Unit plan on Personality is developed
1995 Executive Committee
Past-Chair: Charles Blair-Broeker
Chair: Randy Ernst
Chair-elect: Margaret Davidson
Secretary-Treasurer: Nancy Grippo
Secretary-Treasurer-elect: Carol Dean
Member-at-Large: Abigail James
Member-at-Large: Alan Feldman
Faculty Advisors: Martin Anderson, PhD, Charles Spielberger, PhD, Charles
Brewer, PhD, Irwin Altman, PhD, and David Holmes, PhD
APA Staff
Jill Reich, PhD, Peter Petrossian, Julie Goldstein
Milestones and Metamorphosis
- TOPSS invites outstanding APF student researchers from New York high schools
to present posters for one day at the APA convention
- Learning, Memory and Statistics unit plans are in developed
- Unit Plan on Biological Bases of Behavior is distributed; Social Psychology
unit is discussed
- The issue of high school students joining APA was discussed
- Full APA members are allowed to be TOPSS members if they teach high school
psychology
- Begin investigating the possibility of a TOPSS section on the APA web page
- Constitutional Guidelines for high school psychology organization, Psi Alpha
proposed
- TOPSS member directory compiled
- BEA funds distribution of Walt Whitman Journal to all TOPSS members
- TOPSS given editorial role for section in the PTN
- Board of Directors passed motion-changing TOPSS from ad hoc to continuing
committee
- TOPSS considers approaching divisions to create a teacher affiliate position
Monitor articles project begun
- Friends of TOPSS program initiated to form liaisons with other boards who
share an interest in the teaching of psychology
1996 Executive Committee
Past-Chair: Randy Ernst
Chair: Margaret Davidson
Chair-elect: Nancy Grippo
Secretary-Treasurer: Carol Dean
Secretary-Treasurer-elect: Mary Spilis
Member-at-Large: Alan Feldman
Member-at-Large: Barbara Loverich
Faculty Advisors: Charles Spielberger, PhD Charles Brewer, PhD Irwin Altman,
PhD, and Virginia Mathie, PhD
APA Staff
Jill Reich, PhD, Peter Petrossian, Julie Goldstein
Milestones and Metamorphosis
- APF funds granted to support Westinghouse and State Excellence in Psychology
awards in pilot states
- High school student affiliate status publicized
- TOPSS endorses a draft of the High School Psychology Standards
- State Coordinator packet and job descriptions designed
- TOPSS web page created
- TOPSS Committee members invited to serve on P3 steering committee
- An article by Randy Ernst and Peter Petrossian appeared in the March 1996
issue of the American Psychologist, titled Teachers of Psychology in Secondary
Schools (TOPSS): Aiming for Excellence in High School Psychology Instruction.
1997 Executive Committee
Chair: Margaret Davidson
Chair-Elect: Nancy Grippo
Past-Chair: Randy Ernst
Secretary-Treasurer: Carol Dean, Ed.D.
Secretary-Treasurer-Elect: Mary Spilis
Member-at-Large: Alan Feldman
Member-at-Large: Barbara Loverich
Faculty Advisor: Irwin Altman, PhD
APA Staff
Jill Reich, PhD, Peter Petrossian, Julie Goldstein, Christine Johnson
Milestones and Metamorphosis
- Unit plan on Memory distributed
- Time frame for office positions change; TOPSS officers to take positions
beginning January 1 after their election beginning in 1998.
- Disorders and Treatment unit plans are developed
- National Standards for the Teaching of High School Psychology approved by
the TOPSS Committee
- TOPSS designates first week in March as Psychology Awareness Week
- The Seligman Presidential Scholars Competition replaces the essay contest
for the year, precursor to the APA TOPSS scholars essay competition
1998 Executive Committee
Past-Chair: Margaret Davidson
Chair: Nancy Grippo
Chair-elect: Carol Dean, Ed.D.
Secretary-Treasurer: Mary Spilis
Secretary-Treasurer-elect: Craig Gruber
Member-at-Large: Barbara Loverich
Member-at-Large: Kristin Whitlock
Faculty Advisors: Charles Brewer, PhD, James Freeman, PhD, and Virginia Mathie,
PhD
APA Staff
Peter Petrossian, Julie Goldstein, Christine Johnson
Milestones and Metamorphosis
- Unit plans on Diversity and Motivation and Emotion are developed
- TOPSS web page is relocated to the APA web site
- State Association Project makes funds available to support the development
of regional and local networks.
1999 Executive Committee
Past-Chair: Nancy Grippo
Chair: Carol Dean, Ed.D.
Chair-elect: Mary Spilis
Secretary-Treasurer: Craig Gruber
Secretary-Treasurer-elect: Barbara Loverich
Member-at-Large: Kristin Hibashi-Whitlock
Member-at-Large: Rob McEntarffer
Faculty Advisors: Charles Brewer, PhD Jane Halonen, PhD, and Stanley Sue,
PhD
APA Staff
Peter Petrossian; Martha Braswell
Milestones and Metamorphosis
- Unit plan on Cross-cultural Psychology developed
- TOPSS Convention programming includes projects designed to make an impact
on the host city's community
- National Directory of Teachers of Psychology is made into a database
- Conference calls for state coordinators available by topic of interest
- Creation of "Recognition for Excellence in Teaching of Psychology" awards
for high school teachers of psychology (current TOPSS Excellence in Teaching
Awards)
- National Standards for the Teaching of High School approved by APA
2000 Executive Committee
Past-Chair: Carol Dean, EdD
Chair: Mary Spilis
Chair-elect: Craig Gruber
Secretary-Treasurer: Barbara Loverich
Secretary-Treasurer-elect: Marissa Sarabando
Member-at-Large: Rob McEntarffer
Member-at-Large: Ruth Martin
Faculty Advisors: Charles Brewer, PhD, and Jane Halonen, PhD
APA Staff
Martha Braswell, Sherrill Simmons, Barney Beins
Milestones and Metamorphosis
- Proposed Adopt-a-State Coordinator program to facilitate communication between
state coordinators and TOPSS Committee
- TOPSS investigates possibility of link up with the Society for the Teaching
of
Psychology Office of Teaching Resources in Psychology through web link
- TOPSS advocates the adoption of the National Standards for the Teaching
of High School Psychology to state boards of education
- Positive Psychology unit plan begins to be developed
- Begin the Long Range Planning Group made up of chairs and faculty advisors
to discuss purely visionary ideas
- High School Teacher workshops take advantage of local members
- High School student affiliate category is a new membership category
- Proposal of a standing TOPSS workshop at the National Council for the Social
Studies (NCSS) conference
- State Coordinators handbook put online
- TOPSS polls State Departments of Education to find requirements for state
certification for teaching high school psychology
2001 Executive Committee
Past-Chair: Mary Spilis
Chair: Craig Gruber
Chair-elect: Rob McEntarffer
Secretary-Treasurer: Marissa Sarabando
Secretary-Treasurer-elect: Dave Johnston
Member-at-Large: Ruth Martin
Member-at-Large: Debra Park
Faculty Advisors: Charles Brewer, PhD, Jane Halonen, PhD, and Randy Smith,
PhD
APA Staff
Martha Braswell; Sherrill Simmons, Barney Beins
Milestones and Metamorphosis
- Fundraising for TOPSS Initiative through Friends of TOPSS begins (to benefit
the APF TOPSS Fund)
- Packets of support for State Certification prepared for those requesting
information
- TOPSS Essay Scholar winners funded to attend 2002 APA Convention
- Unit Plan for States of Consciousness developed
- Budget concerns bring the PTN online
- No consolidated meetings in September 2001. All business conducted through
conference calls.
- TOPSS prepares to celebrate its 10th Anniversary
2002 Executive Committee
Past-Chair: Craig Gruber
Chair: Rob McEntarffer
Chair-elect: Marissa Sarabando
Secretary-Treasurer: Dave Johnston
Secretary-Treasurer-elect: Chuck Schira
Member-at-Large: Debra Park
Member-at-Large: Amy Fineburg
Faculty Advisors: Randy Smith, PhD and David Matsumoto, Ph. D.
APA Staff
Martha Braswell; Sherrill Simmons, Barney Beins
Milestones and Metamorphosis
- Developed the unit lesson plans for Positive Psychology and Stress, Health,
and Coping
- Instituted the Psychology Awareness Program in High Schools
- Worked with the Center for Gifted Education Policy on the Young Scholars
Social Science Summit and the Pinnacle Scholars Project.
- Recognized significant contributions from instructors in the teaching of
psychology in high schools through the TOPSS Excellence in Teaching Awards
- Continued to collaborate with two and four-year college instructors in teaching
workshops and working together in unit lesson plans.
- Awarded scholarships to students who submitted research papers. Those
winners were recognized by the APF/APA Excellence in High School Student Research
Awards.
2003 Executive Committee
Past Chair: Rob McEntarffer
Chair: Marissa Sarabando
Chair-Elect: Debby Park
Secretary-Treasurer: Chuck Schira
Secretary-Treasurer Elect: Rob Johns
Member-at-Large: Amy Fineburg
Member-at-Large: Allyson Weseley
Faculty Advsiors: Randy Smith, PhD, and Stephen Chew, PhD
APA Staff
Mayella Valero and Maureen McCarthy PhD
Milestones and Metamorphosis
- TOPSS pursues a Science Fair Initiative
- A Science Fair Manual is developed
- APF and TOPSS sponsor awards for Student Research
- TOPSS workshops are held at new venues
- State Coordinators network restructured into Regional Coordinators network
- TOPSS sends a liaison to the Interdivisional Coalition on Psychology in
Schools and Education
- Unit Plan on Positive Psychology published
- TOPSS continues to collaborate with the Center for Gifted Education on the
Young Scholars Social Science Summit
2004 Executive Committee
Past Chair: Marissa Sarabando
Chair: Debby Park
Chair-Elect: Amy Fineburg
Secretary/Treasurer: Rob Johns
Secretary/Treasurer Elect: Alan Feldman
Member-at-Large: Allyson Weseley
Member-at-Large/Membership Coordinator: Laura Brandt
Faculty Advisors: Randy Smith PhD and Steve Chew PhD
APA Staff:
Maureen McCarthy PhD and Emily Leary
- Worked to increase the influence of TOPSS, both as an organization and for
membership
- Focused on lesson plans/resources and workshops to reach more teachers
throughout the US.
- First APA/TOPSS booth held at the NCSS Convention
- TOPSS sponsored speakers at the APA Convention and held a well-attended
pre-convention workshop for teahcers
- The first APA/Clark University Workshop for High School Teachers was planned
- Additional workshops are held for high school teachers
- Conducting Psychological Research for Science Fairs: A Teacher's Guide and
Resource Manual is published
- Marissa Sarabando and Debby Park attended the Educational Leadership Conference
and worked with the APA Coalition for Psychology in Schools and Education to
help develop the Teacher's Needs Survey
- Amy Fineburg and Debby Park participate in a workgroup to consider a potential
high school psychology certification, which brings some important issues to
the table involving teacher’s need for support and recognition from APA.
2005 Executive Committee
Past Chair: Debby Park
Chair: Amy Fineburg
Chair-Elect: Mary Jean Voigt
Secretary/Treasurer: Alan Feldman
Secretary/Treasurer Elect: Hilary Rosenthal
Member-at-Large: Carol Farber
Membership coordinator: Laura Brandt
Faculty Advisors: Steve Chew, PhD, and Loretta Neal McGregor, PhD
APA Staff
Emily Leary, Maureen McCarthy, PhD
- First revision of the National Standards for High School Psychology Curricula passed by Council of Representatives in August 2005
- The Secretary/Treasurer and Secretary/Treasurer-Elect TOPSS committee positions
are both made Member-at-Large positions
- Unit lesson plan on Stress and Health Promotion is published
- Unit on Social Psychology is developed, along with other unit lesson plans
- TOPSS Committee considers holding an institute focusing on a particular
domain within the Standards
- The National Standards are endorsed by NCSS
- First APA/Clark University Workshop for High School Teachers is held, with
Rob McEntarffer and Debby Park as the high school TOPSS presenters
- Regional Coordinators network continues and State Coordinator network is
re-formed
- TOPSS Member Charlie Blair-Broker invited to participate in a keynote presentation
at the first APA Science Leadership Conference
2006 Executive Committee
Past Chair: Amy Fineburg
Chair: Mary Jean Voigt
Chair-Elect: Laura Brandt
Secretary/Treasurer: Hilary Rosenthal
Secretary/Editor: Marie Smith
Member-at-Large: Carol Farber
Membership Coordinator: Will Elmhorst
College Faculty Advisors: Loretta Neal McGregor, PhD, and Regan Gurung, PhD
APA Staff
Emily Leary, Robin Hailstorks, PhD
Milestones and Metamorphosis
- National Standards are mailed to all members
- Second Annual APA/Clark University workshop for teachers of psychology
- Lesson Plans on Social Psychology, I/O psychology, the psychology of sexual
orientation, and psychoanalysis are developed
- TOPSS begins to review of the Ethical Guidelines for the Teaching of Psychology
in the Secondary Schools, begins new resource on ethics for high school teachers
- TOPSS members participated at the NCSS conference, and TOPSS member Charlie
Blair-Broeker participates in an APF summit on high school psychology
- Sponsored numerous workshops for high school teachers
- Continuation of programs such as the minority recruiting project, regional
coordinator network, and the TOPSS speaker’s bureau
- A power point template is developed to encourage APA divisions to provide
information to TOPSS teachers.
- TOPSS creates a Diversity Action Plan
2007 Executive Committee
Past Chair: Mary Jean Voigt
Chair: Laura Brandt Stoppek
Chair Elect: Hilary Rosenthal
Secretary/Editor: Marie Smith
Membership Coordinator: Will Elmhorst
Member-at-Large: Scott Reed
Member-at-Large: Amy House
Faculty Advisors: Regan Gurung, PhD, and Loretta Neal McGregor, PhD
APA Staff:
Emily Leary, Robin Hailstorks, PhD
Milestones and Metamorphosis
- First institute on biopsychology held at the University of Wisconsin-Green
Bay
- Four lesson plans revised during summer institute; additional lesson plans
continue to be developed
- Third APA/Clark University Workshop held in Worcester, MA
- Continue to advertise the TOPSS Speaker’s Bureau and the minority
recruiting project.
- TOPSS discusses a model for vertical teaming between high schools, community
colleges, and four-year colleges and universities
- Continue to develop the mentor and state coordinator networks.
- Tries to garner more participation in the TOPSS essay competition and the
TOPSS Excellence in Teaching Awards.
- The TOPSS Committee discusses ways to encourage high school teachers to
conduct research with students
- TOPSS works to advance the second revision of the National Standards, and
to disseminate the 2005 National Standards
- Continues the tradition of having great speakers represent TOPSS at the
annual APA convention
- Continues to develop TOPSS membership and reach out to new teachers
