Since 2000, the American Psychological Association’s Committee of Teachers of Psychology in Secondary Schools (TOPSS) has presented its most dedicated and successful teachers with APA TOPSS Charles T. Blair-Broeker Excellence in Teaching Awards. This year TOPSS is proud to recognize two outstanding educators in the field of psychology: Tiffany Karns and Daria Schaffeld. These two women are dedicated to the field of psychology in their classrooms and well beyond. The expertise they share with their students and other high school psychology teachers and their involvement in making psychology a discipline that is appreciated at the local and national level is significant. The TOPSS committee congratulates them on their selection as 2017 award winners. Each received a framed certificate, an engraved award, $500 and a complimentary TOPSS membership renewal. Worth Publishers generously donated the “High School Psychology Video Anthology DVD” and a $500 credit to Bedford Freeman and Worth Publishers to each of the three winners. These teachers are shining models of excellence within the profession, as evidenced by their individual profiles.
Allison Shaver, TOPSS Committee member-at-large, interviewed each recipient in 2017. The interviews are provided below.
Interview with Tiffany Karns
Allison Shaver (AS): Why do you love teaching psychology?
Tiffany Karns (TK): I love teaching psychology because this subject has been my passion since I took high school psychology, and found out that this was what I wanted to be my major in college. I love sharing that passion with my students, and having them discover a subject that they too may love.
AS: What does it mean to be recognized as an APA TOPSS Charles T. Blair-Broeker Excellence in Teaching Award recipient?
TK: Being recognized with the APA TOPSS Charles T. Blair-Broeker Award is for me, the highest honor that I could have imagined as a teacher of psychology. I first came to know Charlie when he was the keynote speaker at the AP Reading professional night in Daytona. He was incredibly inspiring to me as a young teacher, and it has been such a privilege to work with him and know him. For his name to be attached to this award makes it that much more special and humbling. I strive to inspire my students to learn every day, hoping to live up to this great honor.
AS: What is your favorite unit to teach?
TK: My favorite unit to teach is Social Psychology. It is a topic with which the students really connect, which makes it so much fun to teach.
AS: Do you have any words of advice for beginning psychology teachers?
TK: I remember what it was like when I was a beginning psychology teacher, and I would say that the anxiety is to be expected. Feeling overwhelmed and intimidated is completely natural, and you will get better every year that you teach it. There are some incredible networks of people who teach psychology, and a new teacher would do well to connect with these groups. Our psychology teaching community is like no other.
Interview with Daria Schaffeld
Allison Shaver (AS): Why do you love teaching psychology?
Daria Schaffeld (DS): There is something very special about teaching an elective to high school students. They choose this course. From my experience they choose it because they are excited for something "new" and because they have "heard good things" about the course. This is the quote at the bottom of my email footer — it speaks to why I love teaching psychology:
"Psychology, unlike chemistry, unlike algebra, unlike literature, is an owner's manual for your own mind. It's a guide to life. What could be more important than grounding young people in the scientific information that they need to live happy, healthy, productive lives? To have good relationships?" — Daniel Goldstein
AS: What does it mean to be recognized as an APA TOPSS Charles T. Blair-Broeker Excellence in Teaching Award recipient?
DS: Upon winning I went to see who has won in the past. Wow. What amazing educators. To be part of this select group is incredible. Most importantly, the fact that I was nominated by a teacher that I truly and deeply respect and am in awe of (Maria Vita) is so special. Being part of the "psych teacher family" has such perks. We are such a unified group. We are there for each other and truly help and honor each other. I truly doubt that other disciplines have it as good as us. And then to be honored with the Charlie? Wow.
AS: What is your favorite unit to teach?
DS: I love Biological Bases. I make sure that I weave it into every unit.
AS: Do you have any words of advice for beginning psychology teachers?
DS: Although it takes a ton of discipline, use your summers to read/plan/make calendars/get organized. I always start my school year with at least 1st quarter ready to go — everything. A few hours per week in the summer is all it takes. Make a plan or calendar and stick to it. Also, find a mentor that you trust and who has been successful. Hopefully, they will inspire you but don't rely too much on them; you have to be yourself and find your own style.
