2026 TOPSS Committee Call for Nominations

If you would like to become more involved with the APA Teachers of Psychology in Secondary Schools (TOPSS), and are interested in gaining leadership experience and positively impacting the teaching of high school psychology, we encourage you to consider serving on the TOPSS Committee.

In an effort to broaden the representation of the TOPSS community on the committee, in 2026, TOPSS seeks to recruit candidates for one of its two open member-at-large positions who are early career teachers within their first 10 years of teaching. The second open member-at-large position is open to any candidate. Candidates who teach outside the United States and/or have experience teaching on-level psychology (those teaching only on-level psychology are particularly encouraged) are encouraged to consider running for either member-at-large position.

TOPSS welcomes nominations from all qualified psychology teachers. In selecting members, the TOPSS considers a broad range of professional experiences, perspectives, and areas of expertise that support its mission. Psychology teachers from all backgrounds and career stages who can contribute to addressing the field’s evolving needs and challenges are encouraged to seek nomination.

In 2026, the following elected positions will be filled:

• Chair-elect
• Member-at-large: Open slate
• Member-at-large: Early career slate (to be held for candidates within their first 10 years of teaching)

All are 3-year positions. The TOPSS Committee typically meets once a year in Washington, DC. Hybrid meetings have been held since 2022. When in-person meetings are held, APA covers travel and accommodation expenses. All committee members are expected to attend monthly calls (held via Zoom) and contribute to TOPSS work and initiatives throughout their terms. Please consider nominating a colleague who you feel would make a positive impact. Self-nominations are also welcomed.

Each term of office begins in January and continues for the succeeding 12 months. Position descriptions are provided below.

Nominations are due by July 15, 2026.

Submit nominationopens in new window

Nominees for the 2026 TOPSS election are asked to submit the following materials/documents. The personal statement will be posted to the TOPSS website during the voting period:

• Vita or resume
• Personal statement

Personal statements must be limited to one page and provide information in two sections: (1) education and professional experience and (2) a personal statement. Personal statements should include the following information:

• How will you support and further the mission of TOPSS?
• Depending on the position for which you are nominated:
  • For a member-at-large position : How will your personal and/or professional experiences help broaden perspectives on the TOPSS Committee?
  • For the chair-elect position : Describe any professional activities and/or leadership experiences that you feel have prepared you to serve in this role. You may also include any awards or honors that may be relevant.

APA is engaged in a process of transformation, placing a much greater emphasis on making an impact that clearly benefits society and improves lives. In February 2019, the Council of Representatives adopted a new strategic plan that sets APA’s organizational priorities for the next 3–5 years. Going forward, boards and committees will work in an integrated, collaborative, and multidisciplinary manner, since no single board or committee can achieve any of the plan’s objectives on its own. Given the importance of this approach to the association’s strategic priorities, APA encourages nominees to TOPSS to review the strategic planopens in new window to become familiar with the larger context in which their expertise and interests will contribute to APA’s success.

Nominees are invited to complete and submit a demographic information formopens in new window. This survey supports our efforts to create volunteer leadership opportunities for all psychology teachers by helping APA analyze, after the selection of slates—the effectiveness of our outreach and recruitment strategies in building an inclusive, sustainable leadership body with a broad range of perspectives and experiences. 

Disclosure of any information is voluntary, and collected data will be analyzed on an aggregated basis only after the selection of slates. Individual data will not be used to select for slating individual nominees by members or staff. The data will be stored securely with restricted staff access.

TOPSS Committee members will review all nominations and develop a slate of candidates for the 2026 TOPSS Committee election. All nominees will be informed of the slating process before the ballot is finalized for voting. Nominees can contact Emily Leary Chesnes or TOPSS Chair-elect Emily Polacek with questions.

APA is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination, regardless of race, gender, or other protected characteristics, in all aspects of its programs, activities, and operations. APA complies with federal and, as applicable, state anti-discrimination laws and regulations. APA’s nomination/slating/selection procedures and outreach and data collection practices track the effectiveness of APA’s recruitment efforts, identify potential barriers, if any, of such leadership participation, and ensure the absence of discrimination in our programs. APA prohibits the use of facially neutral criteria to discriminate based on protected characteristics in all employment, contracting, operational, and programmatic decisions.

All qualified individuals shall have an equal opportunity to be considered for TOPSS without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or other protected characteristics. All nomination, slating, and selection processes shall comply with federal and, as applicable, state anti-discrimination laws and regulations.

Chair–elect

The chair-elect serves a 1-year term as member of the TOPSS Committee and Executive Committee, and serves respectively as chair and past chair in the subsequent 2 years. Elections for this position will occur every year. The duties include:

• Involvement in individual projects and task forces as decided by the TOPSS Committee
• Responsibility for annual year-end coordination of revisions of all TOPSS Committee job descriptions
• Responsibility for the coordination of the election process, including the call for nominations

Member-at-large (four total on TOPSS Committee)

The member-at-large serves a 3-year term as member of the TOPSS Committee.

• May be appointed to serve as “point person” to coordinate and oversee specific responsibilities to accomplish the mission and goals of the committee on behalf of high school psychology. Designated responsibilities include, but are not limited to diversity, communications (e.g., Psychology Teacher Network), professional development, curriculum (e.g., unit lesson plans), membership (e.g., building partnerships with college and high school teachers and providing support to various local teaching networks), and special projects (e.g., TOPSS Excellence in Teaching Awards)
• Is involved in individual projects and task forces as decided by the TOPSS Committee