Statement of Darcy Muller

I have a master’s degree in instructional practice from Lipscomb University in Nashville, TN. I have an undergraduate degree in psychology and communication studies from the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, SD.

My teaching career started in 2013, when I was accepted into the Teach For America program. During my tenure as a TFA corps member, I was prepared through rigorous weekly, monthly, and quarterly professional development on a diverse range of topics within the education field. I have taught many different classes in my 13-year career at Cane Ridge High School, and introductory psychology has been consistently in my schedule every year. In 2021, I was selected to be a teacher leader for the Law Academy, a smaller learning community within CRHS. In 2022, I attended the National Institute on the Teaching of Psychology conference. In 2024, I started leading professional development experiences for the social studies/psychology content areas within my district, Metro Nashville Public Schools. In 2024, I was able to add Advanced Placement Psychology to my program, and I have attended professional development through the College Board in conjunction with the course.

For the 2025–2026 school year, I served on our district’s textbook adoption committee, led district professional development, continued to lead my academy, and inspired my students to be the next generation of psychology professionals.

A classroom can be an inspirational place of learning and growth, or a place where dreams are stifled. Teachers have the power to move the temperature gauge of learning one way or the other, depending on their ability to motivate, inspire, and capture attention. A teacher who is supported with proper resources can be a catalyst to student engagement.  When teachers have access to high-quality, digestible resources, learning can blossom. I like to think of good teaching as good storytelling—when we have the ability to hook students in with great stories, students can thrive.

I support the mission of TOPSS because new teachers need support. New psychology educators can feel isolated, overwhelmed, and alone, starting their teaching journey in a discipline that doesn’t always have many professional development opportunities readily available on the local and district level. TOPSS provides teachers with valuable, reliable resources that can help new teachers get their courses up and running.

I am inspired to continue doing the hard work of teaching every year because many of my students choose to go into the field of psychology, inspired by the work we have done together in class. My hope is that I can continue to inspire the next generation of psychology leaders and support the work of TOPSS as a member-at-large for the next 3 years. I would be honored to be selected as a committee member, and I am ready to do the hard work required to lead the next generation.