Statement of Mike Berndt

• Teacher, Apollo High School, St. Cloud, MN, 1998-present
  Courses taught: General Psychology, AP Psychology, Sociology, U.S. History
• Adjunct instructor, College of St. Benedict/St. John’s University, St. Joseph, MN, 2004-2011
  Course taught: Social Science Pedagogy
• St. John’s University, Collegeville, MN, Bachelor of Arts in Social Science (1998)
• St. Mary’s University, Winona, MN, Master of Education (2003)

Professional activities and honors

• Founder and organizer of annual Minnesota Teachers of Psychology in Secondary Schools (MNTOPSS) conference (2013–present)
• Member-at-large, APA TOPSS committee (2024–2026)
• Advanced Placement psychology exam reader, table leader, and question leader (2006–present)
• College Board AP Psychology workshop consultant (2020–present)
• College Board item writer (2022–present)
• APA/TOPSS Charles T. Blair-Broeker Excellence in Teaching Award recipient (2023)
• AP Psychology test development committee member (2018–2021)
• Co-lead teacher presenter for TOPSS/APA Oregon State University Workshop for High School Psychology Teachers (2019)
• APA/TOPSS Summit on High School Psychology Education: Professional Development Strand (July 2017)
• Content reviewer for Amsco Advanced Placement Psychology (2016–present)
• Question writer for iScore 5 App (2015–2016)

As a current member-at-large on the TOPSS Committee, and having been on the committee for the past 3 years, I know where the committee has concentrated its efforts in the past and what direction TOPSS is committed to go on in the future. I will support and further the mission of TOPSS through developing and maintaining regional networks that bring high-quality professional development opportunities at a low cost for high school psychology teachers. Because many high school psychology teachers share the common experience of being the only person in their building who teaches psychology, it is imperative that TOPSS continues to help psychology teachers find mentors and high-quality professional development opportunities. Organizing and promoting professional development opportunities for high school psychology teachers has always been a passion of mine. Due to the need for professional development for the teaching of high school psychology, I founded a regional network in Minnesota called MNTOPSS in 2013. With over 13 years of leadership experience of organizing MNTOPSS, my goal for TOPSS is to replicate the success of MNTOPSS in other high school psychology teacher regional networks across the country. This could be achieved by finding various ways to better support existing regional networks or in the formation of completely new regional networks. As the founder and organizer of MNTOPSS, I feel that this experience has given me a unique perspective and the leadership experience that is necessary for the chair-elect position on the TOPSS Committee. TOPSS has been an invaluable part of my classroom over the years, and I look forward to the opportunity to give back to an organization that has helped me so much.