Statement of Terry Wick

I have been teaching for 34 years, and I have been teaching AP Psychology for 24 years. I received my master’s degree in educational leadership in 2006. I started teaching on-level psychology and changed schools to take on the challenge of AP Psychology in 2002. In 2017, I started team-teaching AP Biology and AP Psychology. It has been an amazing experience connecting the two different disciplines. I have also been involved with APA as a presenter/facilitator at Oregon State University in 2023, a member of the National Standards Revision Committee (2018–2022), and a standards working group member of the National Summit on High School Psychology (2017). I have also worked for ETS on a Praxis committee for psychology standards in 2010 and 2013–2017. In addition to these duties, I have been an AP reader and table leader since 2012. I have also presented at the NCSS convention in Chicago in 2018, the EPIC conference in Green Bay in 2016, and was the Charles T. Broeker Excellence in Teaching Award winner in 2020. I have worked with some amazing people along my professional journey who have enhanced my teaching and provided opportunities for my growth. I will be forever grateful for their guidance and wisdom. I look forward to passing on some of that wisdom to others within TOPSS and conferences that I attend.

The mission of TOPSS is to bring people to the table to grow in the science of psychology. I am 100% committed to bringing all people to the field of psychology, which applies directly to everyone’s lives every day. I want people to be involved in growing the field of psychology as well as providing just one more way to teach about it.

My experiences collaborating with incredible colleagues have profoundly expanded my understanding of psychology, offering a unique perspective on integrating various disciplines. This approach directly supports the mission of TOPSS and the broader field of psychology. A strong foundation in psychological research is essential for building the scientific credibility that fosters belief and trust in our discipline. We are all scientists, constantly blending research principles with our daily lives and professions. This perspective uniquely equips us to present these ideas to colleagues and students, sparking curiosity and investigation, which ultimately drives further scientific inquiry and the skill of analysis.

My fantastic biology co-teacher, Kevin, and college representative, Dani, have been instrumental in integrating our disciplines into our team-taught AP BioPsych class. They represent only two of the many strong advocates who have influenced me along the way for incorporating more science into the psychology curriculum. Together, we’ve presented at conferences and developed collaborative research projects involving AP Biology, AP Psychology, and AP Statistics. Students from each class actively participated in developing research projects, gathering data, and presenting their findings to peers and community members. The consistent positive feedback from returning students about the impact of the AP BioPsych collaboration underscores the value of integrating biological and psychological sciences. I’m eager to champion TOPSS and further the development and integration of science within psychology.