Dr. Nathalie Starling was selected to participate in the annual reading and scoring of the College Board’s AP examinations in U.S. History this June.
Each year the AP program, sponsored by the College Board, gives more than 1 million capable high school students an opportunity to take rigorous college-level courses and examinations. Also, based on their exam performance, they can receive credit and/or advanced placement when they enter college.
Approximately 2.3 million examinations in 20 disciplines were evaluated by over 8,000 readers from universities and high schools. Representing many of the finest academic institutions in the world, these men and women are some of the best high school and college educators in the U.S., Canada and abroad.
The AP reading is a unique forum in which academic dialogue between secondary school and college educators is fostered and strongly encouraged.
“The reading draws upon the talents of some of the finest teachers and professors that the world has to offer,” said Trevor Packer, executive director of the Advanced Program at the College Board. “It fosters professionalism, allows for the exchange of ideas, and strengthens the commitment to students and to teaching. We are very grateful for the contributions of talented educators like Dr. Nathalie Starling.”
Dr. Starling arrived in Louisville, Ky., on June 11 and departed on June 19. The Kentucky International Convention Center hosted the AP biology readers, AP calculus readers, AP psychology readers and AP U.S. history readers. The AP U.S. history readers were the largest group with approximately 1,100 readers. The days began at 8 a.m. and finished at 5 p.m. for seven days straight. The evenings were packed with training sessions, guest speakers and extended museum hours. The educators visited the Colonel Sanders museum, Louisville Slugger factory, Muhammad Ali Center, Lewis and Clark statues, and enjoyed an authentic steam boat ride.
A special seminar was given by Dr. Yanek Mieczkowski about his recent research and book “The 1970s and President Ford.” Another interesting presentation came from Dr. Gordon Bakken of California State University, who is an expert on Western history and the American Indian.
It is often difficult for educators to dedicate a week of their summer for educational purposes, but this experience is great for networking and becoming the best you can be as a teacher.
Dr. Starling represented Effingham County and South Effingham High School at table 8. The table leader was Linda Morrison who is a 30-year veteran from Cobb County high schools and now teaches at Kennesaw State University, where she works with their United Nations program.
There were two acorns, which are first time readers at the table. One was graduate student Hannah Kim from the University of Delaware and Michael Wiseman from Scott Community College.
Veteran readers were Dr. Daniel Greene from Baylor University, Kevin Guy from West Linn High School, Wilsonville, Ore., and Keith Kaplan Dover from Sherborn High School, Dover, Mass. This group worked well collaborating together and looks forward to reuniting next year.
