Central Catholic Teachers Selected as AP Test Readers

Seven Advanced Placement (AP) teachers from Central Catholic were selected by the College Board to serve as AP readers this summer.  An AP reader is a teacher or college faculty member who participates in the annual AP reading event to evaluate and score student responses on Advanced Placement exams in the subjects that they teach, ensuring accurate college-level assessment. 

These teachers go through specific training before reading the tests.  A comprehensive rubric is developed by the exam leaders, and teachers are trained on that rubric.  The emphasis is on whether the students display a deep enough understanding of the concept being tested, and they review specific vocabulary and key ideas.  Over 250,000 students may take each exam, so readers are trained in the various ways the students might answer the specific question and still show understanding.  

The CCHS teachers who were selected and their subject areas are:

· Hannah Bluhm ‘17 - Psychology

· Patrice Brock - Environmental Science

· Mallory Lenhart - US History

· Logan Lorenzen ’12 - Seminar

· Katie Shanahan - English Language and Composition

· Abbey Stone - Computer Science Principles

· Stan Sylak ’06 - US Government
 
These seven teachers scored a total of more than 3,100 exams this year, contributing to the continued integrity of the AP program.  Hannah Bluhm did her grading on-site in Kansas City, and the others did their work at home. 

“Readers are selected and invited each year by the College Board,” said Brock.  “We are proud to have so many faculty members committed to the professional growth of scoring hundreds of exams.  Being part of this national-level process keeps our teaching closely aligned with the College Board content in each of our subjects, and it also allows us to share best practices with other instructors.” 

This was Brock’s ninth year reading AP exams.  She has also served as a table leader twice, which means she had extensive training on the scoring guidelines and has monitored the work of other readers, periodically reviewing the scoring of exams to ensure consistency and accuracy. 

Sylak served as an AP Government reader for the sixth time, and this is the second year that Lenhart, Lorenzen, and Stone served as AP readers.  Bluhm and Shanahan participated for the first time this year.

“Being a reader gives me insight into the writing process for juniors and seniors across the country,” said Shanahan.  “I wanted to participate in the process to get a better understanding of the nuances of the writing requirements of AP Language and Composition.  Reading gives me a chance to improve my teaching in the future. Each time I read and rate the exam, I have a better understanding of what excellent writing looks like and how I can improve my teaching.”

“I discovered last year that AP reading truly is the best professional development for an AP teacher,” said Lenhart.  “Reading essays authored by students around the country gives insight into the areas where students struggle, methods and writing styles utilized by other AP teachers, clarity surrounding the criteria set by the College Board, and topics that should be emphasized in the classroom.  The benefits of networking with other AP teachers are immeasurable!

“AP reading has altered and informed the way I approach my AP course.  There are so many knowledgeable teachers and professors participating in the reading who guided me along the way and gave me suggestions of strategies to implement in my class.  The reading gives me the opportunity to dive deeper into the scoring rubric, which helps me better communicate the scoring guidelines to my students.  Each year I have been part of the reading; I have felt more confident about assessing my own students' work.”

This experience is a great honor and opportunity for our teachers, and it offers some of the best professional development they can get to make our students even more college ready.  Central Catholic continues to have a comprehensive, supportive, and high-achieving Advanced Placement program for its students.