Workshops

CHEMISTRY

Lew Acampora

After teaching AP Chemistry, Physics, and Calculus at schools in North Carolina, California, and Kentucky, Lew settled in Louisville and currently acts as the statewide (KY) Science Content Director for the AdvanceKentucky, the statewide implementation of the National Math and Science Initiative and senior instructor for the introductory chemistry laboratory course at the University of Louisville. Lew was involved in the AP Chemistry reading for 27 years, first as a reader, table leader, and most recently as an exam leader. Lew has written questions for the AP Chemistry exam, and has served on the PRAXIS test development committee. Lew graduated with a B.A. in Chemistry from Harvard University, and has done graduate work in chemistry at Brandeis University and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

COMPUTER SCIENCE PRINCIPLES

Mel Hoffert

After working in the industry as a Software Engineer for nearly two decades, Mel transitioned to a teaching career in the late 90's. His (Randy) Pausch-oriented approach to secondary education focuses on 3D modeling and animation, virtual reality, and College Board initiatives (AP Computer Science A and Principles Table Leader, AP Computer Science A and Principles Consultant).

ENGLISH LANGUAGE

Mark Maxwell

Mark Maxwell has been teaching English in Township High School District 214 for 31 years. He has presented for NCTE, IATE, the Metro English Leaders. He has also been a guest lecturer at the University of Chicago. Maxwell has been teaching AP English Language & Composition for almost fifteen years, and he is a published novelist and story writer. His essays on teaching have appeared in the English Journal and IATE's English Bulletin.

ENGLISH LITERATURE

Dan Powers

Dan Powers has been teaching for 22 years, with the last 16 at Carl Sandburg High School in Orland Park. He’s been teaching AP Literature for most of that time with some years of AP Language thrown in there for good measure. Before that, he worked on psychiatric units in Chicago hospitals. He does not blog, has no plans to publish, and refers to himself as an educational consultant when convenient. Dan sincerely believes that students who are well-versed and comfortable in the humanities are the best hope we have for the future.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

Amy Fassler

Amy Fassler has been teaching AP Environmental Science in Marshfield, Wisconsin for 15 years, in addition to chemistry, biochemistry and science research. I have served as an AP Reader, Table Leader, and Test Development Committee member. Amy is committed to working with teachers, both new and experienced, to increase student interest and success in their APES course. She is passionate about environmental science education and has inspired many young people to pursue careers in the field or simply become more environmentally aware citizens.

EUROPEAN HISTORY

Chris McBride

Chris McBride has been an AP European History Exam Reader for the past 12 years and has worked to bring insights from the reading directly to his students and peers. Chris has collaborated with other European History teachers to create and revise the updated LEQ and DBQ rubrics that are currently being used. He is an AVID teacher (program that works to close the achievement gap by preparing all students for college and other postsecondary opportunities) and has worked to expand access to his AP European History class by implementing structures and supports that have helped both AVID students and their peers succeed. He’s received recognition as a Teacher of the Year at his school through the Student Council (2005), at the District level (2015), and Graduating Class of 2017.

HUMAN GEOGRAPHY

John Kostelnick

John Kostelnick is a Professor of Geography in the Department of Geography, Geology, and the Environment; and Director of the Institute for Geospatial Analysis and Mapping (GEOMAP) at Illinois State University. He also is Coordinator for the Illinois Geographic Alliance. He has served as a Reader or Table Leader for the AP Human Geography annual reading for the past twelve years. His research and teaching interests include Geographic Information Science, crisis mapping, cultural mapping, human geography, and geography education. He holds a Ph.D. in Geography from the University of Kansas, a M.A. in Geography from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and a B.A. in History from Iowa State University.

MICROECONOMICS (AM SESSION)

Jeff Waterman

Jeff Waterman earned his Bachelors in Economics from Northwestern in 1995. He spent the next nine years in commercial banking and retail brokerage, eventually becoming CFO of a half a billion dollar bank and chairman of a brokerage firm. He left the private sector in 2003 and earned a Masters in Education from Northwestern in 2005. Jeff has spent the past fifteen years teaching AP Micro and AP Macro at Hinsdale South and Hinsdale Central.

MACROECONOMICS (PM SESSION)

Rich Weiss

Rich Weiss has taught AP Economics at Fenton High School for 12 years. He has served as a reader and most recently a table leader at the AP Economics reading for the past nine years.

PHYSICS I

Patrick Polley

Patrick Polley received the Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Florida in 1985. He has been associated with AP Physics since 1987, working as an AP Physics Reader (1987-1994, 2012-2013), Table Leader (1995-1998), and Chief Reader (1999-2005). He wrote the first AP Physics Lab Manual in 2003 and has contributed to the current inquiry-based lab activities manual for Physics 1 and Physics 2. He has offered one-day AP workshops since 1993 and week-long AP Summer Institutes since 2002. He is a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Beloit College, WI, where he has been a member of the faculty since 1990.

PSYCHOLOGY

Nancy Fenton

Nancy Fenton teaches AP Psychology at Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Illinois, and online for the Center for Talent Development at Northwestern University. She has taught AP Psychology since 2006 and has served as a reader for the AP Psychology exam since 2008, a table leader since 2017, and a College Board consultant since 2014. She earned her BA in History and Secondary Education at Northeastern Illinois University, an MA in Psychology at National Louis University, and a second MA in Curriculum and Instruction (Spring, 2020). Ms. Fenton was awarded the 2013 American Psychological Association (APA) Teachers of Psychology in Secondary Schools (TOPSS) Excellence in Teaching Award for dynamic teaching and commitment to the advancement of psychology and has presented at regional conferences for AP Psychology teachers. She has previously served as a member of the TOPSS board and has worked on numerous APA initiatives including the performance indicators for the National Standards for High School Psychology Curricula and several TOPSS Psychology Unit Lesson Plans. Nancy is the co-author of the review book AP Psychology All Access with Jessica Flitter and writes the blog Books for Psychology Class. She is the co-author of the new iScore5™ Psych app created for AP® Psychology students to prepare for the exam. Ms. Fenton also teaches AP United States Government and Politics and recently co-authored the updated version of the Crash Course AP Government book.

SPANISH LANGUAGE AND CULTURE

Rebecca Castro

Rebecca Castro is currently a teacher of AP Spanish Language, AP SpanishLiterature and AVID (Achievement Via Individual Determination) at Wheeling High School. She is also an instructional coach. She has been teaching there for over 15 years, instructing all levels of Regular and Heritage Spanish and articulating the AP skills from both AP classes into both programs. She established the AP Spanish Literature program in her school and district in 2010 and from there also began teaching AP Spanish Language. She has presented multiple times at ICTFL, AATSP, and NIESHL (Network of Illinois Teachers of Spanish as a Heritage Language) on topics related to engagement strategies, reading and writing strategies, culturally relevant teaching, and making poetry accessible to all learners.

STATISTICS

David Garst

David Garst is in his 16th year of teaching mathematics and currently working at Buffalo Grove High School. He has taught AP Statistics for the last 6 years and passionately believes that data analysis is the most useful and important mathematics for students to learn in high school. He previously worked as a mechanical engineer at Motorola before transitioning into teaching. His first ten years of teaching in Chicago Public Schools included 7 years at Roberto Clemente High School and 3 years at Walter Payton College Prep.

STUDIO ART

Deborah Fitzimmons

Dr. Fitzimmons is an award winning art educator. Her 30+ years of teaching include being a shared art teacher for three rural southern Illinois districts, a suburban high school AP® art teacher, a college art education methods instructor, pre-service teacher supervisor, AP Studio Art® exam reader, a consultant for College Board™ AP™ professional development events and has presented over 70 IAEA and NAEA sessions. Her contributions to art education also include serving as board member for Midwest Pastel Society, the David Adler Cultural Center, and for the Illinois Arts Education Association. Additionally Dr. Fitzsimmons is a published author and an award winning artist with artworks featured in juried, invitational, and commercial gallery exhibits.

U.S. GOVERNMENT

Matt Furfaro

Matt Furfaro is a teacher at Concord High School in Elkhart, Indiana, where he has taught since 1996. He currently teaches AP United States Government & Politics. Matt has been an AP Consultant at Summer APSI's and 1-day AP Workshops, AP Reader for the past 7 years and is also on the AP Instructional Design Committee for the AP U.S. Government & Politics Course Redesign. Finally, he has worked with NMSI/AP-for -All, as a teacher mentor and presenter at student workshops.

U.S. HISTORY

Betsy Holman

Betsy Holman received a BA in History from Stanford University and a M.Ed. from the University of Illinois. She currently teaches AP United States at Loyola Academy in Wilmette. Previously she taught for twenty four years at Niles North High School in Skokie. She has been teaching AP history classes for fifteen years including AP World History, AP European History and her present position teaching APUSH. She is invigorating by using multiple strategies to develop students’ ability to master the required writing skills for advanced placement history courses.

WORLD HISTORY

Bill Strickland

Updated: 3/3/20