Sponsored by College Board.
When I think back to my years as a high school teacher, there are certain opportunities I knew could make a real difference for students.
AP was one of them.
For some students, an AP class was their first chance to see themselves as someone who could handle college-level work. It challenged them academically, but it also gave them something bigger: confidence. They could walk out of high school knowing they had already pushed themselves beyond what they thought they were capable of.
And for many students, that AP experience could follow them beyond graduation. AP gives students the opportunity to take college-level coursework while still in high school, and qualifying exam scores can lead to college credit or advanced placement at many colleges and universities.
As a teacher, though, I also remember that offering those opportunities didn’t just happen automatically.
Someone had to be willing to teach the course.
Someone had to look at a group of students and say, “I think you can do this.”
And sometimes a teacher needed someone to say the exact same thing to them.
Maybe that teacher is you.
If you’ve ever considered teaching AP but weren’t sure where to begin, College Board has built a pathway specifically for educators teaching an AP course for the first time.
The process starts with exploring the course and exam information for your subject and completing the AP Course Audit. From there, teachers gain access to AP Classroom, including unit resources, progress checks, a question bank, practice exams, and other materials designed to support instruction throughout the year. College Board also offers professional learning opportunities and an AP Community where new and experienced AP teachers can connect.
I think that support matters.
Teaching a rigorous course can feel intimidating, particularly the first time. But you aren’t expected to figure everything out on your own.
That is also why I like the message behind College Board’s current campaign: There’s room for you in AP.
Their invitation to prospective AP teachers is simple: talk with educators who are already doing it. Ask what the course really requires. Ask what surprised them. Ask what they wish they had known before they started.
Because somewhere in your school there may already be a student who is ready for that next challenge.
They may just need a teacher who’s willing to take the next step with them.
Thinking about teaching AP for the first time?
College Board has put together resources to help you understand the process, prepare your course, and get started.
Explore Teaching AP for the First Time
-Doug Overton
Co-founder of Edtomorrow
Creator of The First Five
