Raising the Bar: Why AP Teachers Matter More Than Ever: Article #1 In Our Spotlight Series
In conversations about Advanced Placement (AP) programs, the focus often lands on scores, college credit, and academic rigor. Saint Viator recently earned a Gold Distinction on the 2025 AP® School Honor Roll, and the students know that at the heart of every successful AP course is a teacher whose impact reaches far beyond an exam in May.
AP teachers are not simply content experts; they are mentors, motivators, and master educators who play a critical role in shaping students’ academic confidence and future success. It’s time to put the spotlight where it belongs—on the teachers themselves. We will highlight our talented AP teachers in a series of three articles throughout the month of February.
Gina Horne, who teaches AP Biology, creates an environment where challenge meets support. Gina noted that “AP Biology is a challenging, college-level course where students learn to think like scientists, explore how living systems work through scientific inquiry, perform data analysis, and learn evidence-based reasoning. And, when they encounter rigorous academic expectations, they know they can struggle in a supportive environment. Struggling is a normal part of learning.”
Upstairs, in the English Department, Chris Paolelli teaches AP English Language and Comp. “It sounds like a cliché, but my greatest motivation in AP is the incredible caliber of students I'm blessed to work with. These kids bring their A game every day, and they persevere through a rigorous workload to achieve great things. They want to be in class, they enjoy learning and discovery, and they relish a challenge—any challenge.”
When asked what skills AP students learn that serve them beyond academics, Chris remarked, “AP students learn that they are the authors of their success, and that success is entirely proportional to their effort and perseverance. They learn to solve problems on their own, and they learn the feeling of pride that accompanies a job well done. Above all, they gain a truer sense of their potential as scholars.”
Across campus, Jim Wills teaches AP Computer Science. Beyond academics, Jim remarked that “AP programs give students an opportunity to challenge themselves beyond regular coursework. I enjoy the opportunity to challenge and teach students at the highest level. Knowledge is a gift. I wanted to be part of student growth and learning and to instill in my students the belief that while learning can be challenging, it can also be loads of fun.”
When students begin the year in AP Calculus, Cheryl Nowak notes that, “students come into Calculus at the beginning of the year with the notion that the class is going to be so hard and the AP exam is going to be impossible. My goal is to give students the competence and confidence to go into the AP Exam in May and be successful. I don’t want them to cram before the exam. I want them to feel like they are more than well prepared, and they are happy that the time has finally arrived to take the exam. I want them to know that if they put the proper time in throughout the course, then they will have the skills and knowledge they need to pass the AP Exam with the highest possible score that they can achieve.”
When Cheryl reflects on what inspires her year after year to teach at Saint Viator, she says, “The students. The students come in willing to learn and be challenged. They are at a formative time in their lives during which they are developing their own opinions and discovering new things. With the right amount of patience, encouragement, and care, they can achieve things they never thought they could. What is most amazing to me is that every student thanks me every single day when they leave class – even when I’m piling on the homework. They put a smile on my face every day. That’s what teaching is all about.”
Cheryl Dispensa teaches AP Chemistry and is motivated by her love of learning, belief in her students, and the quiet, powerful knowledge “that what I do still matters – every single day. I know that long after the equations fade, my students will remember how I made them feel: capable, supported, and inspired.”
Reflecting on what students take with them beyond academics, Cheryl notes, “AP classes are as challenging as many college-level courses. They are fast-paced, cover more material than regular classes, and require independent work. Getting a dose of a college-level curriculum early on could ease the transition from high school senior to first-year college student. AP courses also help students with critical thinking skills, organization, and learning perseverance. Taking AP courses can also help strengthen a student’s transcript for college admittance.”
Cheryl defines success in her AP Chemistry classroom as “beyond mere AP exam scores or an 'A' grade, particularly for students who struggle but are engaged. Success is more importantly defined by productive struggle, growth in critical thinking, resilience, and deep conceptual understanding rather than rote memorization.”
In the foreign language hallway, Laura Klaw teaches AP French Language and Culture. “As far back as I can remember, I wanted to be a teacher. Santa got me a chalkboard so I could play school when I was little. I started taking French in 7th grade and fell in love with the language. When I was able to live in Dijon, France, for a year during college, my fate was sealed — I would become a French teacher. My favorite moments are when my former students reach out and say that they are continuing the language in college or that they have traveled to France and were able to understand and communicate. When these students embrace and appreciate the French language and culture, and are thoughtful enough to tell me about it, I am overwhelmed and grateful.”
We hope you enjoyed hearing from some of our Saint Viator AP teachers! We will celebrate another set of AP teachers in the next article!
