As AP season is upon us, teachers’ – just like students’- workload increases, and the pressure to prepare students for exams is higher than ever. So, in a stressful and busy season, what motivates teachers to continue to give students their all? 

For English teachers, AP season means an increased amount of reading and grading. “The biggest motivation for me is knowing that my students have been preparing this entire year, and I want to make sure they are prepared to take the AP exam. They have all these skills they have acquired over the last year, and I want to make sure students are given a score that will showcase these skills. Afterwards, it’s also super rewarding when kids come back after the AP exam and feel like they crushed it or are confident they did well,” AP Literature and Composition teacher Emily Davis said.

For English teacher Daniel Pecoraro, the optimism after the AP exam is a huge motivator and reward. “It is super rewarding when kids who didn’t feel confident about the exam come back after and feel confident in their work, plus the optimism in general is great. I also enjoy helping students start their college essays at the end of the school year,” Pecoraro said.

There is a common thread between teachers from different subjects, and it is their dedication to students’ preparedness and skills. Preparation for AP exams not only requires hard work from the students’ end but also from teachers, as their workload and coursework increase: it is a team effort for both parties, in order for students to be successful.   

For history teacher Jefferey Benya, his motivation lies in the future benefits of the skills students learn. “Students will be able to use all this material after school; they might forget some content, but they will remember how to write FRQ’s and be able to apply that to business writing, which will benefit them in future careers. It’s also super rewarding when students come to me and say they got a five on the exam and weren’t even expecting it,” Benya said. 

Similarly, history teacher Timothy Anderson’s motivation stems from his desire for students to be prepared for the upcoming AP exams. “I want to make sure students are ready and prepared for the AP exam. Knowing your students were successful when the July scores come out is always rewarding,” Anderson said.

Students’ success is a primary driving force for teachers’ motivation and students notice and appreciate the hard work teachers put in during AP season, from extra office hours to more time spent reviewing each topic in depth. The results wouldn’t be possible without the teachers’ help. “ During AP season, teachers always try their best to help prepare students, even when everyone is ready for summer break and both teachers and students feel unmotivated, it seems like the teachers are always pushing us to do our best,” senior Alina Parikh said.