First Bell Fundamentals: AP® English Language and Literature

Katie Upton has been teaching for 15 years, helping students become college and career ready. She has taught English courses ranging from 7th grade English Language Arts to Composition I at the college level. In the past three years, she has quickly become an expert in AP® Language and Composition and a leader of the AP® Capstone program. Katie has a plethora of experience in educational professional development. She has led professional development at the building, district, area, and even global level, focusing on helping teachers blend 21st century learning with educational practices that have stood the test of time. Beginning her career in Oklahoma, Katie has also taught in Kansas and now calls Texas her home. A former basketball coach herself, Katie spends her free time cheering on her two boys in all that they do and supporting her husband, a head girls’ basketball coach.

Michelle Lindsey has been teaching high school for 9 years. She has taught or currently teaches a variety of courses including Debate, Speech, Intensive Reading, 9th- 11th English- both Honors and Remedial, AICE Literature, AP Seminar, AP Research, and now AP Literature. She has been a presenter at the FCTE conference for Florida English teachers and is now the head of the English department for her high school. She has a BA in English and an MA in Writing. She spends her free time hiding from the Florida heat reading books or writing fiction while enjoying the company of her two fur-babies.