North teacher works with national initiative

Chris Saunders, chairman of the Nashua High School North English department, was selected to serve as a consultant for the National Math and Science Initiative. The nonprofit organization was founded in 2007 to improve math and science achievement in public schools. Recently, Saunders traveled to Fayetteville, N.C., to aid the AP program at a school that has a high number of students with parents stationed at Fort Bragg. The NMSI focuses on math and science, but “insists on English,” Saunders said. “There is a direct correlation between success in AP English and other courses.” While in North Carolina, Saunders held study sessions outside normal class hours to help  students in AP English,  and also assisted in the training of other AP teachers. Saunders said this was an opportunity to “get students to take AP that don’t usually.” Saunders has been working with The College Board as an AP reader correcting AP English tests. Saunders said he applied to participate with the NMSI so he could share his knowledge of the subject while “doing something I love.” Saunders used his experience as an AP reader to inform students about how exams are graded.