AP Research – Samantha Lawrence

This session: AP Research – with Samantha Lawrence is offered ONLINE during Week 2: June 22-25, 2026.

Meet your APSI Consultant for AP Research

Samantha Lawrence received her BS in English and Theatre at Northwestern University, going on to earn a Single Subject Credential in English at Cal State Long Beach and doing English Masters work at UCI. She has served as English Department Chair, Pathway Lead, WASC Coordinator, and WASC Committee Member over the course of more than two decades at Long Beach Polytechnic. Starting her tenure in 2003, she began by teaching 10th Grade English, and after more than a dozen years in that position she was introduced to the AP Capstone program in 2014 during its first operational year. 

Samantha has participated in the reading for AP Research since the very first reading in 2016. As a Reader, a Table Leader, and Early Table Leader it’s been a  privilege to see the course develop over the last decade. Samantha serves as a main content creator for the AP Research AP Classroom. She also works with districts and teachers in California who are interested in developing their own Capstone program – most recently partnering with educators in ABC Unified. Samantha has been working with Advance Kentucky and pairing up with other veteran AP Research teachers to make sure that professional development for AP Research is available nationwide. Every month she and her co-hosts (fellow Table and Question Leaders) develop workshops on specific topics and deliver resources on a specific AP Research topic. She also hosts an independent (and free) monthly meeting where teachers from all over the world come to workshop ideas, talk over issues, and develop resources for each other and their AP Research classroom. 

APSI Session Description

In this APSI, you will –

• Explore the course framework, the exam, and the AP resources. 

• Plan and develop a focus for your instruction. 

• Learn about completing the digital activation process at the start of the school year that will give you immediate access to resources provided by College Board – both student and teacher facing. 

• Review a substantial number of student samples — specifically selected to offer you a sense of the scope and possibility for you and your students. 

• Gain insight into how the rubrics (both traditional and holistic) are applied and how to get the most out of them. 

• Understand how to take advantage of the variety of ways the AP Capstone program and AP Research can serve your students.