Twp. Man Joins Educators to Score AP Exams

Long Valley’s Matthew Mergen, a parent of three and North Plainfield High School French teacher, recently took part in an annual educator gathering that scores the exams students take for the Advanced Placement program across the country. 

In June, Mergen joined high school and college instructors from across the globe after he was chosen to participate in the College Board’s Annual AP Reading in French Language and Culture.

“The AP Reading is a unique forum in which an academic dialogue between high school and college educators is both fostered and encouraged,” a press release from the Advanced Placement program said.

Mergen has lived in Long Valley with his wife and children since 2004, and is no novice when it comes to contributing to the world of higher education.

“I applied to become an AP reader several years ago having taught AP French (at North Plainfield High School),” Mergen said. “I became a content scorer and then a content scoring leader for the French Praxis exam program for ETS in Princeton.”

ETS also develops the AP test for the College Board, Mergen said.

“The Reading draws upon the talents of some of the finest teachers and professors that the world has to offer,” said Trevor Packer, Senior Vice President, AP and College Readiness at the College Board. “It fosters professionalism, allows for the exchange of ideas, and strengthens the commitment to students and to teaching. We are very grateful for the contributions of talented educators like Matthew Mergen.”

Mergen said he feels his involvement as a scoring leader and bi-cultural background was also a factor in being selected as an AP Reader, in addition to his teaching experience and educational background.

Mergen and his colleagues evaluated and scored the free-response sections of the AP Exams.

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