At North Broward Prep, Mrs. Coyle stands out for the passion she brings to the classroom. The AP Human Geography teacher’s love for the subject shines through in every lesson. With 19 years of teaching experience and three years at NBP, she continues to inspire students to see the world through a new lens.
Mrs. Coyle shares with us, “Always. I loved social science classes. Geography and world history were always my favorite.” Her early love for these subjects set the base for a lifelong commitment to education and global awareness.
Her journey into teaching AP Human Geography began unexpectedly. “I was already teaching the Honors World Cultural Geography course at Monarch, and had found success in that,” she explains. “One day, my administration told me that I had been selected to take over the AP Human Geography course. I was really excited, as I always had an interest in human geography, and it was the first AP course I got to teach.”
When it comes to favorite lessons, Mrs. Coyle doesn’t hesitate to answer. “Unit 4, Political Patterns and Processes may be tied with Unit 5, Agriculture and Rural Land,” she says. “Unit 4 is my favorite because I absolutely love talking about politics and looking at the geopolitical world map. A lot of the information taught there is applicable to everything going on every single day around the world.” She also enjoys teaching about agriculture because, as she puts it, “It deals with our food and where it comes from. Many students are able to really understand that unit, because they have to eat every single day. So it affects them on a daily basis.”
Beyond test prep and textbook material, Mrs. Coyle hopes her students gain something deeper. “I hope that my students take away a love for everything human geography. That they are able to understand and apply concepts that we learned in class to the real world,” she says. “There are careers available in human geography, and using the knowledge earned in this class can really help somebody make a difference.”
Her best advice for the AP exam is practical and focused. “Start a few weeks out,” she advises. “Go over every single one of your notes and vocabulary terms, do small group study sessions, and practice as many multiple-choice and FRQ questions as possible. The most helpful thing you can probably do is get a tutor a couple of weeks before the exam and run through question after question with them.”
Mrs. Coyle’s teaching experience extends beyond the classroom. Before her teaching career, she was a gymnastics coach, working with students from preschool to high school. “My absolute favorite group to teach is high school,” she shares. “High school is kind of a launching point for the rest of your life. I’m able to have wonderful conversations with the students I teach, and I feel that I can sometimes have more impact with older students than those in the younger grades.”
With her enthusiasm, knowledge, and care for her students’ growth, Mrs. Coyle makes AP Human Geography not just a class, but an experience that connects students to the world around them.
