Dianna Trang, an Advanced Placement English language arts teacher at Grapevine High School, was selected Sept. 22 to serve as one of the first AP advocates for the state of Texas.

"We are very excited for Dianna and the opportunity she will have to be an advocate for the students, parents and educators of GCISD," said Dr. Rick Westfall, Grapevine-Colleyville ISD chief learning officer, in a news release. "As we work to emphasize college and career readiness for all students across the district, we strive to continually develop the way in which we educate with our best and brightest students."

Launched in winter 2013, the AP Advocates Program included 119 AP teachers from California, Georgia, Florida and New York. This is the first year the program will be offered to Texas AP teachers.

To be eligible to apply, a Texas AP or pre-AP teacher must have three or more years of AP teaching experience.

As an AP advocate, Trang will work with other AP teachers in Texas to share resources and bring advanced classes to more students. The advocates will have the opportunity to speak directly to policymakers in order to protect and expand AP programs throughout the state.

She will also be responsible for attending an in-person orientation training. At the training she will meet other AP advocates from throughout the state as well as program staff and members of College Board, the entity that oversees the AP programs, government relations team. The training will also teach Trang the best practices for interacting with policy makers and the media, according to the College Board's website.

Trang has been teaching at GHS for nine years, and this school year marks her eighth as an AP language and composition teacher.

She graduated with a bachelor's degree from the University of Colorado and earned a master's degree at Texas A&M University.