Tope joined the LSU faculty in 2001 after 30+ years in K-12 education.  From 1989-2000 she served as assistant superintendent (curriculum) for Milford Schools in Cincinnati, Ohio.  Prior to that she held the positions of public relations director at Lakota Schools, K-12 English supervisor at Greenhills-Forest Park Schools, and assistant principal at Greenhills High School, all in Cincinnati.  Tope worked as a national consultant for Harcourt Publishing Company.  From 1981-83 she served on the Special Program Upgrading Reading team for the state of Louisiana.  She also taught Spanish, English and reading.