Master Teachers

We are delighted that you are interested in joining the New York State Master Teacher Program (NYSMTP) our professional network of outstanding, experienced educational professionals, K-12 classroom teachers and K-12 counselors, dedicated to professional growth and development and to providing the most innovative, engaging and supportive learning environment for their students.

Selected Master Teachers and Master Counselors engage in NYSMTP professional learning opportunities that are co-created by network members and their SUNY counterparts. The professional learning program is grounded in the local context and designed with local expertise to address challenges and provide new opportunities for students.

The NYS Master Teachers and Master Counselors are selected by a rigorous, multi-step application process. Please review the document What Does Being a NYS Master Teacher and Master Counselor Entail? prior to beginning your application. Selected applicants commit to engaging in a minimum number of NYSMTP-Professional Development activities in addition to their district and state requirements, agree to a four-year commitment, and are eligible for annual stipends of $15,000, totaling $60,000.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the New York State Master Teacher program, you must:

Be a certified NYS full-time public school teacher, grades K - 12, with at least four years of full-time teaching experience at the time of the application, , and
Be rated "effective" or "highly effective" on your Annual Professional Performance Review, and

AND

For K-6 teachers:
You are teacher of record* for Science, Technology/Computer Science, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) content.
* Teacher of record indicates that the teacher is responsible for preparing and implementing the curriculum, and assessing students.

For 7-12 teachers:
One of two options:

You hold a NYS teaching certificate in one of the following STEM disciplines and teach a courseload of a minimum of 60% STEM courses:

Agricultural Teaching
Biology
Chemistry
Computer Science
Earth Science
Educational Technology
Mathematics
Physics
Technology Education
Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (7-12 all titles); OR

You are teaching a Career & Technical Education (CTE) content courseload of a minimum of 60% STEM courses, and hold a NYS teaching certificate in one of the following CTE disciplines:

Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (7-12 all titles); OR
Information Technology (7-12 all titles); OR
Aviation/Aerospace Maintenance, Manufacturing & Repair Occupations (7-12 all titles); OR
Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources (7-12 all titles); OR
Architecture & Construction: (7-12 all titles); OR
Health Sciences (7-12 all titles).

The NYSMTP professional network extends to include eligible K -12 teachers who also have specialized training and expertise to support STEM instruction for students who have been designated dual language or ESL/ELL, or students with disabilities. We encourage applications from NYS teachers who meet all of our eligibility criteria and

Hold an extension certificate in bilingual education, or
Hold certification in English as a Second Language, or
Hold dual certification in a STEM content area or at the elementary level and Students with Disabilities.

The NYSMTP develops knowledge across Three Domains:

Knowledge of STEM Content

Master Teachers have been exposed to and grappled with ideas that are central to their Science, Technology/Computer Science, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) discipline at advanced levels, beyond the level at which they teach. Like any STEM professionals, however, they view their knowledge as incomplete. The Master Teacher Program offers professional learning focused on advanced levels of STEM content allowing Master Teachers to enrich their own content learning and to build connections across disciplines.

Knowledge of Pedagogy

Master Teachers have a deep understanding of professional knowledge for teaching and strive to incorporate successful practices in their work. They continually evaluate, refine, and adapt their practice to better meet the needs of their students.

Knowledge of Students, their Families, and their Communities

Master Teachers possess a deep knowledge of their students, within and beyond the classroom. They use this knowledge - which includes understanding of students' neighborhoods, cultures, and values - to inform their curricular and pedagogical choices. Master Teachers have collaborated across districts and regions and with members of their communities to address challenges such as local and global environmental issues and increasing opportunities for underrepresented populations in STEM fields.

Admissions criteria include:

Written Response to Prompts: Applicants will provide responses to a series of prompts. The prompts will be available when the online application platform is accepting applications.
Information about professional activities informed by goals for professional growth and development.
Rating of "effective" or "highly effective" on your most recent completed Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR)
Three Recommendations: one from your principal or building supervisor, two from colleagues who have recently taught with you. (The recommendation is a short questionnaire that will be sent to the individuals you identify).
Praxis® Subject Assessment (formerly the Praxis II® Content Exam). Please review the Praxis Guide and FAQ for specific information.
Transcripts: Unofficial transcripts uploaded to online application platform for application

Review the three knowledge domains for teachers/counselors and reflect on their teaching/counseling practice through the lens of each domain.
Review the NYSMTP Praxis Guide for K-12 STEM Teachers or for K-12 Counselors and register for an accepted PRAXIS exam following the instructions in the Guide.
Decide on whom to ask for the two colleague recommendations and talk to recommenders about the knowledge domains and what specific examples of the applicant’s teaching/counseling work they could include.
Share with their principal/supervisor the knowledge domains and what specific examples of the applicant’s teaching/counseling work they could include.
Create a list of professional activities, including dates, of the following:
- prior teaching/counseling roles or other related professional experience,
- related professional work, including school/district committee, professional associations, and mentoring experiences,
- leadership and community-facing activities, and
- honors, awards, grants received.
Gather undergraduate and graduate transcripts (Applicants will upload unofficial transcripts to their application.)

The application also includes a section with writing prompts. Instructions and writing prompts will be available when the application opens.

The NYSMTP staff is committed to helping you navigate the application process. If after reviewing the information on this website, you have additional questions, email the staff at masterteacherprogram@suny.edu. Due to the great interest in the NYSMTP, please allow 24-48 hours for a response to your email.