You must apply to the region in which you work. No exceptions will be made.
We are delighted that you are interested in joining our professional network of outstanding STEM teachers. To be eligible for this program, you must be a certified, full-time, K - 12 NYS public school teacher with at least 4 years of teaching experience.
The application period for the NYS Master Teacher Program closed on February 24, 2018.
As part of the NYSMTP’s selection process, each finalist must participate in an in-person interview at the program campus for their region. Applicants will be notified if they have been selected for a finalist interview by the end of April.
All applicants are advised to hold the day indicated below for their region in the event they are selected as finalists. Finalists must interview in the region for which they have applied.
| Capital Region | April 28 |
| Central NY | April 28 |
| Finger Lakes | April 28 |
| Long Island | Week of May 7 |
| Mid-Hudson | May 12 |
| Mohawk Valley | May 5 |
| North Country | April 28 |
| Southern Tier | April 28 |
| Western NY | May 5 |
Successful applications include specific evidence of deep mastery of and goals for growth in each of the three NYSMTP knowledge domains in all of the application components:
To be eligible for the New York State Master Teacher program, you must:
* Teacher of record indicates that the teacher is responsible for preparing and implementing the curriculum, and assessing students.
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
Admissions criteria include:
Please know that only complete applications are reviewed for admission. Past applicants have found the transcripts and letters of recommendation to require the most time; please plan accordingly so that all the required application materials are submitted by the application deadline.
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.
I live in a different region from the school district where I work – which region should I apply to?
You must apply to the region in which you work. No exceptions will be made.
Which region is my school district in?
Please see the school district/county/region list in the Additonal Documents section below if you are unsure of which region your school is in.
How much time will I have to spend? What activities will I have to do? When will they be?
See the information in the Master Teacher Participation Requirements, “What Does Being a Master Teacher Entail”.
I applied in a previous round…
…do I have to re-do my entire application?
All applicants are required to create a new application ID and file. If you are re-applying you must also create a new ID. There are questions on the application for you to indicate if you have already sent official transcripts and your Praxis score.
…do I have to write a new personal statement and get new recommendations?
You are welcome to re-submit your personal statement if it is a response to the prompt on the application, if you wish, but you will want to make sure that all components of your application reflect the height of your talents in content, pedagogical skill and engagement of students.
Recommenders will not upload a letter. The recommendation is a short questionnaire to be completed that will be sent to the individuals you identify in the recommendations section of your online application.
…can I get feedback on a past application?
We do provide an opportunity for feedback about your application if you are considering submitting for the next round of admissions. We won’t be able to discuss specific details of your application, but if you are interested, please email masterteacherprogram@suny.edu and a staff member will get in touch with you about the feedback process.
When is the application deadline?
The application period for the NYS Master Teacher Program closed on February 24, 2018. We are not currently accepting applications. Information about the next application cycles will be announced in the fall of 2018, after the conclusion of the current cycle.
What is the Praxis exam and why do I need to take it?
The NYS Master Teacher Program is dedicated to ensuring that all Master Teachers have a strong knowledge of STEM disciplines. To determine content knowledge, the Screening Committee reviews Praxis exam scores in addition to all application materials.
I took my state certification and content exams – do I still need to take a Praxis exam?
Yes.
Which Praxis exam do I need to take?
The NYS Master Teacher Program application requires one of the Praxis® Subject Assessments (formerly the Praxis II® Content Exams) that is listed on the Praxis Exam Guide below. The application process equally regards knowledge in all STEM content areas, so, we recommend that you register for the exam that will best demonstrate your mastery of a STEM content area. Information on what is covered on specific exams can be found using the preparation materials section on the ETS website.
I teach more than one subject, which Praxis exam should I take?
You should take the test in the area for which you will be applying to the program. If you make it to the in-person interview stage of the process, you will be asked to make a 10-minute presentation in your content area. Since the application process regards content knowledge, pedagogy and understanding of your students equally, you should consider applying in the area where you can best demonstrate mastery of content and take the associated Praxis exam.
Should I take the computer or paper exam?
We recommend the computer-delivered exam, for which you will receive your score immediately upon completion. They are also offered more frequently and registration can be completed up until a few days before the first date of the exam period.
I tried to register for an exam and there were none available before the program deadline.
Paper exam registration may no longer be available, but computer-delivered exams are being offered in the required time period. Click here for computer-delivered test dates.
What exam should I take if I am a technology/engineering teacher?
We suggest that technology and engineering teachers take either the Computer Science or Math Content Knowledge Exam. The NYS Master Teacher Program seeks to reward, support, and retain teachers with a strong knowledge of mathematics or science; therefore, the list of accepted Praxis exams are exclusively content, not pedagogy exams.
How do I sign up for and take the Praxis exam?
Visit http://www.ets.org/praxis to register for the Praxis exam. Download an exam guide to help in your preparation. Be sure to list the New York State Master Teacher Program as a score recipient using our state/agency code 7780. It is the applicant’s responsibility to take the Praxis exam by the application deadline.
Do I have to take the Praxis exam before submitting my online application?
All applicants must take the exam by the required deadline for the application cycle. You may submit the online application prior to taking the exam. When registering for the exam, be sure to list the New York State Master Teacher Program as a score recipient using our state/agency code 7780. It is the applicant’s responsibility to take the Praxis exam by the application deadline, and to ensure that the NYSMTP is a score recipient.
What is an acceptable Praxis score?
Your Praxis Content Knowledge exam score is one of many components considered in your NYS Master Teacher Program application. Below is a list of recommended score ranges for the various Content Knowledge exams. Please note that a score within your subject’s range does not guarantee admission.
If you have any questions or need any assistance, please contact the NYS Master Teacher Program office at masterteacherprogram@suny.edu.
Do you have someone in mind who should be considered as a NYS Master Teacher? We’d love to encourage them to apply.
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Learn about the Master Teacher Participation Requirements.
