Governor Cuomo Announces Selection of 275 Additional New York State Master Teachers
October 2, 2018
From the office of Governor Cuomo
Statewide Professional Network Welcomes Grade K-5 STEM Educators
Total Number of Outstanding STEM Teacher-Leaders Reaches 980
New Round for K-12 STEM Applicants Open until February 23, 2019
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the selection of 275 educators from across the state to join the New York State Master Teacher Program. One third of the new Master Teachers announced are elementary teachers, expanding the network of outstanding teacher-leaders to include K-12 STEM educators. These educators will join the network of Master Teachers created in 2013, bringing the total number of Master Teachers across New York State to 980.
"Education is the cornerstone to success, and it is the brilliant, dedicated teachers in New York who make a difference in countless lives and inspire the leaders of tomorrow," Governor Cuomo said. "Congratulations to the 275 newest members of the Master Teacher Program, who will join the ranks of the top educators in the state as they work to further their skills and their impact on students in every corner of this great state."
"Teachers dedicate their lives to educating our youth and inspiring them to succeed inside and outside the classroom," said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul. "I congratulate the 275 teachers who will join the New York State Master Teacher program for their invaluable leadership and skills in STEM education. The Master Teacher program continues to expand, recognizing their growth and commitment to educating students in the STEM fields of the future."
The incoming group of Master Teachers includes 40 teachers with multiple teaching certifications, 10 teachers certified in Special Education and/or Students with Disabilities, and 14 teachers certified in Technology Education who are offering various courses in Computer Science and Technology. 30 percent of this cohort are teaching in high needs school districts, including the Syracuse, Rochester, Albany, Binghamton, and Buffalo City School Districts.
"I'm delighted to see that New York's Master Teacher Program has now grown to include teachers who work with our youngest students," said SUNY Chancellor Kristina M. Johnson. "These teachers lay the groundwork for a lifelong love of science and technology. SUNY is proud to host the Master Teacher Program on our campuses and look forward to the continued partnerships between university faculty and our state's best STEM educators."
The 275 Master Teachers are dedicated professionals who teach science, technology, computer science, robotics, coding, engineering, and math courses across grades K-12 including Advanced Placement, honors, Regents and International Baccalaureate levels.
The selected Master Teachers have been teaching an average of 15 years. Over 76 percent have been in the classroom for ten or more years, and 22 percent have been teaching for more than 20 years. The 275 Master Teachers represent 160 school districts.
All Master Teachers are active beyond their classrooms, serving as curriculum department leaders or on district and state-level committees. They are also sponsors of Science Olympiad competitions, school gardens, Robotics teams, Coding Clubs, community service organizations as well as coaches, and PTA members. The Master Teachers hold leadership roles in New York State STEM professional associations, and many have received awards and public recognition for their teaching from their peers and communities.
In nine regions across the state, the Master Teacher Program is hosted at a SUNY campus to leverage the expertise of the University's faculty and existing educator preparation programs. The number of teachers from each regional cohort and the respective partner SUNY campus are:
- Capital Region: 134 (University at Albany)
- Central New York: 106 (SUNY Cortland)
- Finger Lakes: 131 (SUNY Geneseo)
- Long Island: 93 (Stony Brook University)
- Mid-Hudson: 76 (SUNY New Paltz)
- Mohawk Valley: 84 (SUNY Oneonta)
- North Country: 72 (SUNY Plattsburgh)
- Southern Tier: 146 (Binghamton University)
- Western New York: 107 (SUNY Buffalo State)
- New York City: 31 (in partnership with Math for America)
A full list of Master Teachers and their school districts is available here.
Throughout their four-year participation in the Program, Master Teachers:
- Receive a $15,000 stipend annually;
- Engage in peer mentoring and intensive content-oriented professional development opportunities throughout the academic year;
- Work closely with pre-service and early career teachers to foster a supportive environment for the next generation of STEM teachers; and
- Attend required regional cohort meetings, participate in and lead several professional development sessions each year.
Governor Cuomo also announced the opening of the next round of applications for K-12 STEM teachers in all regions. K-12 STEM teachers are asked to review the eligibility requirements at www.suny.edu/masterteacher. Eligible Computer Science teachers—in all grades—are encouraged to apply.
The deadline for applications is February 23, 2019. Additional information about the application requirements and process is available at www.suny.edu/masterteacher.
About the State University of New York
The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country’s oldest school of maritime, the state’s only college of optometry, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.4 million students amongst its entire portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.1 billion in fiscal year 2023, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and one in three New Yorkers with a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit suny.edu.
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Holly Liapis
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