Governor Cuomo Announces Selection of Inaugural New York State Master Teachers

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced Tuesday the selection of 105 educators from four regions as the first group of New York State Master Teachers, including 29 from Western New York who will partner with SUNY Buffalo State. 

“I am pleased to welcome New York’s inaugural group of Master Teachers which brings together 105 of the most qualified math and science educators from four regions of the state,” Governor Cuomo said. “As part of our efforts to build a world-class education system in New York, the Master Teachers program will allow this first group of talented teachers to assist their peers in the classroom, further develop their own expertise, and enhance the overall learning experience of our students for years to come.”

“The Master Teachers program allows for our best classroom leaders to share their expertise with their peers, furthering student success and helping to build the foundation for college readiness and the skilled workforce that will keep New York competitive in the twenty-first-century global innovation economy,” said SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher. “This program complements SUNY’s new and more robust standards for our teaching programs and shows how the University’s continued partnership with Governor Cuomo is delivering real reforms across the education pipeline. I want to thank Buffalo State for its leadership in helping to launch and coordinate this important initiative in Western New York. ”

The New York State Master Teacher Program was established by Governor Cuomo to identify, reward, and support master math and science teachers throughout New York State. The role of master teachers as professional mentors and content experts is key to developing the current cadre of outstanding educators as well as developing skilled future teachers.

Each regional program is paired with a SUNY campus to give participants additional content exposure.

“Buffalo State enthusiastically welcomes the first group of talented Master Teachers and looks forward to playing a central role in enhancing teaching and learning in science and mathematics,” said Howard Cohen, interim president of Buffalo State. “By serving as a regional host campus for this program, we are taking our college’s long-standing strengths in teacher education and applying them toward a larger goal of bolstering New York’s educational system to better prepare students for a globally competitive job market.”

Buffalo State houses the largest teacher-education program in the region. The college is also the only SUNY institution that has received continuous accreditation by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) since the organization conducted its first review of institutions in 1954.

Specific to math and science education, Buffalo State features undergraduate and graduate programs in biology, chemistry, earth sciences, mathematics, and physics that prepare teacher candidates for secondary certification and 30-credit-hour concentrations in science and math for elementary and special education teacher certification. Earlier this year, students and faculty in these programs began reaping the benefits of the first phase of the college’s new $100 million Science and Mathematics Complex, a 224,000-square-foot, three-story facility with cutting-edge instructional and research facilities. 

Statewide, the first group of Master Teachers has nearly 1,500 years of combined full-time teaching experience and is comprised of 78 high school teachers, 21 middle school teachers, and 6 with dual responsibilities. Subjects of expertise include calculus, algebra, physics, earth science, chemistry, engineering design and development, and mechanics.

Download a full list of Master Teachers and school districts.

The number of teachers from each region in this first selection and the respective partner SUNY campus are:

• Central New York: 36 (SUNY Cortland)
• Mid-Hudson: 19 (SUNY New Paltz)
• North Country: 21 (SUNY Plattsburgh)
• Western New York: 29 (SUNY Buffalo State) 
   

Additionally, the SUNY pairings for the remaining regions are:

• Long Island: Stony Brook University
• Southern Tier: Binghamton University
• Capital Region: University at Albany
• Finger Lakes: SUNY Geneseo
• Mohawk Valley: SUNY Oneonta
• New York City: in partnership with Math for America
   

Applications for the second round of the Master Teacher program can be submitted online between November 1 and January 3 with final selections being made in spring 2014. All 10 regions and SUNY partners will accept applications during this period. 

Master Teacher Fellows will:

• Receive a $15,000 stipend per year over four years for participation in the program (total compensation of $60,000 per Fellow).
• 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.
• Attend required regular cohort meetings, participate in and lead several professional development sessions each year, and participate in the training of pre-service and early career educators as part of the Master Teacher program.