New York State Master Teacher Program
The NYS Master Teacher Program fosters a collaboration among the selected outstanding k-12 STEM educators, whereby they develop expertise in the areas of content, pedagogy, and students' families and communities. The Western New York region of the NYSMTP works with 250 teachers from over 50 school districts.
FEATURED
Julia Robinson Math Festival
Cheektowaga Union East hosted the first Julia Robinson Math Festival (JRMF) in the Buffalo area in partnership with the NYS Master Teacher Program. It was wonderful to see students and their families having fun and doing math together. Thank you to everyone who helped make the Math Festival a huge success!
Buffalo Math Collaborative and Chautauqua Math Collaborative
Dr. Kara Imm led the second week of meetings with our Master Teachers and participating school districts. We are excited to continue this professional development throughout the school year.
Erin McClure was recognized at the 75th Annual AMTNYS Conference as the Region A Regional Award Winner. Awardees are recognized for their collaboration, service, and impact on the profession of mathematics teaching.
Anton Banko Excellence in Elementary Science Teacher of the Year Award Winner, Bridget Lyon
Bridget Lyon was awarded the Anton Banko Excellence in Elementary Science Teacher of the Year Award at the 2025 STANYS Conference. This award recognizes a New York State K-6 teacher for demonstrated excellence in the teaching of elementary science.
NYSMTP WESTERN REGION NEWS
Upcoming PD
January 2026 - May 2026
See below for engaging PD opportunities! See full descriptions of each workshop and minicourse by clicking the link to view its flyer.
February Cohort Meeting
Date: Saturday, February 28th, 9am-1pm
Location: Buffalo State University, SAMC 257
Why Do They Do That? Determining the Function of Behavior (Including Sensory Concerns) – join us for a skills-focused workshop designed to help general education educators design strategies to address challenging behavior. We will discuss and practice using tools that help us to determine the function/reason for behavior, with an emphasis on identifying sensory, environmental, and motivational variables that influence behavior. We will practice using practical tools and demonstrate how these instruments guide us in determining the reason for behavior as well as strategies to address it. In addition, the workshop will examine how physical factors, such as classroom layout, stimulation such as noise, lighting, etc. can trigger or even encourage challenging behavior. Attendees will practical strategies for adjusting environments and supports to increase student success.
Effective Teaching Strategies: How Do Students with ASD Learn Best? - join us for an interactive workshop designed to help educators differentiate instruction to better match the learning profiles of students with autism spectrum disorder. The session will explore evidence-based accommodations and modifications that encourage access to the general education curriculum, engagement, and meaningful participation across content areas. Participants will also examine the role of preference assessments as a tool for increasing motivation and individualizing instruction. A collaborative work session is built into the workshop, during which attendees will bring one or two of their own lesson plans to analyze, adapt with peer input and guided facilitation. By the end of the workshop, participants will leave with concrete instructional strategies, revised lesson materials, and a deeper understanding of how to design learning experiences that align with the strengths and needs of students with ASD.
Dates: Thursdays, March 12th, 19th, and 26th; 5:00 - 8:00 pm
Location: Buffalo State University, SAMC 257
Support Success in Students with Autism Registration
Support Success in Students with Autism Flyer
Buffalo Math Collaborative
Dr. Kara Imm
A professional learning community of K- 9 teachers and leaders, across grand bands, schools, and districts who come together to:
- Design learning experiences for kids, study them in real time, and reflect on what and how mathematical learning is happening
- Deepen the mathematical pedagogical content knowledge needed for teaching (our own mathematics + how children make sense of mathematics)
- Share ideas in a space designed to build on teachers’ love of kids and math (#lovekidslovemath)
- Provide a model for empowering our students mathematically through cognitively demanding tasks and routines that feature equitable access and that foster student agency, ownership, and identity.
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Willow Ridge Elementary
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Union East Elementary
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Maryvale Middle School
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Amherst Middle School
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Sweet Home Middle School
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Cleveland Hill Middle School
Buffalo Math Collaborative Flyer
Inclusive STEM
Kara Imm & Rhonda Bondi
Together we will:
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analyze and interrogate barriers to equity in our teaching practices, curriculum, classroom structures, and beliefs about teaching, learning, and students
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tackle the practical challenges of individualizing a standard curriculum while providing opportunities to make sense of past and current curricula
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make sense of the difference between accommodation, modification and differentiation
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explore high-leverage teaching practices and curricula designed to nurture meaningful and effective learning for culturally, linguistically, and ability diverse students.
All are welcome. Co-teaching teams are especially encouraged to attend together.
Pre-reading
Demystifiying Differentiated Instruction
Date: Saturday, March 21st, 8:30am-3:30pm
Whether you’re creating lesson plans, grading, communicating with families, or designing student activities, AI can help you work smarter, not harder.
What You'll Learn:
✅ How to use AI for planning, differentiation, and content creation
✅ Time-saving hacks for grading, feedback, and classroom communication
✅ Tools for designing visuals, assessments, and engaging student materials
✅ Responsible and ethical AI use in education
Walk away with ready-to-use examples, templates, and confidence to put AI to work for you. Perfect for teachers of all grade levels and content areas with no tech expertise required!
Dates: Wednesdays, April 8th, 15th, and 22nd; 5:00 - 7:00 pm
Location: Buffalo State University, SAMC 259
The Image Above Gives Data About the NYS Master Teacher Program
- 124,000+ students across New York State have a NYS Master Teacher
- There are 921 current Master Teachers
- More than 549 Master Teacher Emeritus
- Giving us a total of 1,470 Master Teachers statewide
- 61% Teach High School
- 15% Teach Middle School
- 15 % Teach Elementary School
- 9% Teach Across Grade Levels
- 100% of the Master Teachers state that their collaboration with other NYS Master Teachers have provided them with professional renewal and inspiration for their work as STEM educators
- 99% of MTs agree that their status as a NYS Master Teachers has increased their opportunities to develop their leadership skills.
- 97% of MTs agree that their experiences in the NYSMTP have increased their opportunities to share their work with teachers in their school or district.
- The percent of High Needs Districts with NYS Master Teachers:
- 100% Large City
- 58% New York City
- 57% Urban/Suburban/ High Needs
- 51% Rural High Needs
The NYSMTP invites applications from eligible K-12 STEM Teachers & Counselors! In 2022, Governor Hochul announced the expansion of the New York State Master Teacher Program to create a cohort of counselors and to encourage more teachers with CTE certificates related to STEM careers projected to be in high demand to apply. The program creates a statewide network of the highest performing educators dedicated to sharing the expertise with peers and attracting the brightest minds to careers in the STEM fields and education. Through participation in the NYSMTP, selected educators engage in professional learning and receive $15,000 stipends annually over four years. Visit suny.edu/masterteacher for detailed information about eligibility and the application process. "New York is home to many talented teachers, and we owe an enormous debt of gratitude to educators across our state." -Governor Hochul
The NYS Master Teacher Program invites outstanding, experienced K012 STEM teachers and K-12 counselors who are committed to: reflection, continuous professional growth, collaboration, creating and sustaining a supportive and engaging learning environment, excellence in STEM education for all students, and making a difference within and beyond schools to apply for a four-year Master Teacher fellowship. Governor Hochul said, "I'm proud to announce the expansion of the Master Teacher network and the open application for the next round of STEM teachers and counselors.". A NYS Master Teacher said, "The experiences I had [with the Program] inspired me to bring back to my classroom the plethora of ideas and examples that fellow educators shared, that supported me in many ways to become a better more effective educator. THAT is what the Master Teacher Program does best.
"Since 2013, New York's Master Teacher program has recognized our state's most talented and dedicated educators for their persistence in engaging students in STEM fields. These teachers are instrumental in the development of our future leaders, and it is a privilege to recognize them every year."