Upcoming Professional Development

Contact Thea Keppel at keppeltm01@buffalostate.edu with any questions or concerns regarding event registration


September Cohort Meeting
Megan DeJoe and Paula Ferneza

Let's celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Erie Canal! Participants will explore lessons and activities designed with a multi-disciplined approach that addresses ELA, Social Studies, and Science NYS learning standards through the lens of a local phenomenon: the Erie Canal! Lessons and activities will primarily address elementary level learning standards but connections for middle and high school will also be shared!

Location: Emmet Belknap Intermediate School
Date: Saturday September 13th, 9:00am-12:00pm 

September Cohort Meeting RSVP


Facilitation Moves Workshop

MT-led group facilitators will engage in conversation and share ideas around best practices that create spaces for optimal professional learning to take place. As a group, we'll consider a number of facilitation moves, how might you adapt some of these moves for your own personal style and for your MT-led group, and what moves you can make in session one to set yourself up for success, build community, and encourage equity of voice.

Location: 210 Market St, Lockport, NY
Date: Saturday September 13th, 1:00pm-3:00pm following the September Cohort Meeting

Facilitation Moves Workshop Registration

Facilitation Moves Workshop Flyer


Lockport Locks & Erie Canal Cruise

Local history is still very alive at Lockport Locks & Erie Canal Cruises, and has been experienced by almost million people since its inception. The fun and educational cruise will take you past five of the original 1800's locks. Three million gallons of water will fill Locks 34 & 35, the only double set on the Erie Canal, and raise the boat 50 feet. You’ll pass under Lockport's "Upside Down Bridge," Lockport's "Big Bridge" (the widest bridge in the U.S. at 399 feet wide), through the "deep rock cut" and under lift bridges. The lively narration by the Coast Guard Licensed Captains is also accompanied by crowd-pleasing canal music, popular during the 1800's.

Come aboard for a relaxing and informative ride on the 19th-century engineering marvel which opened up the American Frontier.

Location: 210 Market St, Lockport, NY
Date: Saturday September 13th, 1:00pm-3:00pm following the September Cohort Meeting

Lockport Locks & Erie Canal Cruise Registration

Lockport Locks & Erie Canal Cruise Flyer


Engineering Tomorrow Minicourse
Engineering Tomorrow Engineers

Engineering Tomorrow Facilitators will demo two labs to try out - register for one or both! See descriptions of both labs below:

September 10th: Renewable Energy Lab
Building Solar & Wind Systems

In this lab, students are introduced to renewable energy, where they will learn about the benefits of renewable energy sources in contrast to the dangers of non-renewable energy sources. Students will learn how to build their own solar-powered and wind-powered turbine prototype, while trying to keep their costs as low as possible. This reflects how today’s engineers work to lower the cost of renewable energy sources in order to make them more appealing to the public.

September 17th: Electric Vehicles Lab
Building & Racing Your Own EV

In this lab, students are introduced to the history, development, and design features of electric vehicles. Students will learn how to build their own electric vehicle and gain an understanding of this burgeoning technology.

Location: Buffalo State University, SAMC 259

Renewable Energy Lab Registration

Electric Vehicles Lab Registration

Engineering Tomorrow Lab Flyer


 
Mathematical Landscapes in Practice: Fractions, Decimals, and Percent
Pedagogical Moves to Create a Learning Community in Grades K-8
Rachael Burke & Denea Czapla

The Western Region of the New York State Master Teacher Program is excited to offer an extension of our mathematical landscapes of learning series that focuses on the pedagogical moves teachers make to nurture a community of mathematicians across the elementary and middle school grades.  The mathematical content will be situated within Cathy Fosnot’s landscape of learning framework and will explore the coherent development of topics along the K – 8 spectrum. Video case studies across the grade levels of classroom practice will be analyzed and discussed using the TRU Framework, from Dr. Alan Shoenfeld at the University of California, Berkeley.  These video cases provide opportunities for participants to share their grade level expertise and to enhance our understanding of the content connections across the landscape.  

October's sessions will highlight building a welcoming math community for learners to take risks, gain confidence, and take charge of their learning with a focus on the landscape of fractions, decimals and percents throughout grades K-8. Sessions will feature mathematical models and tools for thinking such as pattern blocks, fraction tiles, number lines, ratio tables, Building Thinking Classroom principles, number strings, and more. Real world contexts and situations will be used as we consider and reflect on how to best develop students’ conceptual understanding, mathematical identity, and a supportive, nurturing classroom community.

Location: Buffalo State University, SAMC 259
Dates: Wednesdays October 1st, 8th, 15th, and 22nd; 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Mathematical Landscapes October Registration

Mathematical Landscapes October Flyer


Streamline Your Teacher Life with AI Tools!
Mary Howard

Reclaim your time and reduce your workload by Streamlining Your Teacher Life with AI Tools!    This mini-course provides hands-on, practical examples designed specifically for educators. Across three engaging sessions, you’ll learn how to integrate artificial intelligence tools to save time, spark creativity, and supercharge your classroom.

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!

Location: Buffalo State University, SAMC 259
Dates: Wednesdays October 29th, November 5th, November 12th; 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

AI Tools Minicourse Registration

AI Tools Minicourse Flyer


Past Professional Development for WNY Master Teachers

See our database of past professional development offered to WNY Master Teachers