Upcoming Professional Development

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

September Cohort Meeting
 

Date: Saturday, September 19th, 9am-12pm  
Location: Akron Central School, 47 Bloomingdale Ave, Akron, NY 14001

September Cohort Meeting Registration

Community, Culture & Connection: A Tonawanda Seneca Tour
 

Join us for an opportunity to tour the Tonawanda Seneca community in Akron and gain a deeper understanding of the places, communities, and spaces that are an important part of our students’ lives. Led by Akron High School’s Seneca teacher, this experience offers educators a meaningful look into the community that many of our students call home.

Throughout the tour, participants will visit various areas of the reservation while learning about the Seneca Nation’s history, culture, community, and traditions. Participants will also gain valuable insight into our local demographics and the important role the Seneca Nation plays within the Akron Central School District community.

This tour is typically part of the experience provided to all newly hired Akron educators and is designed to strengthen connections between our schools, students, families, and community. By developing a greater understanding and appreciation of the community we serve, educators can build stronger relationships with students and create more meaningful connections within their classrooms.

Date: Saturday, September 19th, 1pm-3pm  
Location: Tonawanda Seneca Community in Akron

Tonawanda Seneca Tour Registration

Tonawanda Seneca Tour Flyer

Climate Education Summit

 
In Spring of 2026, the Board of Regents approved requirements for instruction in climate education for public school students in grades kindergarten (K) through 12. Join with fellow educators and climate experts to advance our climate knowledge and gain classroom ready resources and best practices for empowering students with knowledge and actionable skills.
 
Climate education starts with you. Small actions, big impact--let's learn abut climate change together.
 

Date: Saturday, September 26th, 9am-3:15pm 
Location: Buffalo State University

Climate Summit Education Registration

Climate Summit Education Flyer

From Sunlight to ATP: Modeling Energy Flow
HHMI BioInteractive
 
Where does the energy in a sugar molecule come from, and where does it go when a cell uses it? In this full-day workshop, we will dig into photosynthesis and cellular respiration, and you will leave with a coherent, standards-aligned way to teach them. Along the way, we will tackle the stubborn "energy is made" misconception and weave in literacy strategies that help students read, talk, and write about energy transformations using scientific language. Participants will use free HHMI BioInteractive resources to build models, work with data, and leave with a plan to bring one or more activities into their own classrooms.
 

This workshop is for teachers who teach any level of high school biology and environmental science, including introductory and advanced (AP/IB/Dual Credit) courses. All HHMI BioInteractive resources are free to students, teachers, and districts.

Date: Saturday, October 3rd, 9am-3pm 
Location: SUNY Fredonia

HHMI BioInteractive Registration

HHMI BioInteractive Flyer

Ashokan: A day of Curiosity and Community
NYSMTP and MfA Joint Mini Conference

We're so excited to invite you to our second annual gathering of MƒA Dual Citizens, NYS Master Teachers, and Master Counselors. This year's conference celebrates place-based learning, connection, and the beauty of the Ashokan Watershed. We look forward to sharing the work of external facilitators with knowledge of Indigenous heritage and the rich and complex history of the region.
 
Please register below and (if you're interested) propose a session to share your expertise with your colleagues. We are looking for 50-minute sessions that explore our connections with nature, curiosity, and intersectionality (or any other related STEM topic). 
 

Date: Saturday, October 3rd, 10am-4pm 
Location: The Ashokan Center, 477 Beaverkill Rd, Olivebridge, NY 12461

Joint Mini Conference Registration

Joint Mini Conference Flyer

State-Level High School Science Item Writing Workshop
New York State Education Department, Office of State Assessment Science Team
 
Buffalo State University and the Western New York Master Teacher Program in collaboration with the New York State Education Department, Office of State Assessment Science Team, invites you to register for a unique, three-day, professional development opportunity focused on the process of state-level item writing. This is not a product-based workshop; its core purpose is to engage participants in the authentic experience of developing assessment items using the same documents and protocol that are used at NYSED. Due to the nature of the work and to ensure a focused working environment, participants must be fully immersed in 3D instruction, using NYSSLS to guide both practice and assessment. All work produced, including any item clusters, may be considered for inclusion on future state examinations and is considered property of NYSED. Your contribution is a direct investment in the quality of New York State’s science assessments. You will build connections with the Office of State Assessment, enabling you to explore ways to support fellow educators in your BOCES or district. Lunch is provided for all participants.
 

Dates: Monday, October 19th - Wednesday, October 21st, 8am-4pm each day
Location: Jacqueline Vito LoRusso Alumni & Visitor Center, Buffalo State University

State-Level HS Science Registration

State-Level HS Science Flyer

Buffalo Science Collaborative
Dr. Lisa Brosnick and Dr. Alayla Ende

A professional learning community of K - 5 teachers and leaders, across grade bands, schools, and districts who come together to:

  • Design learning experiences for kids, study them in real time, and reflect on how 3-dimensional (science practices, content, and cross cutting concepts) science learning is happening.
  • Deepen the 3-dimensional pedagogical content knowledge needed for teaching (science practices, content, and cross cutting concepts + how children make sense of science).
  • Share ideas in a space designed to build on teachers’ love of kids and science (#Don’tKillTheWonder)
  • Provide a model for engaging students in the science practices using cognitively demanding tasks that feature equitable access and that foster student agency, ownership, and identity. 

Why Should I Be Involved?

As schools shift to greater engagement in science curriculum and assessment at the elementary level, we want to provide elementary teachers with opportunities to learn about the shifts in content and pedagogy necessary to meet the New York State Science Learning Standards. We also want to provide a model for how elementary teachers can “make time for science” and incorporate high level science thinking and practices into existing curriculum.  

The Buffalo Science Collaborative is facilitated by Dr. Lisa Brosnick and Dr. Alayla Ende from SUNY Buffalo State. Both Dr. Brosnick and Dr. Ende have extensive experience in 3-dimensional science professional learning activities and K-12 science teaching across NYS. 

 

Weeks: September 28th, November 9th, March 8th, May 31st
Location: TBD

Buffalo Science Collaborative Registration

Buffalo Science Collaborative Flyer

Cassadaga Valley Research & Demonstration Forest: Walk the Forest. See the Science 
 

Join Cornell University's Peter Smallidge for a guided tour of the Cassadaga Valley Research & Demonstration Forest on Saturday, October 24, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM in Sinclairville, NY. Participants will explore research plots, learn about forest regeneration and deer-exclusion strategies, and see how students are contributing to forest health monitoring and conservation efforts. This hands-on experience will highlight real-world scientific research and environmental stewardship.  Additionally, there will be a 30 minute debrief and reflection with Corinne Kelly following the tour.  

Space is limited; current Master Teachers will be given priority for registration.
 

Date: Saturday, October 24th, 2026  10:00am-12:00pm
Location: CVCS Research Forest - Sinclairville, NY

Cassadaga Valley Research & Demonstration Forest Registration Form

Cassadaga Valley Research & Demonstration Forest Flyer

 

Past Professional Development for WNY Master Teachers

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