Master Teacher Applications Now Available

07/12/2013 

Do you have what it takes to become a SUNY Cortland master teacher?

Applications for the new designation - which includes a four-year, $15,000 annual stipend and an opportunity to positively change the course of secondary math and science education in New York State - were posted online this week at http://www.suny.edu/MasterTeacher.

But high-achieving, middle and high school teachers interested in the program need to move fast.  The deadline for submissions is Aug. 1.

 The master teacher program seeks to reward and develop exceptional teachers in STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and math) by sharing their expertise, methods and insight with teachers throughout the region.

 Applicants must have four years teaching experience and be currently working with grades 6-12, teaching a course load with at least 60 percent math or science classes.

 Earlier this year, Gov. Andrew Cuomo named SUNY Cortland ¾ home to New York’s largest accredited teacher-education program ¾ one of four regional program hubs. As such, the College will coordinate 50 to 60 master teachers from the Central New York area, starting this fall.

It will host monthly meetings for participants and coordinate peer mentoring, strategy sharing and content development for the Central New York region. SUNY Cortland, like all host campuses, will partner with a nearby research institution, adding additional resources for development. SUNY Cortland will partner with Binghamton University or Syracuse University.

In addition to Cortland, the other SUNY campuses selected for the launch of the program were SUNY Plattsburgh, SUNY New Paltz and Buffalo State College.  Six other regional hubs will be added in the spring of 2014.

"We want the best possible teachers in every New York classroom teaching our children," said Gov. Cuomo. "As part of the state's work to transform our education system and put students first, we are committed to investing in great teachers to educate our students and create a highly-trained workforce to drive our future economy. This program will reward those teachers who work harder and whose students perform better."