Eight area teachers are part of a selection of hundreds of educators from across the state to the New York State Master Teacher Program. The program welcomes teachers from 22 high needs districts including the Yonkers, Syracuse, Rochester, Binghamton City, and Buffalo City School Districts.

“Throughout the pandemic, our educators overcame enormous obstacles, adapting to remote learning, keeping our children engaged, and made all kinds of adjustments to ensure New York’s students were able to continue their education,” Hochul said. “We owe an immense debt of gratitude to our educators, and this critical program will help ensure that over one thousand teachers from every corner of New York State have the resources and support they need to excel and continue to improve the school systems that they work in.”

The incoming group of Master Teachers includes 22 teachers with multiple teaching certifications, 13 certified in Special Education, Students with Disabilities and/or TESOL, and 19 teachers certified in Technology Education who are offering various courses in Engineering Theory & Applications, Computer Integrated Manufacturing, Design and Drawing for Production, and Robotics. These educators will join the network of Master Teachers created in 2013, bringing the total number of selected NYS Master Teachers across New York State to more than 1,400.

Those chosen locally include: James Vitale, Randolph Academy Union Free School District; Stacey Singer, Clymer Central School District; Lindsay Russell, Christopher Johnson, Tessa Johnson, all from the Bemus Point Central School District; Jessie Perison, Randolph Central School District; Linda Morton, Chautauqua Lake Central School District; and Erin McClure, North Collins Central School District

SUNY Interim Chancellor Deborah F. Stanley said, “New York’s Master Teacher program has long celebrated the immense talent across our state, recognizing the leaders in STEM education who inspire students and their peers alike. During this particularly challenging time in our history, we appreciate our teachers even more for keeping their students engaged and succeeding in their classwork. On behalf of SUNY, my congratulations to this year’s honorees.”

The Master Teachers are dedicated professionals who teach science, technology, computer science, robotics, coding, engineering, math, and integrated STEM courses across grades K-12 including Advanced Placement, Honors, and Regents levels.

The selected Master Teachers have been teaching an average of 15 years. More than 81 percent have been in the classroom for more than ten years, and 26 percent have been teaching for more than 20 years. The Master Teachers represent 159 school districts.