New York selected 188 STEM teachers and 24 school counselors for a four-year professional network that includes educators from Utica and other high-needs districts.

The New York Master Teacher Program is adding 212 educators to its statewide network, including 188 K-12 STEM teachers and 24 school counselors. Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the 2026 cohort on Nov. 3 and identified Utica as one of the high-needs school districts represented.

The new members come from 138 school districts. The state said 50 of the educators work in 35 high-needs districts, including Utica, Syracuse, Schenectady, Buffalo, Rochester, Binghamton and New York City. The announcement did not provide the names or district-by-district assignments of the new Mohawk Valley members, so this report does not try to identify them from older or broader directories.

“Teachers and counselors are integral to preparing students to be future leaders,” Hochul said. The program is built around professional learning, peer mentoring and support for future educators rather than a one-time award.

What the New York Master Teacher Program provides

Master Teachers and Master Counselors make a four-year commitment. During that period, each member receives a $15,000 annual stipend, or as much as $60,000 over four years. Members also take part in intensive professional development, attend regional meetings and lead learning sessions for other educators.

The program expects participants to work with pre-service educators and people early in their teaching or counseling careers. That mentoring role is important because it allows experienced professionals to share classroom methods, STEM knowledge, student-support practices and lessons learned across district lines.

Master Teachers work in science, technology, computer science, robotics, coding, engineering, mathematics, integrated STEM and agricultural education. Master Counselors support students as they move from elementary school into middle and high school and then toward college, training or a career.

SUNY hosts the program through nine regional campuses. The Mohawk Valley hub is SUNY Oneonta. New York City’s teacher program operates with Math for America.

What the 2026 cohort looks like

The state described the incoming group as experienced and professionally diverse:

• More than 60 percent of the new Master Teachers have taught for more than 10 years.
• One third have at least 18 years of classroom experience.
• Thirty-one percent of the incoming teachers work at the elementary level.
• Sixty-five teachers hold more than one teaching certification.
• Twenty-six are certified to teach students with disabilities.
• Seven have a TESOL credential or bilingual education extension.
• Eight teach career and technical education in agriculture, computer science or technology education.
• More than half of the 24 Master Counselors have worked in counseling for more than 12 years.
• Seven of the counselors serve elementary students, and two hold work-based learning certification.
• Forty new members have previously won grants for materials that improve student learning experiences.

The counselors also participate in professional associations and leadership roles, according to the state. Their work can include academic planning, social and emotional support, career exploration and helping students navigate major school transitions.

Mohawk Valley program totals

The governor’s announcement lists 198 Master Teachers and eight Master Counselors for the Mohawk Valley region, which is partnered with SUNY Oneonta. Those figures are presented as regional program totals, not as the number of new 2026 selections from the region.

The state listed the following regional counts:

SUNY maintains a Mohawk Valley program directory with biographies of participating educators. Because that directory includes members from multiple cohorts and emeritus teachers, a person’s appearance there does not by itself prove selection in the 2026 class.

Why this matters in Utica and the Mohawk Valley

Utica’s inclusion among the represented high-needs districts gives the announcement a direct local connection. Educators in high-needs schools often work with students who face unequal access to advanced courses, laboratory materials, college guidance and career networks. The program can help participating teachers and counselors bring back new approaches and connect with peers who have faced similar challenges.

That professional network may also complement local partnerships already underway. The Phoenix recently reported on SUNY Polytechnic Institute and Whitesboro educators expanding AI and computer science learning. The Phoenix also covered New York’s 2024 Master Teacher selections and earlier teacher-support and workforce initiatives.

The program should not be treated as a complete answer to school staffing or resource gaps. The Nov. 3 release does not report teacher-retention results, counselor caseload changes, student test-score effects or how the 2026 members are distributed within each region. Those are separate measures that would be needed to judge long-term impact.

Who can apply for the next cohort

The governor’s announcement says applications for the next group of K-12 STEM teachers and K-12 counselors are open through April 8, 2027. Interested educators should use the current SUNY application page and register for an information session before beginning.

Teacher eligibility

According to SUNY’s teacher eligibility page, applicants must be certified, full-time New York public-school teachers with at least four years of experience and an effective or highly effective evaluation. Elementary applicants must be responsible for teaching STEM content. Most secondary applicants must hold an eligible STEM or related career and technical education certificate and teach the required share of their schedule in STEM courses.

Counselor eligibility

The counselor eligibility page says applicants must be certified, full-time K-12 public-school counselors with at least four years of experience. They must spend at least 80 percent of their time providing direct or indirect services to students and have an effective, highly effective or equivalent evaluation.

The selection process requires a complete application and, for finalists, a multi-part interview. SUNY advises applicants to plan early for recommendations because that part can take the most time.

What educators and families can watch next

The state may later publish a formal 2026 cohort roster or add new biographies to its program directory. Until then, districts can confirm their own selected educators, and families should rely on official district or SUNY announcements rather than social-media guesses.

Teachers and counselors considering the 2027 cohort can begin by checking eligibility, attending an information session and gathering required materials well before April 8. School leaders can also share the application with qualified staff and help potential applicants make time for recommendations and the interview process.

If this opportunity could help an educator in your district, email the official announcement. Readers who know a confirmed 2026 Mohawk Valley honoree may share the district’s public announcement in the comments so the information can be checked against an official source.

Sources

• Governor’s Office: 2026 Master Counselors and Master Teachers announcement, Nov. 3, 2026
• SUNY: Master Teacher Program application and information sessions
• SUNY: Master Teacher eligibility and application requirements
• SUNY: Master Counselor eligibility and application requirements
• SUNY: Mohawk Valley program directory