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A brother and sister are among the three ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú teachers accepted into the 2024 class of the prestigious New York State Master Teacher Program.

Congratulations to STEM-minded siblings Kevin Allen and Kerry Welcome, and to their fellow master teacher, Emily Lawlor. Allen and Lawlor both teach at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú High School; Allen teaches technology and Lawlor teaches science. Welcome teaches grade 7 science at William S. Hackett Middle School.

The are among 144 educators statewide who were selected last month for the Master Teacher Program, which recognizes high-performing teachers of STEM – science, technology, engineering and math.

Master teachers are selected for their ongoing work in STEM education and their commitment to deepening their knowledge about their area of study, their students and their teaching strategies.

Throughout their four-year participation in the program, master teachers:

• Receive a $15,000 stipend annually;
• Engage in peer mentoring and intensive content-oriented professional development opportunities throughout the academic year;
• Work closely with pre-service and early career teachers to foster a supportive environment for the next generation of STEM teachers; and
• Attend required regional meetings at their SUNY campus, participate in and lead several professional development sessions each year

Several district STEM teachers are in the program or have completed it. They include Craig Ascher, Kristin Bonds, Brent Cady, Tina Cardettino, Andre Castagna (retired), Jeffrey Chiu, Erin Erickson, Ashley Finke, Melissa Hirt, Allen Landman, Eileen Ragone, Shannon Stevenson and Margot Wyan.

Another district employee, Jill Lastarza, is a member of the New York State Master Counselor Program, an extension of the Master Teacher Program that focuses on school counselors and their work.