New Paltz High School (NPHS) math teacher Kathryn Stewart was recently recognized as a New York State (NYS) Master Teacher, according to a press release from Governor Kathy Hochul.
The NYS Master Teacher Program is a professional network of more than 1,400 outstanding public school teachers who share a passion for learning and teaching in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). During her four-year commitment to the Program, Stewart will be collaborating with other Master Teachers from around New York, sharing best practices and working to raise the level of STEM instruction around the State.
Although Stewart deals largely with numbers, her professional and personal goals involve expanding her scientific knowledge. “As a math teacher, I want to learn more about science,” she said. “I am always looking for more knowledge to use in my classroom. I teach calculus, and it is the language of physics. The more I learn about physics, the more I can use it in my calculus teaching.”
Stewart said that the Master Teacher application process was rigorous, including essays, tests, and a full-day interview process. She joins veteran NPHS math teachers Joseph Haas and Matt Paley in the Master Teacher network.
“I have been teaching for more than 20 years, but I am looking to become a better teacher, looking for community, looking to be helpful with other teachers,” said Stewart. “It’s a way of being reflective and getting better and better in my own teaching as well as being helpful to others.”
Stewart earned a Master of Education from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, and a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Carleton College in Minnesota. She is also the advisor for the Math Club.
“This is a tremendous recognition and opportunity for Ms. Stewart to mentor other teachers with her impressive teaching style and techniques,” said New Paltz Central School District Superintendent Steve Gratto. “We couldn’t be more proud of her hard work and dedication to her craft. Her involvement in this program will significantly reach classrooms around the State while also bringing new practices, skills, and information into our own classrooms.”
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