BRASHER FALLS -- Majella LaRock of the Brasher Falls Central School District has been honored with a designation as a New York State Master Teacher.

Nearby, Emily McKernan of Brushton-Moira Central School District has also been honored.

The Master Teachers selected have distinguished themselves in the classroom and in their schools, serving as mentors for pre-service teachers and collaborating with their experienced colleagues, today’s announcement said.

As part of the Master Teacher program, those selected receive a $15,000 stipend per year over four years for participation in the program. They will engage in peer mentoring and intensive content-oriented professional development throughout the academic year. They also foster pre-service and early career teachers for the next generation of STEM teachers. They also attend required regular cohort meetings and participate in and lead several professional development sessions each year.

The announcement today from Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office included 80 new Master Teachers who join the 552 Master Teachers announced since 2013, for a total of 625.

The 80 new Master Teachers have been in the teaching profession an average of 15 years. Over half  earned certifications in more than one STEM discipline.