MAR. 16, 2022 — At a pep rally on Friday, February 11, Lyons Assistant Principal Renee Schott hyped up students and staff when she proudly presented what looked like a giant, gold calculator to Mr. Don Winslow, a special education teacher who specializes in math.
With students cheering so loud, it was hard to hear what was actually being said at the time. But for Mr. Winslow, that didn’t matter.
“It was really OK because no speeches were involved,” Mr. Winslow said, admitting he’s a little shy and not fond of being the center of attention. “I’m not a big in-the-spotlight kind of guy, but it was really nice to be recognized.”
The golden calculator — which is actually a vintage adding machine about the size of a textbook, Mr. Winslow said — served as a unique trophy to honor his remarkable accomplishment: Becoming the first Lyons teacher to be accepted into the state’s Master Teacher Program.
The Master Teacher Program is a cohort of 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.
Mr. Winslow was one of 230 educators across New York State selected to participate in the four-year program in February.
He will spend 50 hours annually participating in peer mentoring and intensive content-oriented professional development opportunities throughout the academic year and will attend required regional meetings at SUNY Geneseo to participate in and lead several professional development sessions each year.
The application process is rigorous, requiring the teacher to pass a challenging exam, provide letters of recommendation, write a personal essay and present to a committee, among other things.
The intensive process is also one Mr. Winslow began years ago — prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. There was a time when he thought it would never work out, but in the fall of 2021 the process resumed. Last month, he finally learned that he had been accepted into the prestigious program.
“I really wanted to do this just to challenge myself near the end of my career,” said Mr. Winslow, who has been a teacher at Lyons since 1993. “I didn’t think this would ever happen, but I’m really excited to be the first in our district to become a Master Teacher.”
Mr. Winslow is especially excited to grow in the three areas highlighted by the Master Teacher Program: Knowledge of course content, knowledge of pedagogy and teaching, and knowledge of students and community.
“The more you know your content, the better it is for you as a teacher,” Mr. Winslow said. “I’m looking forward to taking what I’ve learned and helping other math and science teachers start the process of applying to become Master Teachers someday, too.”