Hilton High School Teacher Maria Vowles was among 230 educators across New York State recently selected to participate in the Master Teacher Program. An educator for 18 years, Vowles currently teaches Living Environment, Forensics, and Alternative Education Chemistry. She also often teaches IB-SL Biology.
Vowles has a BS in Biology from Syracuse University, a MSED in Math, Science, Technology Education from St. John Fisher College, and a MS in Biochemistry from St. Joseph University. Prior to becoming a teacher, Vowles worked in biomedical research at SUNY Upstate Medical Center, University of Maine, and University of Rochester. While working at SUNY Upstate, she contributed to a paper published on Oncogene, a mutated gene that contributes to the development of a cancer. Vowles also was awarded an NSF-RET visiting scientist fellowship where she completed research in the Biophysics Department at the University of Rochester.
Vowles is the president of a non-profit organization, Adventuresinlove4Andie. The organization is dedicated to spreading awareness and educating others about a rare genetic disease, Vascular Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (VEDS), as well as funding patient outreach and higher education scholarships. Vowles is dedicated to this organization because she lost her oldest daughter at age 20 to a VEDS complication. She is also a member of the VEDS Steering Committee of the VEDS Movement (division of the Marfan Foundation).
The NYS Master Teacher Program recognizes the leaders in STEM education who inspire students and their peers alike. The 230 Master Teachers are 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.
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, participating in and leading several professional development sessions each year.
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