Grow-Your-Own Programs in New York State
The map below shows our Take a Look at Teaching programs currently running in New York State(P-12: 
, Higher Ed: 
). These are union-led initiatives designed to work on the local level to get students and career-changers interested in and on the path to careers in education. Click on a map point to reveal more about each program.
Does your local have a Grow-Your-Own Program? Not on our list?
East Syracuse-Minoa United
Local President: Carolyn Scott
Contact: Concetta Carocci
Description: Take a Look at Teaching Club, campus visits, identified community volunteer, established job shadowing of teachers, engaging retirees, partnering with Lemoyne College and Onondaga Community College, coordinating with existing CTE Early Childhood Education program.
Level: High School
Populations Served: Low-income students, MBK/Males of Color, Linquistic Diversity/ELL students, Immigrant students
Albany Public Schools Teachers Association (APSTA)
Local President: Laura Franz
Contact: Jennifer Justice
Description: Middle school Take a Look at Teaching clubs, developing DASA certification training to facilitate TA certifications, establishing curriculum pathways for CTE program.
Level: Middle School, High School
Populations Served: Low-income students
Brentwood Teachers Association
Local President & Contact: Kevin Coyne
Description: Take a Look at Teaching Club, on-campus visits, partnership with Suffolk Community College, successful club launch featuring alumni now on teaching staff, developed video series and promotional materials supporting program, developing community/parent outreach initiative.
Level: High School
Populations Served: Future First Generation College Students, Low-income students, MBK/Males of Color, LGBTQ students, Linguistic Diversity/ELL students, Immigrant students
Chenango Forks Teachers Association
Local President: Jonathan Edwards
Contact: Andrea Gumble
Description: The Southern Tier Teacher Academy at Chenango Forks HS consists of two dual credit courses (EDUC 111: Foundations of American Education and EDU 101: So You Want to be an Educator) in partnership with SUNY Broome and Binghamton University. Our kick-off event invited community members to donate semi-formal, professional, and school spirit attire to build “community closets” within the schools for students in need. Upcoming events include winter wear and food drives and celebrations of diversity in community hosted by STTA students.
Level: High School
Populations Served: Future first generation college students, low-income students, males, LGBTQ+ students, and linguistic diversity/ELL students, immigrant students)
Frontier Central Teachers' Association (FCTA)
Local President: Amber Chandler
Contact: Lindsey Metzger
Description: Developed mentoring program including a Mentoring Reception to honor high school students and elementary teachers in the program, pedagogy presentations to club members by elementary teachers.
Level: High School, Elementary School
Populations Served: Low-income students, LGBTQ students, Linquistic Diversity/ELL students
Farmingdale Federation of Teachers
Local President: Cordelia Anthony
Contact: AnnMarie Ingenito
Description: Developing Take a Look at Teaching Club (2022 launch), identified program leadershp and prospective students, coordinating with existing CTE Early Childhood Education program and "Child Lab."
Level: High School
Populations Served: Future First Generation College Students, Low-income students, LGBTQ students, Linguistic Diversity/ELL students, We also plan to target more males in general
Fulton Teachers Association
Local President: Kerrie Phillips
Contacts: Angela Ferlito and Jen Reese
Description: Take a Look at Teaching Club, peer tutoring, campus visits, developed student mentoring program, identified community volunteers, hosting community networking events, developed partnerships with community groups (YMCA, Youth Bureau, Parks and Rec.), developed local Google Classroom, partnering with SUNY Oswego and Cayuga Community College, "Teacher Turnabout Day" where students switched places with a teacher at the secondary level to begin to understand the planning necessary to teach lessons at the secondary level.
Levels: High School, College Students, Early-Career Educators, Pre-service teachers, College Professors
Populations Served: Future First Generation College Students, Low-income students, MBK/Males of Color, LGBTQ students, Linquistic Diversity/ELL students, Immigrant students
Greece Teachers Association
Local President: Brian Ebertz
Contacts: Allen Firlit
Description: Take a Look at Teaching Club, exploratory course/Intro to Education, networking events, successful video campaign to promote GYO program.
Levels: High School
Populations Served: Future First Generation College Students, Low-income students, MBK/Males of Color, LGBTQ students
Kenmore Teachers Association
Local President: Peter Stuhlmiller
Contacts: Julia Borgisi
Description: Take a Look at Teaching Club, campus visits, providing staff development to teacher aides, partnering with SUNY Buffalo State College including pilot credit-bearing BOCES program.
Levels: High School
Populations Served: Future First Generation College Students, Low-income students, MBK/Males of Color, LGBTQ students, Native American students, Male students
Lewiston-Porter United Teachers
Local President: Brett Coppins
Contacts: Jessica Cruz
Description: Take a Look at Teaching Club, campus visits, partnering with Niagara University and SUNY Buffalo State College, developed internships and teacher shadowing program for students' chosen certification area.
Levels: High School
Populations Served: Future First Generation College Students, Low-income students, LGBTQ
Lockport Education Association
Local President: Scott Reddinger
Contacts: Lindsay Siejak
Description: Developed Take a Look at Teaching Club (2022 launch), developing partnerships with local higher education institutions.
Levels: High School
Populations Served: Future First Generation College Students, Low-income students, MBK/Males of Color, LGBTQ students, Linquistic Diversity/ELL students, Immigrant students, Native American students
Long Beach Classroom Teachers Association
Local President: Keith Harvey
Contacts: Elizabeth O'Brien
Description: Take a Look at Teaching Club, identified community volunteers, partnering with SUNY Stonybrook and Hogstra University, developed exploration activities for club members, activities featured in Newsday.
Levels: High School
Populations Served: Future First Generation College Students, Low-income students, MBK/Males of Color, LGBTQ students, Linquistic Diversity/ELL students
Lansingburgh Teachers Association
Local President: Jason Blackmun
Contacts: Jennifer Nelson
Description: Take a Look at Teaching Club, hosted club kick-off event, developing partnerships with SUNY Albany, Hudson Valley Community College and College of Saint Rose.
Levels: Middle School, High School
Populations Served: Future First Generation College Students, Low-income students, MBK/Males of Color, LGBTQ students, Linquistic Diversity/ELL students, Immigrant students
Newark Teachers' Association
Local President: Matt Klemann, Rachel Chistolini
Contacts: Jennifer Nelson
Description: Take a Look at Teaching Club, guest speakers, engaging retirees developing partnerships with Nazareth University and SUNY Brockport.
Levels: Middle School, High School
Populations Served: Low-income students
North Syracuse Education Association
Local President: John Kuryla
Contacts: Carol Goehner
Description: Take a Look at Teaching Club, campus visits to SUNY Oswego, developing mentoring program, hosting networking events, developing partnerships with SUNY Oswego, SUNY Cortland, and Onondaga Community College, teacher shadowing opportunities.
Levels: High School
Populations Served: Future First Generation College Students, Low-income students, LGBTQ students
North Shore Federated Employees
Local President: Greg Perles
Contacts: Carolyn Chimeri/Madel Soriano
Description: Take a Look at Teaching Club, developing internships, developing exploratory course/Intro to Education, established sustainability plan with district.
Levels: High School
Populations Served: Future First Generation College Students, Low-income students, MBK/Males of Color, LGBTQ students, Linquistic Diversity/ELL students, Immigrant students, Native American students.
Ossining Teachers Association
Local President: Vanessa Vaccaro
Contacts: Vanessa Vaccaro and Beth Testa
Description: Exploratory course/Intro to Education, campus visits, networking events, developing a partnership with SUNY New Paltz.
Levels: High School
Populations Served: Future First Generation College Students, Low-income students, Linguistic Diversity/ELL students, Immigrant students
Patchogue-Medford Congress of Teachers
Local President: Kevin Toolan
Contacts: Kevin Toolan
Description: Take a Look at Teaching Club, exploratory course/Childhood Development and Education, partnerships with community groups (SCOPE, before/afterschool programs) and SUNY Old Westbury.
Levels: High School, Early-Career Educators, Paraprofessionals
Populations Served: Future First Generation College Students, Low-income students, LGBTQ students, Linquistic Diversity/ELL students, Immigrant students
Patchogue-Medford Congress of Teachers
Local President: Kevin Toolan
Contacts: Kevin Toolan
Description: Take a Look at Teaching Club, exploratory course/Childhood Development and Education, partnerships with community groups (SCOPE, before/afterschool programs) and SUNY Old Westbury.
Levels: High School, Early-Career Educators, Paraprofessionals
Populations Served: Future First Generation College Students, Low-income students, LGBTQ students, Linquistic Diversity/ELL students, Immigrant students
PDTA
Local President: Dwayne Cerbone
Contacts: Bethany Patterson
Description: Take a Look at Teaching Club, observations of classrooms, forum on teaching conducted with teachers, administrations and counselors from the Pittsford district, exploring community partnerships.
Levels: High School
Populations Served: Future First Generation College Students, Low-income students, LGBTQ students, Linquistic Diversity/ELL students, Immigrant students, 1 black woman and 2 Asian women
Rockville Centre Teachers' Association
Local President: Frank Van Zant
Contacts: Frank Van Zant
Description: Developing mentoring and internship programs, hosted networking events, club launching in 2022, developing partnerships with SUNY Empire State College, and exploring scholarship opportunities for SRPs.
Levels: High School
Saranac Teachers Association
Local President: Michele Bushey
Contacts: Karin DeLutis
Description: Take a Look at Teaching Club, campus visits, developing community outreach, partnership with SUNY Plattsburgh.
Levels: High School
Populations Served: Future First Generation College Students, MBK/Males of Color
Syracuse Teachers Association
Local President: Nicole Capsello
Contacts: Don Little
Description: Take a Look at Teaching Club, engaging retirees, partnership with SUNY Oswego.
Levels: High School
Populations Served: Future First Generation College Students, Low-income students, Immigrant students
Starpoint Teachers Association
Local President: Mike Luick
Contacts: Kristina Tomei
Description: Networking events, established schoolwide committee, enhancing current student mentor program, developing Take a Look at Teaching Club (SEEC Students Exploring Educational Careers), developing partnerships with University of Buffalo, SUNY Buffalo State College, Niagara University and Niagara County Community College.
Levels: High School
Populations Served: Future First Generation College Students, Low-income students, MBK/Males of Color, LGBTQ students, Linguistic Diversity/ELL students, Immigrant
Troy Teachers' Association
Local President: Beth Willson
Contacts: Rose Gorman
Description: Take a Look at Teaching Club, campus visits to SUNY Albany and College of St. Rose, developing internship program.
Levels: High School
Populations Served: Future First Generation College Students, Low-income students, LGBTQ
United Federation of Teachers
Local President: Michael Mulgrew
Contacts: Mary Vaccaro
Description: Take a Look at Teaching Club, developing network events, developing partnership with CUNY including college-wide MBK program, paraprofessional focus group on workforce diversity, developing UFT "Future Teachers Day."
Levels: High School, College Students, Early-Career Educators, Paraprofessionals, Pre-service teachers
Populations Served: Future First Generation College Students, Low-income students, MBK/Males of Color, LGBTQ students, Linquistic Diversity/ELL students, Immigrant students
Windsor Teachers Association
Local President: Jill Houseknecht
Contacts: Heather Herringshaw
Description: Take a Look at Teaching Club, exploratory course/Intro to Education, campus visits, networking events, engaging retirees, developing relationships with Broome Community College and Binghamton University, developing peer partnership programs with Binghamton High School and Maine-Endwell High School, college student panel discussion, exploration activities including first grade "Mystery Reader" program for HS club members, club discussions about pathways by "Guest Teacher" presenters, coordinated with community outreach backpack program.
Levels: High School, College Students
Populations Served: Future First Generation College Students, Low-income students, LGBTQ
West Seneca TA
Local President: Ginny Chatelle
Contacts: Rachel Eshenour
Description: Take a Look at Teaching Club, developing mentoring program.
Levels: All students
Yonkers Federation of Teachers
Local President: Samantha Rosado-Ciriello
Contacts: Kara Popiel
Description: Middle school Take a Look at Teaching Club, peer tutoring program, developing internships and student assistant program, panel discussion with a diverse group of experienced YPS teachers, engaging retireees, partnering with MBK/MSK programs, developing partnerships with SUNY New Paltz, Westchester Community College, Iona College and Monroe College, developing pre-teaching college link class (2022 launch).
Levels: Middle School, High School, College Students
Populations Served: Future First Generation College Students, Low-income students, MBK/Males of Color, LGBTQ students, Linguistic Diversity/ELL students, Immigrant students
West Irondequoit Teachers Association
Local President: Kate Dobosz
Contacts: Kate Dobosz
Description: Take a Look at Teaching Club, exploratory course/Intro to Education, peer tutoring, partnering with University of Rochester, partnership between high school and junior high school programs.
Levels: Middle School, High School
Populations Served: Future First Generation College Students, Low-income students, MBK/Males of Color, LGBTQ students, Linguistic Diversity/ELL students, Immigrant students, Native American students
White Plains TA
Local President: Kara McCormick-Lyons
Contacts: Kara McCormick-Lyons
Description: Developing Take a Look at Teaching club (2022 launch), partnering with Pace University.
Levels: Middle School, High School
Populations Served: Future First Generation College Students, Low-income students, MBK/Males of Color, LGBTQ students, Linguistic Diversity/ELL students, Immigrant students
Maine-Endwell Teachers Association
Local President: Patricia Sergent
Contacts: Bridget Wilson
Description: Developing Introduction to Education courses. partnering with neighboring SUNY Broome Community College and SUNY Binghamton. Developing partnership with neighboring districts through the Southern Tier Teaching Academy. Expanding mentoring, tutoring, and early teaching experiences. Partnering with community organization, MEALS, to combat food insecurity.
Levels: Middle School, High School
Populations Served: Racial, ethnic, and gender diversity; first generation college students; low-income families.
Middle Island Teachers Association
Local President: Josephine Libassi
Contacts: Regina Casale
Description: Developing TALAT club for grades 8-12 to explore job shadoing, field trips, workshops, internships and mentorships in education. Partnering with SUNY Stony Brook, Suffolk County Community College, St. Joseph's College, My Brother's Keeper, My Sister's Keeper, Bilingual Student Ambassadors, African American Culture programs and numerous community groups. Students organize annual MITA career expo.
Levels: Middle School, High School
Populations Served: Racial, ethnic, and gender diversity; first generation college students; low-income families.
Niagara-Wheatfield Teachers Association
Local President: Darla Schultz-Bubar
Contacts: Beth Pyskaty
Description: Building a collaborative relationship with Niagara University, Buffalo State College, and Niagara County Community College to introduce speakers to prospective education majors to help students gain more knowledge of the profession. Coordinating campus visits and future educators clubs and partnering with the district's Native American Liaison to bring more Haudenosaunee members into the teaching field. Additional partnerships nclude My Brother’s Keeper and the Liberty Program.
Levels: Middle School, High School, College
Populations Served: Racial, ethnic, LGBTQ diversity, Native American families and first-generation college students.
Oceanside Federation of Teachers
Local President: Robert Pittman
Contacts: Gavin Kalner, Jennifer Wolfe, Helen Dixon
Description: Developing future educators club. Cultivating partnership with Long Island University and Long Island Black Educators Association.
Levels: High School
Populations Served: Racial, ethnic, and gender diversity; first-generation college students; and low-income families.
Port Jefferson Station Teachers Association
Local President: Brian Martinez St. Pierre
Description: Developed Take a Look at Teaching Clubs that we will engage middle school and high school studetns and feature guest lecturers who represent different parts of the profession as well as provide opportunities to shadow a teachers and explore teaching opportunties in elementary classrooms. Developing a college night to engage parents and prospective education students.
Levels: Middle School
Populations Served: Low-Income students, racial and ethnic diversity, My Brother's Keeper/Males of Color and ENL students.
Rochester Teachers Association
Local President: Adam Urbanski
Contacts: Laura Delehanty, Dan Delehanty
Description: Student Recruitment, Middle School to High School Pipeline Recruitment, Winter Break One-Week Teacher Exploration Bootcamp, Summer Pre-Entry TLI Bootcamp, Collegiate Partnerships, Collegiate Teaching Fellows, College Access Programming, Scholarships and Dual Enrollment, Alumni Persistence through Teacher Certification
Populations Served: First-generation college students, low-Income students, cultural diversity, My Brother’s Keeper/Males of Color, LGBTQ Youth.
Spencerport Teachers Association
Local President: Joe DiTucci
Contacts: Bridget Herrmann
Description: We plan to develop relationships with already established clubs and groups. Through these relationships we can identify students who may be interested in exploring teaching. Our counselors, teachers and administrators will be crucial point people to help us with identifying potential interested students. We have begun the work of collaborating with local colleges such as SUNY Brockport and Monroe Community College to develop mutually beneficial relationships and programs.
Levels: High School
Teachers Association of Sag Harbor
Local President: Anthony Mallia
Description: Have Assembly for Juniors and Seniors to encourage them to join TALAT. Have students do some volunteer Teacher Assistance in Elementary and Middle School classes Have a big event in collaboration with other east End districts and Suffolk Community College.
Levels: High School
Populations Served: First Generation College Students, Low-Income Students, Cultural Diversity
Teachers' Association of the Tarrytowns
Local President: Judy Kelly
Contact: Rebecca Lloyd
Description: Create a pipeline with a cohort model for students to join so that there is a built-in support group and professional networking opportunities early in their teaching career. Leverage any social media outlets to connect TUFSD students and alumni studying education or working in education.Establish a Future Teacher Peer Group for our students, alumni, and graduates currently in education programs and those who are working in the field. Create a mentor program for students. Connect w/community organizations and parents of BIPOC/historically under-represented/LGTBQ+ students to create support groups and informational sessions.
Levels: Middle School, High Scool
Populations Served: First Generation College Students, Low-Income Students, Cultural Diversity, My Brother's Keeper/Males of Color, Other: First generation immigrant students
Utica Teachers Association
Local President: Scott Rogowski
Contact: Kirstin Vivaqua
Description: We will create two clubs, one at each middle school. We will introduce students to the profession including the expectations, education needed, and rewards that accompany the profession. We will involve community groups and the local colleges (Utica College and HCCC and MVCC).
Levels: Middle School
Populations Served: Low-Income Students, Cultural Diversity, My Brother's Keeper/Males of Color
Webster Teachers Association
Local President: Christopher Wojtas
Contact: JoAnna Sero
Description: Expand (and rename) existing Future Educators of America club. Early career educators - share examples of various pathways to certification. Partner with Monroe Community College to provide opportunities for students to participate in Grow Your Own events. Create a mentoring program for MCC students working toward teaching. Offer dual credit (with MCC) Child Development course for high schoolers. Provide transportation for students to volunteer in district Pre-K classrooms. Educate families/community members about the teacher shortage .Ensure all families have access (in their preferred language) to the necessary resources and assistance to view college as a realistic option.
Levels: High School
Populations Served: First-Generation College Students, Low-Income Students, Cultural Diversity
West Genesee Paraprofessionals
Local President: Kristin Good
Contact: Susan Gifford
Description: Teaching assistants who are preparing for advancement as teachers would have the opportunity to shadow and observe classroom teachers for at least two half days each semester, as funding for TA substitutes becomes available.
Levels: College Students
Faculty Association of Suffolk County Community College
Local President: Dante Morelli
Description: Raising awareness about SCCC's Early Childhood & Adolescent Education programs and the need to fulfill teaching positions in NY and on Long Island, increasing enrollment in teaching preparation programs, aiming to enroll students from communities of diversity, and supporting students through to graduation and transfer to a four-year institution. Explanding regional partnerships with Suffolk Councy P-12 local unions and districts.
Levels: High school, college, low-income studetns.
Populations Served: Racial, ethnic and gender diversity. First generation college students.
UUP - Albany
Local President: Frederick Kowal
Contact: Brett Levy, Dr. Tammy Ellis-Robinson
Description: Carreers development workshops and Explorations in Education presentaitons.
UUP - Binghamton
Local President: Frederick Kowal
Contact: Dr. Jenny Gordon, Andrea Decker
Description: Workshops for high school students in the Youth Apprenticeship Program (education) and meetings with community agencies, campus organizations and school district personnel.
Levels: High school students
UUP- Brockport
Local President: Frederick Kowal
Contact: Tracy Feaster
Description: Partnering with area schools: Brockport, Greece, RCSD & others to promote GYO programs. Initiatives include field trips, college visits & ongoing grants for participation in the Careers in Education Conference.
Levels: High school students
UUP - Buff State
Local President: Frederick Kowal
Contact: Candace P. Masters, Kathy Doody
Description: HS students visit Buffalo State art education studio spaces, classes, art galleries, and the Burchfield Penney Art Center (a community partner), which are all located on the campus. Teacher educaiton council provides variety of activities involving high school counselors, incoming freshmen at Buffalo State during summer orientation. Freshmen in Intro classes during the fall semester, w/presentations to undeclared majors & Graduate Teacher Recruitment Fair.
Levels: High school students
UUP - Empire State College
Local President: Frederick Kowal
Contact: Ajay Das, Ph.D.
Levels: High school students. TAs and SRPs
UUP -Fredonia
Local President: Frederick Kowal
Contact: Dr. Christopher Closson
Levels: Dunkirk Secondary Students (7-12), LGBTQ Students
Populations Served: High needs district serving students from racially and ethnically diverse populations underrepresented in the teaching profession.
UUP - New Paltz
Local President: Frederick Kowal
Contact: Yonkers Public School Visit
Levels: High school students
UUP - Oswego
Local President: Frederick Kowal
Contact: Dr. Amanda Fenlon
Levels: High school students
UUP - Plattsburgh
Local President: Frederick Kowal
Contact: Alison Puliatte, Ph.D.
UUP - Stony Brook
Local President: Frederick Kowal
Contact: Mariann Coogan
The following is a list of Take a Look at Teaching locals participating in the project for 2022-23:
LOCAL NAME
Albany Public School Teachers Association
Brentwood Teacher Center (TA)
Chenango Forks Teachers’ Association
East Syracuse Minoa United Teachers
Faculty Association of Suffolk County Community College
Farmingdale Federation of Teachers
Frontier Central Schools Teachers Association
Fulton Teachers Association
Greece Teachers Association
Kenmore Teachers Association
Lansingburgh Teachers Association
Lewiston-Porter United Teachers
Lockport Education Association
Long Beach Classroom Teachers
Maine-Endwell Teachers Association
Middle Island TA (Longwood TA)
Newark Teachers Association
Niagara-Wheatfield Teachers Association 03115
North Shore Federated Employees
North Syracuse Education Association
Oceanside Federation of Teachers
Ossining Teachers Association
Patchogue Medford Congress of Teachers
Pittsford Teachers Association
Port Jefferson Station Teachers Association
Rochester Teachers Association
Rockville Centre Teachers’ Association
Saranac Teachers Association
Starpoint Teachers Association
Syracuse Teachers Association
TA of Sag Harbor
Teachers' Association of the Tarrytowns
Troy Teachers Association
United Federation of Teachers
United University Professions
Utica Teachers Association
Webster Teachers Association
West Genesee Paraprofessionals
West Irondequoit Teachers' Association
West Seneca Teachers Association
White Plains Teachers Association
Windsor Central Schools Teachers Association
Yonkers Federation of Teachers
© 2021 New York State United Teachers