Two science teachers at Smithtown High School West, Sara Albanese and Lauren Hoffman, have been selected for the New York State Master Teacher Program, a four-year statewide fellowship for public school STEM educators. The Smithtown Central School District shared the news on Nov. 12, the same day it reported on a first for its staff: an East versus West pickleball tournament in which 32 teachers played for local and regional charities.

Who was selected

Albanese has spent close to 20 years teaching science, and her current schedule includes Biology and AP Biology at High School West. She also works as a Science Instructional Specialist, a role that supports curriculum and instruction beyond her own classroom.

Hoffman teaches AP Environmental Science along with Earth and Space Science at the same school. According to the district, her courses put an emphasis on curiosity about the natural world and on caring for the environment.

Both will now join a statewide network of Master Teachers. The district says they will share classroom practices, mentor fellow teachers and bring new approaches back to Smithtown students as part of the program.

What the Master Teacher Program involves

The Office of the Governor announced the program's 2026 class on Nov. 3. It added 188 STEM teachers and 24 school counselors from 138 school districts across the state, bringing the network to more than 1,900 educators.

Members take part for four years and receive a stipend of $15,000 for each year. In exchange, they attend required regional meetings, lead and join professional development sessions, mentor teachers early in their careers and work with college students who are training to become teachers. On Long Island, the program runs through a partnership with SUNY Stony Brook.

This is not the district's first recognition from the program in 2026. In January, Smithtown named two of its elementary STEM instructional specialists, Serena Spata of Mills Pond and David Junz of Tackan, as new members, each with 25 years in the district.

Teachers on the pickleball courts

The same week, the Interact Clubs from High School East and High School West co-hosted the district's first East vs. West Pickleball Tournament for Charity at an indoor pickleball venue in Centereach. Interact is the student service club sponsored by Rotary, and here the students did the organizing, including gathering raffle gift baskets for the afternoon.

The 32 teachers who signed up came from across grade levels and played as two-person teams. Organizers split the field by skill into two divisions, Division 1 and Division 2, and every team played at least four games before the playoff rounds began.

George Alamis of High School East and Joseph Petre won Division 1. They chose The West Islip Breast Cancer Society as the recipient of their share of the proceeds. Michael Comechero and Danielle Bambola, colleagues at the same school, won Division 2 and directed their share to the Ronald McDonald House.

The rest of the money went to the Smithtown Children's Foundation, a volunteer-run 501(c)(3) that provides financial and emotional support to families living in the Smithtown and Hauppauge school districts. The district described the event as a chance for students and teachers to spend time together outside class, with music and matches running through the afternoon.

How to get involved

  • Support local families: The Smithtown Children's Foundation lists ways to give, sponsor, and volunteer on its website, along with its scholarship and teacher grant programs.
  • Teachers thinking of applying: According to the state, the application for the next Master Teacher class is open through April 8, 2027. Eligible applicants are K to 12 public school STEM teachers and counselors in New York.
  • Follow district news: The district posts updates on its news page. The district office is at 26 New York Ave., Smithtown, NY 11787, phone 631-382-2000.

Sources