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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Teacher Ambassador Program?
Today’s students will be tomorrow’s workforce. Educators already serve on the frontline and have the potential to shape that workforce.
To support the design and implementation of career-readiness curricula statewide, the New York State Department of Labor in partnership with the New York State Education Department launched the Teacher Ambassador Program, a four-week summer training for teachers, librarians, and counselors in Grades 6 to 12 to develop, implement, and deliver 21st century career-readiness curricula or strategies to New York’s students.
Who can be a Teacher Ambassador?
The program is open to New York State teachers, librarians, and counselors, grades 6-12, with more than two years of experience in a school setting, and an interest in career-readiness and workforce development. Applicants serving historically underserved communities were encouraged to apply.
What makes a strong applicant?
Successful participants should possess an aptitude and demonstrated track record of leadership and disseminating ideas to peers and colleagues, for example:
- Connecting with local businesses and organizations: Bringing in guest speakers, set up internships, or organize field trips to align education with real-world experiences
- Mentoring new teachers: Support new educators by sharing resources, strategies, or leading workshops
- Collaborating on curriculum development: Working with colleagues to enhance lesson plans, projects, and assessments
See the Meet Teacher Ambassador Alumni section to learn about past participants.
What do Teacher Ambassadors learn?
Programming is designed to help participants acquire strategies and tools to align classroom instruction with career exploration and build future pathways to employment. See the section on What Teacher Ambassadors Learn for more information.
When does the next session take place?
The 2026 TAP will take place from July 6, 2026, to July 31, 2026, Monday through Friday. The hours will correspond with the hours of the local Career Center, either 8:00 – 4:00, 8:30 – 4:30, or 9:00 – 5:00. Educators must be available for the entire schedule to be eligible for the program.
How much are Teacher Ambassadors paid?
$34/hour
How many Continuing Teacher & Leader Education (CTLE) hours do Teacher Ambassadors earn?
1 CTLE/hour
How do I apply?
Check back on January 14th, 2026, for information on how to apply.
Mission
The Teacher Ambassador Program inspires and equips educators to prepare NYS students for the future of work by bridging classroom learning to real-world opportunities. Through strategic partnerships with employers, workforce agencies, and community stakeholders, we cultivate the skills, knowledge, and confidence educators need to graduate students ready to thrive in high-demand careers and contribute to a robust New York workforce.
- Vision
Empowering educators with necessary resources to connect students with real-world careers, preparing NY students for the jobs of tomorrow.
- Values
- Collaboration: Fostering partnerships across schools, the Department of Labor, employers, and communities.
- Innovation: Championing creative approaches to link learning and careers.
- Equity: Ensuring all students have access to opportunities.
- Empowerment: Providing teachers with the tools and confidence to guide students.
- Impact: Measuring success through positive outcomes for students and communities.
- Growth: Continuously collaborating to meet evolving workforce needs.
What Teacher Ambassadors Learn
The program includes both distance instruction and hands-on, in-person learning opportunities. These sessions cover NYSDOL organization and operations, career development theory and practice, and business and industry spotlight panels. Sessions are delivered live to all participants simultaneously and recorded for future reference.
- Functions and services of the Department of Labor, including key divisions and workforce programs (e.g., Division of Workforce and Employment Solutions)
- Labor market data and research and changes impacting the regional job market
- Professional development boot camp (e.g., resume writing, interview prep, networking, LinkedIn, etc.)
- Deep dive of regional workforce programs, including the local career center(s) and workforce boards
- Business immersion with tours of local business/industries (e.g., healthcare, advanced manufacturing, information technology, financial services); meet with key business members for informational interviews (e.g., HR, Learning and Development, Workforce, Apprentices, Journey Workers, Interns)
- Final Project: collaborative lesson-plan/unit development to be brought back to districts
- Topics include:
- Creating a LinkedIn Profile (Collaborative WBL), Motivation lesson plan (LI zone) Student resources sheet (LI zone)
- Transferable Soft Skills in the Performing Arts
- Implications for Our School Districts
- Career Exploration Step One: Aligned Interests
- Topics include:
Program Completion
Participants who successfully completed the program received a Certificate of Completion from the Department of Labor and Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) credits.
Support Post-Program
NYSDOL views the Ambassador program as the beginning of ongoing relationships with the participants. After the program ends staff will remain available to the participants to consult, assist in the delivery of content, serve as guest speakers, and assist with business engagement activities.
NYSDOL will also maintain a site providing access to materials developed during the program. The site will serve as a common point of engagement to disseminate updated information to participants, including materials developed by subsequent cohorts.
Select emeritus participants will be invited to work for NYSDOL in the planning and delivery of future years of the program.
Meet the Teacher Ambassadors
2025 Teacher Ambassadors
Locations
Participants represented all regions in New York State and were placed in our larger Career Centers throughout the state.
2024 Teacher Ambassadors
Locations
Participants represented all regions in New York State and were placed in our larger Career Centers throughout the state.
2023 Teacher Ambassadors
Locations
Participants represented nine of the ten economic regions in New York State and were placed in our larger Career Centers throughout the state.
2023 Teacher Ambassador Bios
Contact Information
For more information on the Teacher Ambassador Program, please email [email protected] or submit a question through our contact form.