Education
Since 1871, when the Buffalo Normal School first opened its doors, Buffalo State has enjoyed a long and distinguished history of preparing highly effective teachers and educational leaders. For more than 140 years we have dedicated our research, scholarship and community service to that prime directive.
Since those early days, the education of children and adults has undergone many changes. The turbulent decades of the industrial revolution and rapid growth in the 20th century swiftly passed into the technologically miraculous 21st century. Children of several grade levels studying under the roof of a one-room schoolhouse transitioned to students learning individually and online in their homes or engaged in multi-media instruction and formation. Through it all, education continues to be critical to the advancement of civilization, the promotion of socially just communities, and the stability of a peaceful world united in its care for children and families.
While times change and educational trends rise and fall, the essence of our mission remains--a fierce dedication to offering education programs that meet the highest possible national standards of the profession. Thus, we continue receiving national accreditation and are continuously engaged in data driven decision making, clinically enriched programming, assessment based accountability, and relevant curriculum development using national standards.
We are a vibrant community of faculty, staff and students committed to the intellectual, personal and professional growth of future and practicing professionals in the diverse fields of education. Our commitment transforms lives and the communities where our candidates and graduates live and serve. Join us in seeking excellence for all children and adults through education.
Teacher Education

Where Are They Now?
Our graduates go on to grow, inspire, and lead—impacting children and communities across Western New York and around the globe. Discover how Buffalo State has encouraged and supported their remarkable journeys.
Master Teachers Program
Buffalo State serves as a regional host campus for New York State’s Master Teachers Program, which rewards the state’s highest performing teachers, ensures that the best and brightest stay in education, and encourages teachers to share their expertise with peers. Master Teachers engage in peer mentoring, attend and create intensive content-oriented professional development opportunities, and work closely with pre-service and early-career fellows in their regions.
NYS Master Teachers ProgramJournal of Inquiry and Action in Education
The Journal of Inquiry and Action in Education is a peer-reviewed online journal seeking to highlight collaborative research between university faculty and partner school teachers. JIAE welcomes submissions year-round for research focused on the areas of: Applied Theory/P-12 Educational Research, Collaborative Partnerships/Programs, Promising Practices, and Educational Policy
Journal of Inquiry and Action in EducationTLE TeachLivE™
TLE TeachLivE™ is a computer-simulated, immersive, mixed-reality classroom that provides teachers the opportunity to develop their pedagogical practice in a safe environment that doesn’t place real students at risk. Teachers step into TeachLivE™ virtual classroom and experience immersion and suspension of disbelief, allowing them to rehearse high-leverage teaching practices. Buffalo State is the only college in the SUNY system currently using this unique environment to prepare or retrain pre-service and in-service teachers.
TLE TeachLivE™Urban Teacher Academy
The Urban Teacher Academy is designed to develop a diverse generation of educators for the Buffalo Public Schools. A collaboration between Buffalo State and Buffalo's McKinley High School (both located on Elmwood Avenue in Buffalo, NY), this supportive program for high school students will take an innovative approach to educating future educators.

Hank Mann Endowed Chair for Exceptional Education
Dr. Horace “Hank” Mann was the founder of what is now the Exceptional Education Department at Buffalo State, where he retired in 1992 after an influential 40-year career. Dr. Mann generously bequeathed $1.5 million to establish the Horace Mann Endowed Chair position. In September 2025, Dr. Shannon Budin was appointed as the second endowed chair and will continue the work of her predecessors by providing leadership for departmental programs, faculty, and teacher candidates; conducting innovative research; and fostering collaborative partnerships with schools and agencies. She will also continue to facilitate the annual Graduate Research Symposium, which emphasizes the importance of connecting research to practice for everyday teachers and their students.

Woods-Beals Endowed Chair for Urban Education
In 2002, Buffalo State received a $1 million gift from Eleanore Woods Beals, a 1950 graduate, and her husband, Vaughn Beals, which was used to establish the first endowed chair in the 130-year history of the institution. Jevon Hunter, Woods-Beals Endowed Chair for Urban Education, has developed several initiatives as the endowed chair - Urban Youth Scholars, Student Research, Urban Teacher Collaborative, and Urban Education Speaker Series.