Mark Belden earned his AAS in Mechanical Engineering Technology from SUNY Morrisville, BS in Mechanical Engineering Technology from Rochester Institute of Technology and MS in Manufacturing Management from Kettering University. Before starting a career in education Mr. Belden worked as a Manufacturing Engineer for Cummins Engine Company and as a Field Engineer/Territory Manager for Guhring Incorporated. Since September 2000 he has been teaching at Schuylerville Central School. Currently, Mr. Belden teaches Middle School technology and advises the Middle School robotics club. In 2017, he was the school advisor for First Robotics Challenge Team 4508 that made it to the world championships in St. Louis, Mo. Over the course of his career, he has taught Principles of Engineering, Digital Electronics, Nanotechnology, and AIS Math. He was the entrepreneurial lead for Team SENSEIT in the National Science Foundation’s i-Corp for learning and completed coursework at the National Center for Robotics at Carnegie Mellon University. Outside the classroom, Mr. Belden is on the district’s Technology and Facilities committees. He has also been a member of the Town of Fort Edward Planning Board since 2003 and Chairman since 2010. Over the next four years as a NYS Master Teacher, he hopes to help other educators and bring great opportunities back to Schuylerville.

Lisa Fort earned her BA in Physical Anthropology at the University of Alberta and her Master of Science in Teaching at SUNY Potsdam. Ms. Fort has been in the classroom for over 17 years, focusing now on earth science teacher, having tough biology for many years. After teaching for eight years in New York City, she has found a home at Queensbury High School where she teaches Regents Earth Science. Outside of the classroom, Ms. Fort is the Rocket Club advisor and PM School science advisor. She is a frequent presenter at Eastern Science Teachers Association of NYS (STANYS), STANYS, Capital Region Master Teacher’s Lab Day, and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) Empower conferences sharing her love of all things Earth Science with other educators. When not busy with her professional career, Ms. Fort can be found writing novels, drawing portraits, and being active in the outdoors. Ms. Fort brings her belief in the growth mindset into all she does. She is an active participant creating future NYS Science Learning Standards activities, and exploring deeper learning through non-fiction exploration. The opportunities and discussions in the NYS Master Teacher Program prompted an earlier and more meaningful shift in her classroom to incorporate standards-based grading, problem-based learning, and choice for all learners to promote successful global citizenry.