FLAG Award for Teaching Excellence Adds $25,000 Prize For Personal Use By An Exceptional Teacher In NYC

The FLAG Award for Teaching Excellence, one of the city’s most prominent honors for public school teachers, has raised the stakes. The award’s fifth annual program, opening nominations today, introduces a new $25,000 prize aimed at exceptional PreK through elementary school teachers in New York City.

Over its previous four iterations, the FLAG Award has recognized 122 teachers across the city’s five boroughs, disbursing $1.13 million in cash prizes. This year, the organizers have pledged to distribute more than $400,000 among 35 standout educators.

The grand prize, earmarked for personal use, has been set at $25,000 for six teachers, along with a $10,000 sum for their schools. Finalists are not forgotten: they will receive $10,000 each, and their schools will get $5,000 for an arts-based initiative. Semi-finalists will also get $1,000 each for personal use and a matching amount for their schools.

Glenn Fuhrman, co-founder of the FLAG Award for Teaching Excellence, said, “This awards program provides an opportunity for students, parents, and other school community members to celebrate outstanding teachers who inspire students to dream big and reach their full potential. These extraordinary educators deserve recognition and rewards.”

The selection committee is a high-profile panel featuring Dr. Betty Rosa, Commissioner of Education and President of the University of the State of New York; Michael Driskill, Chief Operating Officer at Math for America; Bob Hughes, Director of K-12 Education at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Nisa Mackie, Deputy Director of Learning and Engagement at MoMA; and Jessica Abrams, a previous FLAG Award winner.

Teachers can be nominated by students, parents, school staff and community members via an online form available at https://flagaward.org/nominate-your-teacher. Nominations are open until November 23, 2023. Eligibility criteria stipulate that nominees must be current full-time teachers in New York City public schools, grades PreK-12, with at least five years of classroom experience.

Nominees will be assessed based on their ability to challenge and inspire students, impact the school and community positively, embrace their role as educators, acknowledge the full spectrum of student potential, act as role models, and engage in self-improvement.

The announcement of semi-finalists will occur in January, with winners to be named before the end of the academic year.

For further details on the nominations process and the award, visit FLAG Award for Teaching Excellence