Celebrate Exceptional Staten Island Teachers!
Staten Island Community Members Are Invited to Nominate Outstanding Teachers, from 3-K through 12th Grade, for $25,000 Grand Prize
Nominations Now Open for Staten Island Teachers: Public School Teachers From Across NYC Public Schools to be Celebrated in June 2025 with over $400,000 in Cash Prizes
Editor’s note: Readers can view our interview with last year’s winner of the FLAG award here.
The following quote was provided to us by Laura Twersky, Co-President of the FLAG Foundation for Excellence in Education:
“There are so many outstanding educators in this borough. We encourage Staten Island residents to nominate teachers who see the potential in all of their students and go beyond the classroom to make a profound impact on their school and community,” said Laura Twersky, Co-President of the FLAG Foundation for Excellence in Education.
The FLAG Award for Teaching Excellence, which opened nominations for its 6th annual awards program and announced an expansion to include 3-K teachers for the first time, celebrates public school teachers in Staten Island who inspire students to pursue their dreams.
(Staten Island, NY)—The FLAG Award for Teaching Excellence opened nominations for its 6th annual awards program, which celebrates New York City public school teachers in each borough who educate students with passion, creativity, and dedication. The program has expanded to include 3-K teachers for the first time. Teachers can be nominated by students, parents, school faculty, and other school community members at https://flagaward.org/nominate. The deadline for nominations is November 24, 2024. Winners will be announced in June 2025.
For the 2024-2025 awards cycle, six grand-prize winners – one from each of New York City’s five boroughs and one 3-K through 5th grade educator from any borough – will receive a $25,000 cash prize, and each finalist will receive $10,000. The winning teachers’ schools will each receive $10,000, while each finalist’s school will receive $5,000 towards arts-based programs designed by each winner.
In the previous five years the FLAG Award for Teaching Excellence recognized 157 teachers across the five boroughs and gave away over $1,530,000 in prizes, making it the largest such award in the city.
“This award recognizes the transformative impact that public school teachers make in the lives of their students. New York City’s educators are unsung heroes who so often go above and beyond to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and character they need to live fulfilling lives and make our world a better place,” said Glenn Fuhrman, Co-Founder of The FLAG Award for Teaching Excellence.
Winners are selected by a prestigious independent jury. This year’s jury consists of Emilie Jones, 2024 FLAG Award for Teaching Excellence Winner; Kate Levin, head of the Bloomberg Philanthropies Arts program; Seth Pinsky, CEO, 92nd Street Y; Heidi Holder, Frederick P. and Sandra P. Rose Chair of Education, The Metropolitan Museum of Art; and Dr. Betty A. Rosa, Commissioner of Education & President of the State University of New York.
About the Nominations Process
Timeline: Nominations are now open and close on November 24, 2024. Semi-finalists will be notified in February and winners will be announced in June.
Who is Eligible: Full-time teachers in NYC public schools, grades 3-K through 12 with a minimum of five years of teaching experience.
Who can Nominate: Students, their parents, principals, or fellow teachers and colleagues can nominate teachers.
Process: The nomination form asks nominators to list contact information and answer the following question: why are you nominating this teacher for the FLAG Award? The nominated teacher will receive an email that informs them of the nomination and invites them to fill out an application asking how they fit the FLAG Award CREATE criteria. Then, select candidates will be asked to write many short essays in which they further elaborate on their teaching practices.
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Challenges and inspires students of all abilities, utilizing innovative teaching techniques and approaches to curricula and activities.
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Reaches out beyond the classroom, making a positive impact on the school and the community.
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Embraces their role as an educator with tireless, devoted dedication.
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Acknowledges the full spectrum of potential in each and every student.
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Teaches through example, as a leader and role model both inside the classroom and out.
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Engages in opportunities for self-improvement and continues to learn, grow, and develop as a teacher.
Select candidates will receive requests to interview and provide references.
Previous Cycle’s Award Winners from Staten Island
In the 2023-24 awards cycle, Staci Balice, an elementary school Library/Media teacher at Space Shuttle Columbia Public School 58, won the Staten Island grand prize. During the COVID lockdown, the library at her school became a storage space. When the school reopened, they asked Staci to transform it into a library and media center. Despite her lack of experience using technology and the absence of computers in the space, Staci made it her mission to make the library/media space engaging and accessible for all students.
The 2023-24 cycle’s Staten Island semi-finalists were Graziella Casale, PS 9 Naples Street Elementary and Cassandra Laugen, PS 205Q The Alexander Graham Bell School.
About the FLAG Award for Teaching Excellence
The FLAG Award for Teaching Excellence award, founded by Glenn and Amanda
Fuhrman, recognizes and celebrates extraordinary public school teachers who inspire learning through creativity, passion, and commitment. This award is funded by The FLAG Foundation for Excellence in Education and by The Fuhrman Family Foundation. It is administered by co-presidents, Risa Daniels and Laura Twersky.
Banner Image: Teaching. Image Credit – LexScope
