Editor’s note: We previously covered last year’s award nomination invitation, and we interviewed the Staten Island winner from the USS Columbia Space Shuttle school.
The FLAG Award for Teaching Excellence, which opened nominations for its 7th annual awards program, celebrates public school teachers in Staten Island who inspire students to reach their full potential.
The previous Staten Island winner, Julio Mejia, was a career and technical education teacher at New Dorp High School.
From their description:
Julio Mejia teaches a range of business related electives within the Corporate Center for Business and Technology, a specialized Small Learning Community (SLC) at New Dorp High School. Julio himself is a proud alumni of New Dorp. He also teaches a college-credit business course in partnership with the University of Delaware during “zero period” (from 7:15am-7:55am). Julio has helped elevate the SLC’s curriculum to be more responsive to student’s needs and prepare students for real world demands. When he noticed that freshmen already had a working knowledge of certain programs taught in the computer applications course, he shifted the focus to more advanced software. Similarly, when he recognized a gap in students’ creative thinking, he collaborated on the development of a new marketing elective. As the SLC Coordinator, Julio has worked closely with his assistant principal to modernize the business curriculum, even those courses he is not currently teaching. He also plans trips and events including multiple Career Days to broaden student exposure to professional fields. This year he has taken on the additional role of a Work-Based Learning Coordinator, tracking and documenting students’ required work-based learning hours. He also coaches the boys volleyball team, (he was a star volleyball player as a student) helping to grow the program’s popularity and success.
Julio Mejia. Image Credit – FLAG Award
Staten Island Residents Invited to Nominate Teachers for NYC’s Top Teaching Award: $400,000 in Prizes to Celebrate Teachers Who Inspire
Public school teachers from 3-K through 12th grade are eligible
Nominations Now Open at flagaward.org: Winners and finalists to be honored in June 2026 with $400,000 in cash prizes
(Staten Island, NY)—Now entering its 7th year, the FLAG Award for Teaching Excellence has announced the opening of nominations for its annual awards program, which recognizes and rewards extraordinary public school teachers who inspire learning through passion, creativity, and commitment. Since its launch in 2019, the program has recognized more than 190 teachers across all five boroughs and awarded over $2 million in prizes—making it the largest award of its kind in New York City.
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 each receive a $25,000 cash prize, and their schools will each receive $10,000 for arts-based initiatives designed by the winners. Finalists will each receive $10,000, and their schools will receive $5,000 to support arts programming.
Last year, the FLAG Award drew a record 1,600 submissions from students, parents, principals, and colleagues across New York City.
Staten Island has a proud history of FLAG Award winners. In the 2024-2025 award cycle, Julio Mejia, a career and technical education teacher at New Dorp High School, won the borough’s grand prize for his innovative leadership in the Corporate Center for Business and Technology. In addition to teaching a college-credit course in partnership with the University of Delaware, Mejia has introduced advanced computer software to students and created a marketing elective to spark creative thinking.
“This award celebrates the transformative difference that public school teachers make in their students’ lives,” said Glenn Fuhrman, Co-Founder of The FLAG Award for Teaching Excellence. “Last year’s record number of nominations showed how deeply New Yorkers value their teachers. We’re excited to build on that momentum and recognize even more extraordinary educators this year.”
“Every nomination is a chance to shine a light on a teacher who goes above and beyond,” said Risa Daniels, Co-President of The FLAG Award for Teaching Excellence. “We encourage every New Yorker to take a few minutes to nominate the educator who has made a difference in their life or their child’s life,” added Laura Twersky, Co-President.
Winners are selected by a prestigious independent jury of education and civic leaders. The 2025-2026 awards cycle jury will once again include Dr. Betty A. Rosa, Commissioner of Education & President of the University of the State of New York, who has served on the jury since its inception. The other members of the jury are Emily Chandler, 2024-2025 FLAG Award for Teaching Excellence Winner; Shamilia McBean Tocruray, Director of Education at The Brooklyn Museum; Mark Dunetz, President of New Visions for Public Schools; and Pam Haas, NY Executive Director of Facing History & Ourselves.
The deadline for nominations is November 30, 2025. Teachers can be nominated by students, parents, school faculty, and other school community members at flagaward.org/nominate-your-teacher.
About the Nominations Process
Timeline: Nominations are open now through November 30, 2025. Semi-finalists will be notified in February 2026; winners will be announced in June 2026.
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, students’ family members, principals, or fellow teachers and colleagues.
Criteria: Teachers are evaluated on the FLAG Award’s CREATE framework:
- Challenges and inspires students of all abilities, utilizing innovative teaching techniques and approaches to curricula and activities.
- Reaches out beyond the classroom, making a positive impact on the school and the community.
- Embraces their role as an educator with tireless, devoted dedication.
- Acknowledges the full spectrum of potential in each and every student.
- Teaches through example, as a leader and role model both inside the classroom and out.
- Engages in opportunities for self-improvement and continues to learn, grow, and develop as a teacher.
For answers to frequently asked questions about the FLAG Award program and the nomination process, visit flagaward.org/faq.
About the FLAG Award for Teaching Excellence
The FLAG Award for Teaching Excellence, founded by Glenn and Amanda Fuhrman, recognizes and celebrates extraordinary New York City 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: FLAG Award nominations open. Image Credit – UFT
