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Celebrate Exceptional Manhattan Teachers! Manhattan Community Members Are Invited to Nominate Outstanding Teachers, from 3-K through 12th Grade, for $25,000 Grand Prize

Posted October 4, 2024

Today 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-your-teacher. 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.

• 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.

Select candidates will receive requests to interview and provide references.

Previous Cycle’s Award Winners from Manhattan

In the 2023-24 cycle awards cycle, Dr. Gifty Asamani— a teacher at the High School for Math, Science, and Engineering—- won the Manhattan Grand Prize for her tireless exploration of new ways to engage students with hands-on learning and real science. Throughout her two years as a staff member, she built affiliations with Harlem DNA Lab, CUNY Advanced Research Center, NYC H20, BioBase, STEMMattersNYC, NSBE, and Rockefeller University to help students experience STEM/STEAM activities not typically available at the school.

The following Manhattan teachers were finalists in the 2023-24 cycle: Lauren Ginsberg DeVilbiss, PS 28 The Wright Brothers School; Christina Iannacone, Repertory Company High School for Theatre Arts; Kerisa Jones,  East Side Community High School; Joseph Steward, PS 721 Manhattan Occupational Training Center; and Justin (Wali) White, Institute for Collaborative Education.

The Manhattan semi-finalists for the 2023-24 cycle included Caprice Abraham, Lower Manhattan Community Middle School; Sarah Aiken, P226M; Teresa Bello, PS 185 The Locke School of Arts & Engineering; Katja Frazier, Future Leaders Institute Charter School; Patrick Honner, Stuyvesant High School; Amy Musick, Columbia Secondary School / MS 362; Karen Parker, PS 126 Jacob August Reiss; Garrett Patton, Vanguard High School; and Sarah Richard, MLK High School for Law, Advocacy, and Community Justice.

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.

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