Founders’ Statements
My mother and my aunt were both public school teachers, as was my wife’s mother, and I know how hard teachers work and how dramatically they can impact their students’ lives. I attended public school from kindergarten through twelfth grade and received a fantastic education. In fact, I would credit many of my teachers for directly helping me become the person I am today. My fifth-grade year, in particular, holds an important place in my memory, and my teacher, Stephen Kriss (Mr. Kriss, as I still prefer to call him), propelled me forward in an especially memorable, powerful way. He nurtured my interest in science and math and always made the lessons exciting and unique—whether that meant a large group of us at the beach hunting for owl pellets on a weekend field study trip or an optional advanced math problem put up on the blackboard on Fridays for us to grapple with over the weekend. I still remember the excitement I felt returning to school on Monday mornings having solved the problem. And I am still in contact with Mr. Kriss, some forty-plus years later .
— Glenn Fuhrman
The FLAG Award for Teaching Excellence was created for teachers like Mr. Kriss. The vast majority of Americans rely on public school education. In New York City, teachers face tremendous challenges, including low budgets and large class sizes, and there is a seeming barrage of negative press discussing what is wrong with the public school system today. We wanted to focus on all of the good things that are happening, and to reward the fabulous teachers who are responsible for them.
The award is designed to go well beyond the finalists and winners. It is meant to celebrate excellent teachers everywhere and allow every student, every parent, and every principal to take some time to think about who in their school has done something extraordinary. It is meant to create excitement and positive energy toward all the fantastic teachers out there. It is for every child who is contemplating becoming a teacher when he or she grows up. And we hope it is something that will draw national attention to the positive, creative ways in which teachers are enriching the lives of their students in classrooms across the country.
— Glenn & Amanda Fuhrman