The FLAG Award for Teaching Excellence recognizes and celebrates extraordinary public-school teachers who inspire learning through creativity, passion, and commitment. An independent jury will select five finalists from those nominated based on numerous factors, with a strong emphasis placed on the student experience.
The inaugural award for the 2019–20 school year focuses on Manhattan teachers and will expand to other New York City boroughs as well as US cities in future years.
The Prize
The grand prize winner will receive a $100,000 unrestricted cash prize, and each finalist will receive $10,000. The winning teacher’s school receives $20,000 and each finalist’s school will receive $2,000 to be used for arts-based initiatives designed by the winner.
Criteria for Nomination
The ideal candidate …
Challenges and inspires students of all abilities, utilizing innovative teaching techniques and approaches to curricula and activities.
Respects their students and the surrounding community of parents, peers, and administrators.
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.
Founders’ Statement
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 thru 12th 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, is a very specific memory for me and my teacher, Stephen Kriss, (Mr. Kriss as I still prefer to call him) propelled me forward in an especially memorable and powerful way. He nurtured my interest in science and math, and always made the lessons exciting and unique, whether that meant a weekend field study for a large group of us at the beach hunting for owl pellets or an optional advanced math problem put up on the black-board on Fridays to grapple with over the weekend. I still remember the excitement I felt returning to school on Monday morning, having solved the problem. I am still in contact with Mr. Kriss, some forty-plus years after having been in his class.
— Glenn Fuhrman, Founder
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, the teachers face tremendous challenges, including low budgets and large class sizes. 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 five finalists and the ultimate winner. It is meant to celebrate excellent teachers everywhere. To allow every student and 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 and creative ways in which teachers are enriching the lives of their students in classrooms across the country.
— Glenn & Amanda Fuhrman, Founders