Nominations Open for NYC’s Largest Teaching Awards Program: $400,000 in Prizes to Celebrate Teachers

Now entering its 8th year, the FLAG Award for Teaching Excellence announced that nominations are open for its annual awards program, which recognizes and celebrates extraordinary public school teachers who inspire learning through creativity, passion, and commitment. As the largest awards program of its kind in New York City, FLAG has recognized 222 teachers across all five boroughs and awarded more than $2,400,000 in prizes.

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.

“Almost everyone can point to a teacher who changed the way they saw themselves or the world around them,” said Glenn Fuhrman, Co-Founder of The FLAG Award for Teaching Excellence. “My fifth-grade teacher sparked my interest in math and numbers, which stayed with me long after I left his classroom. We created the FLAG Award because teachers have lasting influence every day, far too often without receiving the recognition they deserve.”

“Exceptional teachers do more than help students succeed in the classroom. They help young people imagine possibilities for themselves that they may not have seen before,” added Amanda Fuhrman, Co-Founder of The FLAG Award for Teaching Excellence.

“The teachers who stand out through this process don’t just have an impact on the students sitting in front of them. They start programs, create opportunities and bring ideas to their schools that can have ripple effects for years,” said Risa Daniels, Co-President of The FLAG Award for Teaching Excellence.

“Nominations give students, families and colleagues the chance to tell us about the teachers creating that kind of change in their own communities,” added Laura Twersky, Co-President of The FLAG Award for Teaching Excellence.

Winners are selected by a prestigious independent jury of education and civic leaders. The 2026-2027 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, all serving for the first time, are Shaude Tyson, FLAG 2026 3K-5th Grade Grand Prize Winner; David Dvorkin, CEO and Founder of Hire Cause; Kareem Farah, Chief Executive Officer of The Modern Classrooms Project; and Cris Scorza, Helena Rubinstein Chair of Education at the Whitney Museum of American Art.

The deadline for nominations is November 29, 2026. Teachers can be nominated by students, parents, school faculty, and other school community members at flagaward.org/nominate-your-teacher.

The grand prize winners for last year’s 2025-2026 awards cycle were:

• Alexa Gutterman, Journalism teacher, Benjamin N. Cardozo High School, Queens
• Deborah Reich, Biology and Environmental Science teacher, World View High School, Bronx
• Ian Weissman, Social Studies teacher, Repertory Company High School for Theatre Arts, Manhattan
• Jason Passalacqua, Social Studies and Law teacher, Tottenville High School, Staten Island
• Rayhan Ahmed, Chemistry teacher, Gotham Professional Arts Academy, Brooklyn
• Shaude Tyson, Special Education teacher, P.S. 262 El Hajj Malik El Shabazz Elementary School, Brooklyn – recipient of the award for educators in the 3K–5th grade category

About the Nominations Process

Timeline: Nominations are open now through November 29, 2026. Semi-finalists will be notified in February 2027; winners will be announced in June 2027.

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.

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.