FLAG Award for Teaching Excellence nominations
now open for extraordinary Queens teachers
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | NOV. 6-NOV. 12, 2020 25
ers in NYC public schools,
grades k-12, with at least
five years of classroom
experience are eligible to
be nominated.
From the nominees,
select candidates will be
asked to fill out an additional
application, be
interviewed, and provide
letters of endorsement.
The jury will select one
grand prize winner
from each of the five boroughs.
The criteria for the
ideal candidate includes:
• 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.
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
Nominations are open
for this school year’s
2020-2021 FLAG Award
for Teaching Excellence,
which recognizes
and celebrates extraordinary
New York City public
school teachers across
the five boroughs who
inspire learning through
creativity, passion and
commitment.
Queens students, parents,
school personnel,
and community members
are encouraged to
nominate a teacher. The
FLAG Award is open to
K-12 teachers in public
schools. Nominations
will close in December,
and winners will be announced
in June.
The program is
founded by Glenn and
Amanda Fuhrman and
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.
“With this award, we
honor and celebrate the
teachers that go above
and beyond in their role
as educators and who
are impactful mentors
for their students,” said
Glenn and Amanda. “The
COVID-19 pandemic upended
the school year
last spring and continues
to challenge every facet
of education this school
year. Despite these obstacles,
teachers have found
innovative and resourceful
ways to connect with
students and have shown
great flexibility in ensuring
that students’ needs
are met, both in the classroom
and remotely.”
The FLAG Award
for Teaching Excellence
celebrates the work of
public school teachers
in New York City who
devote countless hours
to supporting and enriching
the lives of their
students. The vast majority
of Americans rely
on public schools where
teachers help students
thrive despite low budgets,
large class sizes,
and other obstacles that
persist in the public
school system, particularly
during the current
pandemic.
One grand-prize winner
from each borough
will receive a $25,000
cash prize, and each
finalist will receive a
$10,000 prize. Each winner’s
school will receive
$10,000, and each finalist’s
school will receive
$2,000 for an arts-based
initiative that the recipients
will create at the
school. The school award
provides additional resources
for arts education,
an area that is often
underfunded in public
schools.
An independent jury
comprised of education,
community, and philanthropic
leaders, including
Betty Rosa, interim
commissioner of the
State Education Department,
will select the winners
based on criteria
that place emphasis on
the student experience.
“I am delighted to
return as a jury member
for the second year
of the FLAG Award for
Teaching Excellence
and to play a role in expanding
this initiative
to the entire city,” Rosa
said. “So many teachers
across New York create a
wonderful student experience
and deserve to be
recognized through this
award. I look forward to
beginning our selections
process and celebrating
the work of teachers who
are dedicated to their students
and community.”
Last year’s winner,
Dr. Lou Lahana who
teaches at PS/MS 188
in the Lower East Side
of Manhattan, will also
serve as a member of this
year’s jury. Lahana was
recognized last year for
his commitment to helping
his students tackle
real-world problems, using
technology to explore
social issues of their
choice and create projects
to help address those
issues.
Nominations are open
now and will close Dec.
15. Semi-finalists will
be notified in February.
Current full-time teach-
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