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.