Now in its seventh year, the FLAG Award for Teaching Excellence — which recognizes exceptional New York City public school educators — has opened nominations for the 2025-26 cycle through Nov. 30. Brooklyn students, family members, principals and fellow teachers are invited to nominate a favorite teacher or colleague who inspires students through creativity, passion and dedication.
Six grand-prize winners — one from each of the city’s five boroughs and one 3-K through fifth-grade educator from any borough — will each receive a $25,000 cash prize, plus $10,000 for their schools’ arts-based initiatives.
Finalists will each be awarded $10,000, and their schools will receive $5,000 to support arts programming.
Since its inception in 2019, the award has honored more than 190 teachers across all five boroughs and awarded over $2 million in prizes, making it the largest award of its kind in New York City.
Last year, the FLAG Award received a record 1,600 submissions from students, parents, teachers and principals. Emily Chandler, a special education and ELA (English Language Arts) teacher at PS 371K Lillian Rashkis High School — a District 75 school serving students with special needs in Sunset Park — was among the grand-prize winners representing Brooklyn.
Her curriculum integrated ELA with art, math, history and science through a hands-on, project-based and cross-disciplinary approach. Her teaching helped students thrive, achieving an 80% ELA pass rate, while two of her students were also named winners of the Morgan Book Project.
“This award celebrates the transformative difference that public school teachers make in their students’ lives,” said Glenn Fuhrman, co-founder of the FLAG Award for Teaching Excellence. “Last year’s record number of nominations showed how deeply New Yorkers value their teachers. We’re excited to build on that momentum and recognize even more extraordinary educators this year.”
Risa Daniels, co-president of the FLAG Award for Teaching Excellence, added, “Every nomination is a chance to shine a light on a teacher who goes above and beyond. We encourage every New Yorker to take a few minutes to nominate the educator who has made a difference in their life or their child’s life.”
Winners are selected by an independent jury of educators and civic leaders, including Chandler, Dr. Betty A. Rosa, commissioner of education and president of the University of the State of New York, who has served on the jury since its inception; Shamilia McBean Tocruray, director of education at the Brooklyn Museum; Mark Dunetz, president of New Visions for Public Schools; and Pam Haas, New York executive director of Facing History & Ourselves.
Students, parents, school faculty and other school community members can nominate teachers online. Semi-finalists will be notified in February 2026, and winners will be announced in June 2026.
To be eligible, educators must be full-time New York City public school teachers with at least five years of teaching experience, serving grades 3-K through 12.
