The FLAG Award for Teaching Excellence

09/14/2026

Nominations are open!

Nominate all of the outstanding NYC teachers you know and they could win $25,000 for themselves and $10,000 for their New York City Public Schools!!

https://flagaward.org/nominate-your-teacher

08/28/2026

Bringing back Feature Friday with 2025 Finalist Bryan Andes from Midtown West Elementary School PS 212 in Manhattan.

With grant funds, Bryan’s first graders were able to become designers as part of The First Grade Theatre Study at PS 212 in Manhattan. The FLAG Award allowed him to purchase important and much needed art materials that helped his students’ ideas come to life. Since the study began two decades ago, Bryan’s young learners continue to learn about the art of collaboration, and discover what it takes to produce an original Broadway musical. Students eventually take on one theatrical job, whether onstage or off, and then work together as a team to create their own original musical by the end of the school year. In these images, students become Playbill, costume, scenic, mask, and makeup designers. On opening night, a museum highlighting all of the work from the design team is displayed for the audience to see

06/30/2026

https://www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2026/06/29/rayhan-ahmed-brooklyn-science-teacher-wins-flag-award/

Learn more about this year's Brooklyn Grand Prize Winner, Rayhan Ahmed, a chemistry teacher at Gotham Professional Arts Academy.

Rayhan Ahmed’s students don’t just study formulas — they travel to Flint and advocate for environmental justice in D.C. Here’s how this award-winning teacher keeps science human.

06/18/2026

We had a great time surprising this year's six Grand Prize Winners with $25,000 checks along with $10,000 for their schools, in front of their students, colleagues and families.

06/15/2026

🎉🎉🎉CONGRATS to this year's FINALISTS:

Alejandro Arriaga Cardona - Academy for Language and Technology (ALT) (Bronx)
Julie Beeson - Epic High School South (Queens)
Jessica Boyle - Knowledge and Power Preparatory Academy International High School (KAPPA) (Bronx)
Katrina Brown-Aliffi - Democracy Prep Harlem High School (Manhattan)
Patrick Honner - Stuyvesant High School (Manhattan)
Winslow Jones - Emolior Academy (Bronx)
Stephen Kos - M.S. 245 The Computer School (Manhattan)
Lily Lamb-Atkinson - P.S. 373 Brooklyn Transition Center (Brooklyn)
Jennifer Schecter - Marie Curie Middle School 158Q (Queens)
Victoria Stuto - P.S. 29 Bardwell (Staten Island)
Jenna Zaken - P.S. 31Q (Queens)

06/15/2026

We are thrilled to announce this year's GRAND PRIZE WINNERS!
Big Congratulations to:

● 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

Pictured below: Manhattan Winner Ian Weissman. More photos and videos coming soon!

05/22/2026

is back! This week we are featuring our 2021 Finalist Lisa Barnshaw-Sijan ( ) from Bronx Arena High School ()

Lisa used her grant funds for a project rooted in creativity, collaboration, and second chances. In art class, students at Bronx Arena High School revived and rebuilt an 8-foot Manticore sculpture — part lion, part bat, part scorpion — made entirely from repurposed materials. What began years ago as an unfinished structure became a student-led process of reconstruction, redesign, engineering, and artistic problem-solving and incredible teamwork.
The sculpture was showcased publicly for the first time at BEAM Center’s ( ) SPRING THING Block Party + Student Showcase on May 16, 2026!