The award’s co-founders, Glenn and Amanda Fuhrman, extended the nomination deadline for this year’s award in recognition of the incredible challenges that teachers, administrators, parents, and students have faced this school year.

 

“This year has brought constant changes and challenges to NYC’s public schools, and teachers have gone above and beyond to meet the needs of their students in the classroom and online,” they said in a written press release. “We want to ensure that there is ample time for New Yorkers to recognize the outstanding teachers in their communities. This year especially, we must celebrate the resilience and creativity of our public school teachers.”

 

One grand-prize winner from each New York City 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.

The 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.