Courtesy FLAG Awards
NYC’s Top Teaching Prize Seeks Nominations
MOHAMED FARGHALY
mfarghaly@queensledger.com
New Yorkers are being asked to nominate outstanding public school teachers for the FLAG Award for Teaching Excellence, now in its seventh year. The annual program honors educators across the five boroughs with a total of $400,000 in prizes.
Full-time teachers from 3-K through 12th grade with at least five years of experience are eligible. Nominations are open through Nov. 30 at flagaward.org. Winners will be announced in June 2026.
Six grand-prize winners — one from each borough and one early-grade educator from any borough — will each receive $25,000. Their schools will also be awarded $10,000 for arts-based projects designed by the winners. Finalists will receive $10,000, and their schools will get $5,000 for arts programming.
“This award celebrates the transformative difference that public school teachers make in their students’ lives,” said Glenn Fuhrman, co-founder of the FLAG Award. “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.”
The FLAG Award drew 1,600 nominations in 2024-25, the highest since its founding in 2019. More than 190 teachers have been recognized since then, with over $2 million in awards distributed, making it the largest teaching award in the city.
Queens teachers have been among past honorees. Last year, Alanna O’Donnell, a special education teacher at P177Q The Robin Sue Ward School for Exceptional Children, won the borough’s grand prize. She was surprised last year with the honor during what she believed was a routine end-of-year gathering at P177Q The Robin Sue Ward School for Exceptional Children. A veteran of more than 12 years in the Department of Education, O’Donnell received a $25,000 cash prize and a $10,000 grant for her school in recognition of her innovative work with students who have significant disabilities.
A Flushing native now pursuing her second master’s degree at PACE University in literacy and TESOL, she has transformed an unused outdoor space on school grounds into a working farm and chicken coop, where her mostly nonverbal students learn responsibility, empathy, and independence through daily tasks. What began three years ago as an experiment to reclaim a site damaged during the pandemic has grown into a celebrated program supported by grants, with students raising chickens they jokingly call their “morbidly obese young ladies.” O’Donnell says the greatest reward is seeing her students take initiative, such as leading chores on the farm without assistance — milestones that have deeply moved parents and colleagues. Though she insists she is “not a farmer,” O’Donnell has made agriculture a powerful tool for learning. “I’m super humbled by the award,” she said, adding that being nominated by a parent meant more to her than the recognition itself. “When one of us shine, we all shine.”
Queens educator Aaron Lober, a STEM teacher at Halsey Middle School 157, was previously recognized in 2023 with the borough’s FLAG Award for Teaching Excellence for his pioneering work in building the school’s STEM curriculum from the ground up. Originally trained in special education, Lober shifted into STEM without a background in computer science, immersing himself in JavaScript, Python, and computer science education to better serve his students. At Halsey, he introduced hands-on projects that blend technical skills with critical reflection, such as exploring the history of coding and the overlooked contributions of diverse innovators. His classroom has become a hub of experiential learning, from a student-built hydroponic farm that tackles issues of food scarcity to extracurricular programs like robotics and app-making in partnership with NASA. Determined to expand access, Lober also launched a free summer STEM program to ensure opportunities for all students regardless of financial means. He said he views the FLAG Award not only as personal recognition but as a spotlight on the collective effort of educators. “I really want the emphasis to be on the fact that, even though only a few of us are recognized, there are many others who also deserve this kind of recognition,” Lober said.
Alicia Marcinkowski, an ENL and art teacher at PS 120, received the FLAG Award also in 2023 in the elementary category for her creative integration of art history into English instruction for students learning the language. Her approach began during the pandemic, when she used visual arts to keep students engaged online, and has since become a permanent part of the school’s curriculum. By blending art projects with language development, Marcinkowski created a risk-free environment that helps immigrant and multilingual students acclimate at their own pace, often encouraging them to use their first language until they feel ready to speak English. The program’s success has been recognized beyond the classroom, with Marcinkowski taking part in professional development at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and organizing large-scale family field trips, including a Lunar New Year visit that drew more than 100 families. With support from the award’s grants, she plans to expand cultural experiences for her students, from local art centers to international museums. After nearly two decades of teaching, Marcinkowski said the recognition reflects the passion that continues to drive her work. “The community and the kids are the most amazing part of the job,” she said. “After 19 years, I’m really grateful that I still love what I do.”
Winners are chosen by a jury of educators and civic leaders, including state Education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa, who has served since the award’s inception.
“Every nomination is a chance to shine a light on a teacher who goes above and beyond,” said Risa Daniels, co-president of the award.
Students, parents, principals and colleagues can submit nominations at flagaward.org/nominate-your-teacher.
