How to Apply

Thank you for your interest in applying to The Fishman Prize. To stay connected about The Fishman Prize and get alerts on our 2014 application period, follow TNTP on Facebook or sign up to receive updates.

Dates & Deadlines

The Fishman Prize application period typically opens in the fall and closes mid-winter.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Fishman Prize, an applicant must:

1. Be a current (i.e., not former), full-time teacher;
2. Teach at a public school (including charter schools); and
3. Teach at a school where at least 40% of all students are eligible for Free or Reduced Price Lunch (or a Title I school).

In addition to meeting the above eligibility requirements, successful candidates must demonstrate:

• An extraordinary ability to lead students from all backgrounds to academic excellence;
• A keen understanding of effective instructional practice and an ability to articulate it clearly; and
• A passion for teaching and a deep commitment to advancing the teaching profession.

Step I: Submit your online application.

To get started, complete the online application, including basic background information and responses to three short essay questions. Before you begin, we strongly recommend that you read Unlocking Student Effort, the collection of essays on teaching written by the 2012 Fishman Prize winners. We also suggest that you take a few days to work through the application to ensure your submission is complete by the final deadline.

Step II: If invited, submit videotaped teaching sample and letter of recommendation.

Selected applicants will be asked to submit a 20-minute teaching video and a letter of recommendation from either their current principal or another school leader who can offer perspective on their success in the classroom. Guidelines on how to create and upload the videos will be provided.

Step III: If invited, participate as a semi-finalist in an unannounced classroom visit by TNTP.

Selected applicants will be asked to allow a TNTP staff member to conduct an in-person visit to their classroom for a single observation within a 2- to 3-week period.

Step IV: If invited, attend an in-person interview for finalists.

A small group of finalists will be invited to an in-person interview event with a panel of judges. The interviews will take place in New York City. TNTP will cover travel costs and associated expenses. The judges will select up to five winners.