The Fishman Prize is named after Shira Fishman, an exceptional math teacher at McKinley Technology High School, in DC Public Schools, and the district's 2011 Teacher of the Year.
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Great teaching inspires us. The Fishman Prize honors amazing teachers with $25,000 and the chance to share their knowledge with educators nationwide. You could be one of them.
The Fishman Prize for Superlative Classroom Practice is awarded annually to a select group of public school teachers who demonstrate exceptionally effective teaching with students from high-poverty communities. No more than five teachers are awarded the prize each year. Each winner is recognized with a $25,000 award and the opportunity to collaborate with other winners during an at-home summer residency that culminates in the publication of a short paper on the practice of effective teaching. The paper allows Fishman Prize winners to share their expertise with educators across the country without taking time away from their classrooms.
"Teachers are working hard in their classrooms every day, and we don’t do enough to recognize and reward those who are transforming the lives of students," said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. "I want to express my gratitude to TNTP for this new award to honor outstanding teachers and challenge them to share their ideas with their colleagues."
The application period closed on February 3, 2012. For future news and announcements about the award, follow TNTP on Facebook.
About Shira Fishman
A former mechanical engineer, Shira became a teacher through TNTP’s selective DC Teaching Fellows program in 2004. Her knowledge of math and her passion for teaching have inspired and motivated her students ever since. She taught at Hine Junior High School for three years before moving to McKinley in 2007, where she became the Math Department Chairperson.
Rated “Highly Effective” for two years in a row under the district’s rigorous IMPACT evaluation system, Shira proves every day that the challenges for students in high-need schools can be overcome with great teaching. She is the 2011 DCPS Teacher of the Year, and one of about 40 teachers nationwide to honored with a 2011 Milken Educator Award.
Shira hopes the award will recognize more teachers like her. "We need to give great teachers more of an incentive to stick around and become even greater," Shira explained. "I hope that this prize really tells teachers 'you are appreciated,' and that people recognize the difference that you're making in the lives of your kids."