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Julian Robertson Award for Excellence in Teaching FAQs


The Award
 

What is the Julian Robertson Award for Excellence in Teaching, and why are you launching it?

The Julian Robertson Award for Excellence in Teaching is an annual prize to celebrate outstanding NYC teachers who have shown remarkable dedication to their students and have had a significant impact on their lives and learning.  It is also intended to honor those who have demonstrated exemplary leadership within their school communities. Each year, up to ten teachers will receive a $20,000 unrestricted cash award.

We are launching the award because teachers are vital to the success of New York City and to the future promise of its young people. Now, more than ever, our teachers need our support and recognition. This award is designed as one small way to elevate the incredible work teachers are doing every day for the children of our city.

2024 is the inaugural and pilot year of the Julian Robertson Award for Excellence in Teaching, and we anticipate listening, learning, and evolving the Award over time to maximize its impact.
 

Who was Julian Robertson?

Julian H. Robertson, Jr. was a renowned investor, philanthropist, and mentor. He was known for his commitment to education, results, leadership, and ethical values. Julian passed away in 2022, and this Award is designed to recognize excellent teachers, honor his deep belief in the power of great people to do remarkable things, and continue his legacy of commitments to education in New York City.  
 

What does this Award seek to accomplish?

The Julian Robertson Award for Excellence in Teaching has three primary objectives:

  • To honor and celebrate great teaching and innovative approaches that inspire and impact students.
     
  • To meet the moment. From the challenges of the COVID pandemic to the promises of new technology, the Award seeks to celebrate and uplift the inspiring ways teachers and schools use their talents and abilities to respond to new challenges and opportunities.
     
  • To honor Julian Robertson by creating an Award and, ultimately, a community of prize winners and recognized schools, that reflects his deep belief in the power of great teaching and that honors his commitments to education in New York City. 

The Award is also built on a commitment to outcomes-based and data-informed decision-making, as well as a firm belief that it is more important to focus attention on those doing the work than on those supporting it.  While the Award is an effort to recognize and celebrate great teaching and extraordinary commitments made to young people’s education and development, it is also designed to elevate school communities and celebrate learning.

 

How are you defining “excellence” in teaching?

Excellence comes in many forms, and one of the goals of the Award is to uncover and highlight a wide range of examples of how teachers are having an outsized impact on young people’s lives. In this inaugural year of the Award, we are prioritizing celebrating teachers who:

  • Foster relationships with students to encourage deep engagement and instill a love of learning
     
  • Take steps to ensure that students at varying academic or developmental levels achieve their full potentials; and
     
  • Contribute outside the classroom in ways that positively impact their school communities.


Are you affiliated with NYCPS or any other teaching award?

No, the Julian Robertson Award for Excellence in Teaching is not affiliated with NYCPS or any other teaching award.


Eligibility
 

Am I/is my school eligible to participate?

Any current, full-time classroom teacher of any subject or age/grade level, at an eligible school, is welcome to participate. For the pilot year of the Award, teachers working in Tiger Foundation's or Coleman Family Ventures’ networks of supported schools in New York City are eligible. 

Retired or former teachers, coaches, and school administrators are not eligible. Teachers do not need to be NYC residents.
 

How can I apply or nominate a teacher?

The first step of the application is a nomination. Any member of a school community – a student, family member of a student, school leader, teacher, other school employee, volunteer, local nonprofit leader, etc. – may nominate a teacher for consideration by submitting a nomination.

Teachers are welcome to nominate themselves. Each person is welcome to submit up to five nominations. Multiple nominations per teacher will not influence consideration of their application.

Once a nomination is submitted, the Award team will verify that the nominated teacher is eligible, and if so, will send them an email link with instructions on how to apply.  

 


The Process
 

What is the process?

Nominate an excellent teacher (Summer-Fall 2024): Beginning in August 2024, we invite any member of a school community – teachers, staff, administrators, students, family members, nonprofit leaders, and others – to nominate an excellent teacher in their lives. Teachers are also welcome to nominate themselves, and nominators may submit up to five nominations. Multiple nominations per teacher will not influence consideration of their application. To submit a nomination, click here.

Teacher applications (Fall 2024-Winter 2025): Nominated teachers will be invited to submit applications describing the practices they employ to build relationships with students, their impact on students, and the evidence of their leadership outside the classroom. A subset of applicants will then be invited to provide more information, including letters of recommendation. Finalists will participate in interviews and/or classroom visits.

Celebration (Spring 2025): In the spring, the Award will notify finalists, winners, and their school communities, and will invite them to a celebration of excellent teaching.

How will you select winners?

A team of NYC education experts, comprised of current and former teachers and school leaders, as well as network and nonprofit leaders, will review applications to identify those that best align with the Award’s goals and values, including a focus on engaging students, enabling student progress, and supporting the broader school community.

 


The Prize

 

What is the prize?

For the 2024-2025 school year, winning teachers will each receive an unrestricted cash gift of $20,000.

All winning and finalist teachers and their guests will also be invited to attend a celebration of excellent teaching in Spring 2025.

 

What can the cash prize be used for? Do I have to submit a project?

The cash prize is an unrestricted cash gift, and Award recipients can use it for any purpose, personal or professional. No projects or reporting are required.

 

What are the tax implications of winning the prize?

The IRS considers cash prizes as taxable income. For further details, please contact a tax professional.

 


Our Team
 

Who is behind the prize?

The Julian Robertson Award for Excellence in Teaching was established by Tiger Foundation and Coleman Family Ventures.

Tiger Foundation partners with community-based nonprofits that help individuals and families thrive and provides them with financial resources that allow them to build and maintain healthy and strong organizations. Through investments in its three core funding portfolios (Education; Family Support; and Youth, Workforce, and Justice), the foundation strives to meet the needs of New Yorkers experiencing poverty, with a particular focus on families, children, and young adults, and to enable the organizations that provide services to them to sustain and continually improve on their work. To learn more, visit https://tigerfoundation.org/.

Coleman Family Ventures is an impact-focused organization that empowers forward-thinking changemakers to help spark positive transformation in our shared world. By fostering relationships with disruptors, investors, and communities, Coleman Family Ventures supports those closest to the issue, helping drive meaningful impact in areas such as early childhood, healthcare, and climate. To learn more, visit https://cfv.org/.

 

 

Other
 

How can I learn more?