Crown Heights Educator Wins $10K For Teaching Excellence

CROWN HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN — A Crown Heights educator was one of two finalists from Brooklyn who won $10,000 for "teaching excellence" this week, organizers announced.

Shola K. Roberts, who teaches at The School of Integrated Learning on Park Place, was among the winners of the FLAG Award for Teaching Excellence, which doled out prize money to seven teachers from the borough for going above and beyond in the last year.

Roberts was one of two teachers who won a $10,000 prize as a finalist and a $2,000 prize for her school. The top $25,000 prize was given to Andrew Chiapetta, a special education teacher in Carroll Gardens who built a website for remote learning now used by the entire grade.

"All of the teachers we’ve learned about through this process have shown that nothing — not even a global pandemic that took so much from so many — could stop them from innovating and creating spaces where students could learn, share, grow, and thrive,” said Glenn Fuhrman, Co-Founder of The FLAG Award for Teaching Excellence.

Along with Roberts, finalist Malika Willis, from the Brooklyn New School, also received $10,000.

Semifinalists, who each got $2,500, include Donna Catapano, from JHS 278 Marine Park; Diane Frisone, from P.S. 506 School of Journalism and Technology; Megan Minturn, from Brooklyn International High School; and Nadya Robinson, from P.S. 261 Philip Livingston.

FLAG, in its second year of the awards, chose the winners from close to 1,000 nominations from students, parents, principals and colleagues.

An independent jury of education, community, and philanthropic leaders selected the winners.

“Teachers, students, administrators, and families are completing a school year unlike anything we have ever experienced before, and it is important that we take the time to honor what has been accomplished," said jury member Dr. Betty A. Rosa, Commissioner of Education and President of the University of the State of New York. "I am thrilled at this opportunity to recognize and celebrate our inspirational teachers."