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Teacher of the Year

Program

The New York State Society of the Cincinnati will award its Teacher of the Year Award, one of the Society’s highest educational honors, to an exceptional educator in the New York State Public School system. The award of $2,500 will be conferred annually upon one educator selected through a competitive, merit-based process from a statewide pool of nominations. The recipient will be recognized for:

innovative or exemplary teaching—within curricular or extracurricular settings—that advances student understanding of our Nation’s struggle for Independence, the officers and soldiers who fought in that conflict, and the men, women, and children who supported them.

Applications will be accepted through April 15, 2027.

The recipient will be announced by June 15, 2027.

The award will be formally presented on August 22, 2027.


Steps to Apply

  1. Download the application HERE.

  2. The nominator and seconder must complete and sign the form.

  3. Submit the completed application, along with any optional supporting materials, to teacheroftheyear@nycincinnati.org.

  4. Applications are reviewed through a structured, scored, multi-stage process. Finalists will be notified to confirm their consent for final consideration.

  5. Finalist applications are evaluated by an independent, diverse panel of experienced educators of national standing, selected for their professional expertise and subject to strict conflict-of-interest and confidentiality requirements.

  6. Attendance at the award ceremony is encouraged but not required; recipients may designate a representative if unable to attend.


Selection Criteria and Integrity Standards

  • The award recognizes exceptional professional excellence, not participation or popularity.

  • All applications are evaluated solely on the submitted materials using a transparent, merit-based scoring framework applied consistently to all candidates.

  • Reviewers disclose and recuse themselves from any evaluation involving an actual or perceived conflict of interest.

  • Selection decisions are final and not subject to appeal.

    • Evaluation criteria include:

  • Demonstrated impact on student learning

  • Excellence and innovation in instructional practice

  • Leadership within the school or broader community

  • Commitment to civic values, ethics, and historical understanding aligned with the Society’s mission

  • Sustained excellence over time

    • The New York State Society of the Cincinnati reserves the right to withhold the award in any year in which no application meets the established standards of excellence.

    Please address any questions to teacheroftheyear@nycincinnati.org.



    Privacy and Use of Materials

    Application materials are used solely for evaluation purposes and handled in accordance with applicable confidentiality standards. By consenting to being included in any final selection process, nominees consent to the use of their name and professional accomplishments for award-related announcements.

     

    Renah Feldman
    2026 NY State Society of the Cincinatti Teacher of the Year

    Renah Feldman is a Social Studies teacher who has just completed her 28th year in education. Throughout her career, her passion for curriculum development has been rooted in Brooklyn history. Eager to share that history with her seventh-grade students, Renah brings the Battle of Brooklyn to life through historic maps, paintings, and inquiry-based research into monuments, statues, and local landmarks. The story is especially meaningful because her school stands on the site of the battlefield. As students piece together the events of the battle, they are excited to discover that their school, William Alexander Middle School, is named for the Revolutionary War general William Alexander, Lord Stirling, connecting students to the history that surrounds them.

    After earning a master's degree in Anthropology from The New School in New York City, Renah discovered a passion for archival research. She worked in the archives of Eleanor Roosevelt and Ella Baker, conducting historical research that deepened her appreciation for preserving and interpreting the past. Those experiences continue to inform her approach to teaching, encouraging students to investigate primary sources and think critically about history.

    A lifelong learner, Renah regularly attends lectures at New York City's cultural institutions, reads widely, and is always eager to explore new ideas and places. Outside the classroom, she enjoys hiking, knitting, cooking, and going to the beach with her husband.