In a heartwarming ceremony on June 11, Alexa Gutterman, a passionate journalism teacher at Benjamin N. Cardozo High School in Bayside, Queenswas presented with the prestigious FLAG Award for Teaching Excellence. The award, which includes a $25,000 prize, recognizes Gutterman’s exceptional dedication to education and her students.
The surprise announcement was met with tears of joy as Gutterman was surrounded by her students, colleagues, husband, and daughter. The award was particularly meaningful to Gutterman as she was nominated by her own students. “It was very surprising, I didn’t expect it,” Gutterman shared. “My students actually nominated me, so I feel like it’s that much more meaningful.”
Revitalizing Journalism Education
Gutterman’s commitment to her students and the journalism program at Cardozo High School has been nothing short of inspirational. The school also received a $10,000 grant to enhance the journalism program, which Gutterman plans to use for printing equipment and establishing a production station for students.
“She’s revitalizing Cardozo’s journalism program,” said Risa Danielsco-president of the FLAG Award for Teaching Excellence. Daniels highlighted Gutterman’s passion and devotion, noting that her impact extends beyond the classroom. “You can see when [Gutterman] talks, there’s that passion and devotion. She’s really invested in the school and the students in the community.”
A Teacher Who Goes Above and Beyond
Gutterman’s influence at Cardozo High School is far-reaching. She serves on the principal’s council, manages the school’s Instagram account, acts as the public relations coordinator, organizes the annual career fair, and mentors students outside of her class. “She’s not just about the journalism program, she’s just about the whole school,” said Laura Twerskyco-president of the FLAG Award. “That’s really what we’re looking for — teachers that impact beyond the classroom.”
Gutterman’s journey to teaching was inspired by her own high school experiences. “When I was in high school, I struggled a lot personally,” she recalled. “My dad was really sick, and I felt like I didn’t have an adult in the building I could go to. I think as an educator, I went into this career wanting to be who I wish I had as a teacher when I was younger.”
Inspiring the Next Generation
Gutterman’s impact on her students is evident in the words of Kayla Wyatta junior at Cardozo who has taken journalism classes with Gutterman since ninth grade. “I grew closer to her than the rest of my teachers,” Kayla said. “I feel like she deserves this because she’s hard-working.” Wyatt credits Gutterman for inspiring her to pursue a career in journalism, a path she had not considered before.
Gutterman’s teaching philosophy emphasizes critical thinking and media literacy. “One of my main goals in my class is to teach students to think critically and be aware of where they get their news and information,” Gutterman explained. “In a world where much of the youth gets news from TikTok, I emphasize media literacy and preparing them to navigate news cycles so they are more informed citizens and voters.”
Gutterman’s dedication to her students and her community has made her a beloved figure at Cardozo High School. “I have the best students in the world,” she said. “My door never closes, even on my periods I don’t have a class. I have students come in just to take a breather and be somewhere safe. And I think they’ve taught me so much. It’s a privilege I don’t take for granted, being a safe adult for some of them that don’t have that at home. It’s something I feel really honored and humbled by.”
The FLAG Award, now in its seventh year, recognizes outstanding teachers in New York City Public Schools. Funded by the FLAG Foundation for Excellence in Education and the Fuhrman Family Foundation, the award allocates over $400,000 annually to support teachers and their schools. Gutterman’s story is a testament to the power of dedicated educators and the profound impact they can have on their students’ lives.
