Martha R.

The McCourt Prize for Excellence in Teaching honors the spirit of Frank McCourt, a teacher himself for some 30 years in New York City schools before bursting into fame with the publication of his Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir, Angela’s Ashes. Despite the immense success of this book and its two successors, ‘Tis and Teacher Man, Frank McCourt remained a teacher at heart. A resident of Roxbury, he gave generously of his time, talents, and energy to ASAP and other local causes. He was instrumental in establishing the Celebration of Young Writers and making it the wonderful event it is today. The chief goal of the annually awarded McCourt Prize is to recognize teachers who have inspired students to become enthusiastic learners by devising imaginative assignments and techniques. A secondary goal is to find and promote ideas and practices that can be adopted by other teachers.