Our mission is to celebrate excellent teachers and to spark dramatic academic growth for students. We help school districts serving low-income communities across the country access untapped sources of teacher talent and instructional time. Sontag Prize recipients receive a $3000, 2 days of professional development at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and an invitation to the annual Awards Ceremony Dinner. The nation's top teachers lead a week-long Acceleration Academy, where motivated students in low-income communities are given the equivalent of one month of focused instruction. Recipients join a nationwide network of excellent teachers with access to lifelong collaboration, professional development, and celebration. We provide a key academic improvement strategy to schools and districts, elevate the teaching profession, and further promote confidence and academic success for our most underserved students.