Celebrating the Champions of Shakespeare in the Classroom

Our team include dedicated Shakespeare educators from a variety of backgrounds. They decided to be involved in the Parr Prize because of their devotion to teaching and the importance of recognizing other excellent teachers

James Shapiro: Shakespeare professor at Columbia; Author of “A Year in the Life of Shakespeare; 1599”, “Shakespeare in America” and other books.
“Having devoted my career to the study of Shakespeare, I know how challenging it is to teach the plays well, and how critical it is to support schoolteachers who, year in, year out, devote themselves to encouraging young readers of the plays. And as the son, husband, and sibling of teachers, I know how tough a profession it can be, and how under-appreciated teachers are. I’m deeply honored, then, to be affiliated with the Parr Prize for Excellence in Teaching Shakespeare, an award that acknowledges the accomplishments of such talented and deserving teachers.”

Sarah Stewart : High School English Teacher and Judge
“As the teaching profession currently stands, it is incredibly easy for teachers to feel frustrated and defeated. This is why it’s so important that we celebrate those teachers who remain passionate and dedicated to their calling. Within many school districts, there has been a push for English departments to adopt curricula that focus on short excerpts and non-fiction texts. It takes a special teacher, with drive and ambition, to fight for the inclusion of Shakespeare as part of the curriculum in these circumstances. Shakespeare’s works continue to have a remarkable influence on our culture and it is vital that students are exposed to these works during their K-12 education. I’m so excited to be a part of the Parr Shakespeare Prize and to have the opportunity to recognize teachers who are working diligently to make this happen.”