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The Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education

The Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education celebrates innovation, inspiration, and impact in education by recognizing outstanding individuals whose accomplishments are making a difference in the lives of students.

114
 

Extraordinary leaders honored since 1988

$50K
 

Awarded to recognize each innovator building a better future for students

37
 

Years of celebrating changemakers

 

 

“Our Prize winners are outstanding leaders who have devoted their careers to closing gaps and accelerating educational opportunity to all students.”

—Harold McGraw III, former Chair, CEO, and President of The McGraw Hill Companies

Explore winners >>

 

Blue graphic of the 2025 McGraw Prize Winners featuring headshots of Joe Wolf and Rapelang Rabana, Cathy N. Davidson, and Frederic Bertley from left to right

Congratulations to this year’s winners

The Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Family Foundation and the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education are thrilled to honor these inspiring innovators.

Learn more about the winners.

A Who’s Who of Educational Leadership

The McGraw Prize was established in 1988 by the Board of Directors of McGraw-Hill to honor Harold W. McGraw, Jr., the Chair and CEO. Throughout his life and building on his grandfather’s legacy as a teacher, Mr. McGraw was a vocal and vigorous advocate for education. He believed that society needed to celebrate the role of educators.

Learn More about the McGraw Prize

Latest News

Debra Duardo delivers her McGraw Prize acceptance speech at a podium on stage in 2023 while representatives of Penn GSE watch behind her.
News

2023 McGraw Prize winner Debra Duardo, the Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools, recently appeared on a SXSW Edu panel to discuss the best ways to support immigrant students.

Wendy in profile speaks at a microphone
Prize Winner News

The 2006 McGraw Prize winner and founder of Teach for America writes about the importance of the first post-college job in her recent article in The Atlantic.

John Silvanus Wilson Jr. smiling and sitting in front of a bookshelf
News

A conversation with Executive Director of the McGraw Center for Educational Leadership John Silvanus Wilson, Jr. Part two in a two-part series.