We are thrilled to announce that Emily Reed, Second Grade Lead Teacher, has been selected as this year’s recipient of the Gena Lewis Distinguished Teaching Award at The Fay School!
Named in honor of beloved educator Gena Lewis, who taught at Fay for 18 years and pioneered the “Open Work” experiential learning program, this award celebrates teachers who embody her spirit of innovation, creativity, and commitment to hands-on, meaningful learning. Each year, the award provides funding to support transformative project-based learning experiences for your children.
Ms. Reed earned this distinction through her leadership of Fay Market Day, a dynamic, interdisciplinary project grounded in the driving question: “As a producer, how do you entice consumers to buy a product that meets a community want or need?”
Through this experience, Second Grade Leaders will step into the roles of entrepreneurs, identifying real community needs and developing products to meet them. They will take ownership of every aspect of the process: designing products, setting pricing strategies, building brands, creating marketing campaigns, and operating their own storefronts during a live Market Day experience. They will engage deeply in financial literacy, supply and demand, and problem-solving, while also developing resilience, creativity, and confidence through authentic selling experiences.
The project is further enriched through community engagement, including guest speakers from Fay’s parent community and potential field experiences with local businesses such as farms and bakeries. The culmination is a vibrant, student-led marketplace where learners apply their knowledge in real time, followed by meaningful reflection on their decisions and outcomes.
As Ms. Reed reflects, “Fay Market Day is a transformative, high-engagement project that brings economics, math, and social-emotional learning to life.” The impact of this award will allow for expanded literacy connections, enriched field experiences, and additional resources to deepen the learning.
This work beautifully advances key priorities within our Strategic Plan:
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Deepening leadership development by empowering children with voice, choice, and real responsibility.
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Redefining the academic experience through experiential, hands-on learning.
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Strengthening community partnerships through authentic, real-world connections.
Congratulations, Emily, on this well-deserved recognition. Your work exemplifies the very best of Fay, where learning is purposeful, joyful, and deeply connected to the world beyond the classroom.