The Ariane Dewey Dannasch Empathetic Elementary Educator Award

Created in loving memory of Ariane Dewey Dannasch, an award-winning author and illustrator, longtime friend of Franklin Furnace, Board of Directors and Visionaries Committee member, and teaching artist in our SEQuential ART for KIDS education program. The inaugural Ariane Dewey Dannasch Empathetic Elementary Educator Award, known as The Ariane was established in 2025 to honor Ariane’s legacy. A cash prize of $1000 will be awarded annually to a NYC public school elementary educator who embodies kindness, empathy, creativity, and dedication to student learning and exemplifies Ariane’s manifold talents and joyous spirit.  Each recipient will also receive one of Ariane’s children’s books and a copy of This Is A Test, a film about her artist brother Ken Dewey.

Children’s Books by Ariane Dewey

The inaugural recipient is Ms. Iris Montagna of longtime Franklin Furnace partner school PS20 The Clinton Hill School, Brooklyn, New York. Ms. Montagna is depicted here receiving the surprise award, and her bio follows below.  
 

Ms. Iris Montagna is a dedicated and passionate educator with a career spanning over four decades. She holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Education, along with certifications in Science and Special Education. She also holds a common branch teaching license for grades Pre-K through 6. Ms. Montagna began her teaching journey in the private school sector during the 1980s before transitioning to the New York City public school system in 2001. Since then, she has taught in various public schools across Manhattan and Brooklyn, bringing her expertise and enthusiasm for learning to countless students.

For the past seventeen years, Ms. Montagna has been an integral part of the PS20, the Clinton Hill School community. She has taught multiple grade levels, including Pre-K, Kindergarten, and grades 1 through 4. At the start of the 2024 academic year, she embraced a new role as the library cluster teacher, where she continues to inspire students through inquiry-based learning and literature. Her approach integrates International Baccalaureate transdisciplinary themes that promote global mindedness, creativity, and curiosity.
 

Throughout her tenure at PS20, Ms. Montagna has fostered meaningful collaborations with visiting artists from Franklin Furnace, an organization committed to avant-garde and innovative arts education. She has had the privilege of working closely with the award-winning artist, performer, playwright, and educator Ms. Alva Rogers, who presents the Franklin Furnace SEQuential ART for KIDS program at PS20. This grant-funded initiative merges art, writing, and performance, cultivating students’ creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

Ms. Montagna says, “I am deeply honored to be the inaugural recipient of the Ariane Dewey Dannasch Empathetic Elementary Educator Award from Franklin Furnace, an unexpected and prestigious award celebrating the legacy of Ariane Dewey Dannasch. I remain committed to fostering a love of learning, the arts, and exploration in students, ensuring they develop the skills and confidence to thrive in an ever-changing world.”