A teacher in Brooklyn has been named one of this year's Big Apple Award recipient for going above and beyond for his students.

Out of 80,000 teachers in the city, and thousands of nominations, 19 educators were selected for the honor.

Arturo Lazaro Jr.’s impact on his students begins in the classroom, but extends out into real life.

His students say he offers exciting learning activities and encourages them to teach one another.

They also say he is a teacher who takes on his students' obstacles as his own.

Graduating senior Joseline Naula says Lazaro helped her realize her true potential.

“He’s just you know the cherry on top that was like, ‘no you have to bloom,’ I'm just as smart; I'm just as funny; I'm just as valuable as any other person here,” says Naula.

And she's not the only student he's made a difference for.

“We have a partnership with John Jay Immigrant Success Student Center and what we do is we provide resources for our undocumented students,” says Lazaro.

He says that is just one of the initiatives he's excited to share with the other 18 Big Apple award recipients and the schools chancellor during their monthly teacher advisory group meetings.

"I think having the chancellor hear about the success that we have had with our students might trigger an ongoing conversation about it,” says Lazaro.