ElevatED Torch Awards
Honoring those who light the way for education
Each year, the Anne Spencer Daves College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences honors outstanding educators and school leaders during the ElevatED Torch Awards ceremony, typically held in early May.
This event recognizes the invaluable contributions of cooperating teachers, school leaders, and district partners who mentor and guide our preservice teachers—FSU students preparing for careers in education. These dedicated professionals help shape the future of education by providing mentorship, leadership, and hands-on training for the next generation of teachers.
Pathmaker Award
Honors school principals who serve as mentors and coaches for educational leadership students. Students in their final two semesters of coursework are invited to nominate their supervising principal for this recognition.
Cooperating Teacher Awards
Honors elementary, middle, and high school teachers who go above and beyond in mentoring FSU’s preservice teachers. All students completing practicums in teacher preparation programs are encouraged to submit nominations for these awards.
School Leader Award
This award recognizes excellence in educational leadership that contributes to the ongoing development of the teaching profession through strong partnerships and collaboration with cooperating teachers and university faculty. Recipients of this award demonstrate a strong commitment to classroom placements of teacher education students, contribute to their professional growth and development through mentoring, coaching and feedback, and dedicate time to sustainable collaborative relationships. This award recipient is selected by faculty at Anne’s College and students in the Educational Leadership and Policy Studies program.
Meredith Higgins District Partner Award
This award was named in honor of Meredith Higgins, former director of clinical education at Anne’s College, who dedicated her life to supporting future educators. A proud graduate of the Leon County School System, Meredith taught elementary school in Leon County and earned her master’s in education at FSU. In her role as the director of clinical education, she supervised and placed practicums and interns across Florida. This award recipient, selected by the Anne's College Office of Academic Services and Intern Support, is an outstanding individual who exemplifies Meredith’s passion for education and commitment to building strong partnerships.
Honoring our Education Partners
During the 2023-24 academic year, nearly 500 cooperating teachers mentored FSU students through practicum and internship experiences. These educators go beyond classroom instruction to demonstrate effective management practices and provide actionable feedback as preservice teachers develop and implement lesson plans. Through their mentorship, FSU students gain confidence and a deeper understanding of what it means to be an educator—not just mastering academic content but also embracing the organization, flexibility, patience, and compassion that define effective teaching.
About Project ElevatED
The ElevatED Torch Awards are part of Project ElevatED, an initiative focused on recruiting, training, and retaining education professionals.
Launched in 2019, Project ElevatED began with a public celebration of Florida’s educators at an FSU football game, marking a commitment to:
- Recruiting and inspiring new education professionals
- Training future teachers using cutting-edge research and techniques
- Retaining educators through professional development and recognition
Education is the profession that creates all other professions, and by investing in teachers, counselors, administrators, and coaches, we create a stronger future for students in Florida and beyond.
For more information about our cooperating teachers, contact:
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