The Educational Leadership and Policy (EL&P) program is pleased to recognize this year’s
Graduate Student Excellence Award recipients. These awards highlight students whose academic
performance, professional dispositions, and applied leadership demonstrate exceptional promise
and impact. This year’s awardees include two master’s students and two doctoral students.
Below, we introduce this year’s recipients and share brief profiles highlighting their academic
interests and accomplishments:
Yanique Thompson is a second-year Ph.D. student from Jamaica in the Educational
Leadership and Policy program. She currently serves as a Graduate Editorial Assistant
with the Lastinger Center for Learning. She is also a member of the Akwaaba Freedom
School leadership team, where she serves as a Site Coordinator. Her research interests
focus on teacher motivation and authenticity in high-compliance systems.
Jasmine Pagano is a third-year student in the online Ed.D. program. She currently works
as the Supervisor of Wellness Programs for David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral
Health, and as an Adjunct Faculty in the Department of Health Sciences at Florida Gulf
Coast University. Her research interests focus on mental health and suicide prevention in
K-12 schools.
Emma Bartleman is a spring 2026 graduate of the online M.Ed. Program. She currently
works as a second-grade teacher in Broward County Public Schools.
Lakeshia Rayburn is a third-year student in the M.Ed. program. She currently serves as a
fifth-grade teacher and grade chair in the Putnam County School District.
Awardees were selected by EL&P faculty based on demonstrated excellence in contributions to
the learning community, strategic and policy–informed thinking, evidence–based professional
learning, and a strong professional leadership disposition.
Graduate Student Excellence Award recipients. These awards highlight students whose academic
performance, professional dispositions, and applied leadership demonstrate exceptional promise
and impact. This year’s awardees include two master’s students and two doctoral students.
Below, we introduce this year’s recipients and share brief profiles highlighting their academic
interests and accomplishments:
Yanique Thompson is a second-year Ph.D. student from Jamaica in the Educational
Leadership and Policy program. She currently serves as a Graduate Editorial Assistant
with the Lastinger Center for Learning. She is also a member of the Akwaaba Freedom
School leadership team, where she serves as a Site Coordinator. Her research interests
focus on teacher motivation and authenticity in high-compliance systems.
Jasmine Pagano is a third-year student in the online Ed.D. program. She currently works
as the Supervisor of Wellness Programs for David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral
Health, and as an Adjunct Faculty in the Department of Health Sciences at Florida Gulf
Coast University. Her research interests focus on mental health and suicide prevention in
K-12 schools.
Emma Bartleman is a spring 2026 graduate of the online M.Ed. Program. She currently
works as a second-grade teacher in Broward County Public Schools.
Lakeshia Rayburn is a third-year student in the M.Ed. program. She currently serves as a
fifth-grade teacher and grade chair in the Putnam County School District.
Awardees were selected by EL&P faculty based on demonstrated excellence in contributions to
the learning community, strategic and policy–informed thinking, evidence–based professional
learning, and a strong professional leadership disposition.