FGCU College of Education

Celebrating a Year of Literacy Growth Through ELLM+3 Coaching! ✨📚

As we close the 2025–2026 coaching cycle, we're proud to celebrate the incredible work taking place in classrooms to support children's language and literacy development. Through intentional, engaging, and developmentally appropriate literacy experiences, teachers and literacy coaches collaborated to bring meaningful learning opportunities to life each day at the NCF Early Childhood Development Center.

A special thank you to our literacy coaches, Ms. Lisa and Ms. Jaime, for their partnership, guidance, and dedication to supporting both teachers and children throughout the year. We look forward to continuing this important work in the next phase of the grant cycle! 💙💚

Through a unique educational exchange partnership with Eszterházy Károly Catholic University in Hungary, Florida Gulf Coast University College of Education students gained hands-on teaching experience that strengthened cultural awareness, global connections, and future classroom practices. Opportunities like these continue to broaden perspectives and prepare our future educators to make an impact both locally and globally. 🌎

Read more about their journey and experience: https://fgcu360.com/2026/05/26/an-educational-exchange-learning-globally-to-teach-locally/

An educational exchange: Learning globally to teach locally FGCU exchange with Hungary gives future teachers global classroom experience, research, and cultural immersion opportunities

NOW HIRING! Join our Little Eagles Learning Center team and help shape the next generation of learners. We’re currently hiring for:

✨ Lead Teacher – Little Eagles Learning Center (FGCU Campus)
✨ Support Teacher – Little Eagles Learning Center (FGCU Campus)

If you're passionate about early childhood education and making an impact, we’d love to have you on our team! Apply today and become part of a collaborative community dedicated to inspiring young minds.

Apply now: https://fgcu.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/eaglejobs

Celebrating our Spring graduates! Eagles Educate hosted a special Apple Pinning Ceremony where students gathered alongside family and friends to honor their hard work, accomplishments, and journey at FGCU. 🍎✨

We are incredibly proud of our graduates and can’t wait to continue cheering them on as they begin this exciting next chapter in their professional careers! 🦅

Wings Up and Go Eagles! 💙💚
Florida Gulf Coast University Alumni Association

Congratulations to Dr. Hilal Peker, Associate Professor of TESOL at FGCU’s College of Education, on receiving the 2026 TESOL Outstanding Advocate Honor Award — an international recognition awarded to only one individual globally for excellence, leadership, and service in English language teaching!

Dr. Peker was also selected to attend the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program Advisor Workshop, further demonstrating her commitment to advocacy, student success, and expanding global opportunities for students. We are proud to celebrate her incredible impact and leadership!

✨ Alumni Spotlight ✨

FGCU's College of Education is proud to recognize alumni Merryken Osborn, who earned her degree in Secondary Math Education and has now been recognized as a High Impact Teacher for TWO consecutive years in the School District of Lee County! 👏

Merryken currently teaches Math at Trafalgar Middle School, where she is making a lasting impact on her students through encouragement, confidence-building, and meaningful relationships.

“One thing I have learned as a teacher is that students need confidence and encouragement the most.” - Merryken 💙

We are incredibly proud to see our graduates making a difference in classrooms across Southwest Florida and inspiring the next generation every single day. Congratulations, Merryken, on this well-deserved recognition! 🦅✨

Interested in being featured in our Alumni Spotlight series? Submit your highlight here:
https://fgcu.formstack.com/forms/coe_alumni_spotlight_form

School District of Lee County Trafalgar Middle School Florida Gulf Coast University Alumni Association

Congratulations to our Educational Leadership graduate student, Laurel Blackburn, on this incredible accomplishment!

Celebrating Excellence at Florida Gulf Coast University! ✨

The FGCU College of Education is incredibly proud to recognize our outstanding faculty, staff, and students who were honored during the FGCU Celebration of Excellence Awards Ceremony!

🏆 Award Recipients:
• Dr. Charla Chailland – Junior Faculty Teaching Excellence Award
• Clarisse Halpern – Adjunct Faculty Teaching Excellence Award
• Dr. Charles Xiaoxue Wang – Chair Excellence Award
• Dr. Jennifer Fulwider – Student Success Champion Award

🎓 Student Award Recipients:
• Kathryn Smith – College of Education Undergraduate
• Jeannene Baumbach – School Counseling Master’s Degree Program
• Jennifer Kerzetski – Doctor of Education Program

We also proudly recognize our additional COE nominees:
⭐ Dr. Peter Ndiangui – Senior Scholarship Excellence & Senior Faculty Teaching Excellence
⭐ Dr. Jessica Essary – Senior Faculty Service Excellence

Congratulations to all of our winners and nominees for your dedication, passion, and impact on education and student success. Your work continues to inspire our Eagle community! 🦅

Congratulations to our College of Education graduate, Elizabeth Hale, on earning the 2025–2026 Monroe County School District Inclusion Teacher of the Year Award! 🍎🦅

We love watching our graduates shine in the field and make a lasting impact on the lives of their students. We can’t wait to see all that Elizabeth continues to accomplish!

Monroe County School District