About ELITE
Dr. Taka S. Mays
FAU ELITE Director
Mr. Michael Maine
Superintendent
Martin County School District
Ms. Denise Rodriguez
Executive Director of Teaching, Learning & Leading
St. Lucie Public Schools
Dr. Joseph Stanley,
Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services
Okeechobee County Schools
Ms. Virginia Ramie
Director of Student Success & Instructional Improvement
Professional Development Department
The School District of Osceola County
St. Lucie Public Schools partnered with the Martin County School District and Florida Atlantic University’s (FAU) Department of Educational Leadership and Research Methodology (ELRM) to create the ELITE (Educational Leadership: Intern to Excellence) Partnership Program. The partnership grew even stronger with the valuable additions of the Okeechobee County School District and The School District of Osceola County, further expanding opportunities for aspiring educational leaders.
The rigorous accelerated master’s degree program focuses on bridging theory and practice through on-site principal mentoring and internships. To meet the changing needs of the educational leadership landscape, the curriculum for ELITE was written and is taught by current district and school leaders to develop teacher leaders, and the leaders of tomorrow. ELITE Program Candidates are nominated by Principals within the four school districts to be accepted into the program.
This continued collaboration between FAU’s Department of Educational Leadership and Research Methodology, St. Lucie Public Schools, Martin County Schools, Okeechobee County Schools, and The School District of Osceola County will be beneficial in our joint effort to improve educational opportunities for PK-12 students in Florida.
The ELITE Partnership Program is the pathway to your Educational Leadership future!