Prine Elementary Teachers Honored with National Award from Girls on the Run
At Prine Elementary School, two dedicated fourth-grade teachers are making a powerful impact both inside and outside the classroom. Brigette Carlock and Michele Wagstaff, known to their students as “Caring Carlock” and “Wacky Wagstaff,” have been honored with the prestigious “Remarkable Volunteer Award” from the nationally acclaimed Girls on the Run (GOTR) organization. This award recognizes their dedication to strengthening girls’ social, emotional, and physical skills through this empowering after-school program.
The surprise announcement was made during a fall practice 5K event, as Prine Elementary’s GOTR girls gathered in bright tutus and colorful accessories, ready for a practice run. As the regional program manager took the microphone, the students listened intently, shoulder-to-shoulder, to the praise for their coaches’ commitment and hard work. Carlock and Wagstaff accepted the glass star trophy, standing as two of only 15 winners out of 300 nominees from over 100 councils across the U.S. and Canada.
GOTR is an internationally recognized organization that combines fitness with critical life skills development, and Carlock and Wagstaff have expanded its reach by establishing one of the first GOTR programs in Manatee County. Their efforts have inspired neighboring schools, including Willis Elementary in Lakewood Ranch, to launch similar programs.
Beyond the bi-weekly sessions, the GOTR girls at Prine recently completed a Community Impact Project called “R-U-N: Recovery Unites Neighbors.” With the guidance of their coaches, they gathered essential supplies to support classmates and their families recovering from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, showing that their compassion and teamwork extend well beyond the track.
The season culminated in a celebratory 3.1-mile run at school, followed by a community-wide 5K event in Tampa. As family, friends, and teachers cheered on the girls across a crêpe-paper finish line decorated with bubbles and bursts of colored powder, the joy and pride on their faces reflected the enduring impact of Carlock and Wagstaff’s guidance.
(L-to-R: Brigette Carlock, Trisha Harrell, Michele Wagstaff, and Lindsey Becker from Girls on the Run Greater Tampa Bay)
