Feature Story
Learning That Lasts: SVU Alumna Stephanie Tuttle Wins National Award for Innovative Teaching
Southern Virginia University alumna and Fairfield Elementary School teacher Stephanie Tuttle (‘15) was recently named one of only two educators nationwide to receive the 2025 John Larmer Lifelong Learning Award, a prestigious and national honor recognizing excellence in Project Based Learning (PBL).
Named for renowned PBL advocate, John “JL” Larmer, the award celebrates educators who significantly expand the reach of high-quality project-based instruction and carry forward Larmer’s legacy of deeper, more meaningful learning.
“I love forming relationships with my students and watching their eyes light up when a hard concept finally clicks,” said Tuttle, who teaches fourth grade. “I like giving them the opportunity to participate in authentic, hands-on learning experiences that really matter to them, and seeing them realize that their voice and what they do can make a difference even though they are young.”
That passion for connecting lessons to real-world experiences naturally drew Tuttle to PBL, an approach that helps students take ownership of their education by engaging directly in inquiry, collaboration, and problem solving. When Fairfield Elementary adopted PBL in 2018 through PBLWorks, Tuttle was all in.
“One time my students decided they wanted to sell plants as a way to raise money for an organization,” recalled Tuttle. “So they had to figure everything out. How to grow plants, how to get seeds, how to write donation letters, planning a trip to Lowe’s, and even inviting master gardeners to share their knowledge. Then they cared for and sold the plants themselves.”
“They are involved in every step of the process. It’s their ideas, guided by the teacher,” Tuttle explained. “It’s really hands-on, and it digs into the heart of what we’re learning. It also allows students to take ownership of their education.”
Tuttle’s approach to teaching was shaped early through the Rockbridge Teacher Education Consortium (RTEC), a partnership between Southern Virginia University and Washington and Lee University. Created in 2007, the program allows students from both universities to complete coursework required for licensure and gain experiences on both campuses.
“When you go through the teaching licensure program, you walk into a classroom so much more prepared because of the way classes are set up at SVU,” said Tuttle. “You’re writing lesson plans for your coursework, so you start your career already understanding how a classroom works–beyond just what you experience as a student.”
Founded by Professor Kim Kearney and led by Kearney and Professor Jordan Clark, the RTEC program offers endorsements in Elementary Education PreK-6, Music (Vocal and Instrumental) PreK-12, Spanish PreK-12, and various Middle and Secondary areas including English, Mathematics, Biology, and History & Social Sciences.
Tuttle joined Fairfield Elementary in 2015 as a math specialist days after completing her student teaching through SVU’s RTEC program. The following year, she transitioned to a fourth-grade classroom teacher, where she has been ever since–helping students discover the joy of learning through curiosity and creativity.
“There are amazing professors at Southern Virginia University who are just incredible and model what best teaching practices look like,” she said. “They were so inspiring to me, and that’s what led me to teaching.”
Today, as her students continue to thrive under her guidance, Tuttle carries forward the same spirit of curiosity and excellence that first inspired her at Southern Virginia University.