DANBURY, Conn. (AP) The mother of one of the six educators who died protecting children at Sandy Hook Elementary School says she's touched that a presidential medal will be awarded posthumously to the educators but she'd rather have her daughter back.

The 2012 Presidential Citizens Medals are to be presented to family members of the victims at a White House ceremony on Feb. 15.

The honorees are principal Dawn Hochsprung, psychologist Mary Sherlach and teachers Rachel D'Avino, Anne Marie Murphy, Lauren Rousseau and Victoria Soto.

The staff members slain inside the Newtown, Conn. school have been credited with protecting the students when a gunman attacked the building. Some rushed toward the gunman while others used their bodies to shield children from gunfire.

Teresa Rousseau called the award ``a really, really lovely honor.''