Congratulations to all of our 2026
World Teachers’ Day Award Winners!

Association Awards 

SAPPA – Early Career Principal Award
Leanne Scudds

AAEE SA – Outstanding Service and Commitment
David Doherty

AASE SA – Outstanding Contribution to Accessible Education for Students with Disability
Rachel Tubb

AATD SA –Award for Excellence
Louise Lawless

ABODA SA – Outstanding Contribution and Excellence Award in Music
Deanna Whelan

ACHPER SA – Excellence in HPE Secondary Award Winner
Katie Liebelt

ALEA SA – Outstanding Contribution to Professional Learning
Sally van Leuven

APACS SA – Outstanding Work in Wellbeing in Schools
Margaret Garland

ASME SA – Outstanding Service
Beth Lyon

ATASA SA – Award for Advancing Agricultural Education
Naomi Ey

ATOM SA – Outstanding Contribution to the Teaching of Media
Rebecca Hunt

Ausdance SA – Outstanding Service to Ausdance SA
Cathy Adamek

BETASA – Outstanding Contribution and Service
Scott Copeland

CA3 – Innovation and Excellence Award
Michelle Ovan

CLTASA – Outstanding Contribution and Service Award
Jiuli (Julie) Zhao

DATTA SA – Executive of the Year
Emil Zankov

Drama SA – Outstanding Service
Emily Burns

ECA SA – Life Membership Award – Enduring Service to Early Childhood and Aboriginal Education
Aunty Suzanne Russell

ECHO – Award for Excellence in Early Childhood Leadership
Melissa Timmings

EdTech SA – Leading Light Award
Chloe Harrington

GTASA – Community Engagement Award
Chris Bright

HAA – Outstanding Contribution to the Teaching of HASS
Evan Polymeneas

HASS SA – Outstanding Teacher in the Area of HASS
Nicole Higgins

HEESA – Home Economics Teacher of the Year
David Cole

HTASA – History Teacher of the Year
David Thiele

INTAN – Gotong Royong Award
Gina Chish

JLTASA – Hiroshi Haga Teacher Recognition Award
Renae Garner

KODALY SA – Commendation Award for advancing Kodály – Inspired Music Education
Penny Hewson

LETASA  – Outstanding Contribution and Excellence Award
Danielle Cioffi

MASA – Outstanding Contribution
Irene Kiroff

MGLTASA – Outstanding Contribution
Gerakina Photakis

MTASA – The MTASA Appreciation of Service and Involvement Award
Lesley Beale

OSASA – Outstanding Service
Georgia Thomson

OSHC SA – OSHC Service of the Year
St Pius X School, Outside School Hours Care

PDA SA – Preschool Leader of the Year
Monique Button

SA HALT Network – Life Membership
Elizabeth Gary-Smith

SAASLA – Excellence in Student Agency Award
Rural Youth Ambassadors Facilitation Team

SAATI – Outstanding Service and Leadership Award
Silvia De Cesare

SACAL – Life Membership Award
Kate Randell

SAETA – English Teacher of the Year
Hellen Portellos

SAFTA – French Teacher Rising Star of the Year
Sarah Zaglia

SAGTA – Early Career German Teacher Award
Kelly Schmidt

SASEPLA – Experienced Teacher Award
Leanne Thorpe

SASTA – SASTA Honour Award
Jason Greenslade

SAWLIS – SA Wellbeing Educator of the Year
Sharon Lam

SLASA – Joan Brewer Teacher Librarian of the Year
Di Scott

SSASA – Exceptional Service Award
Karen Murray

STASA – Spanish Teacher of the Year
Elnora Schmocker

VAESA – Outstanding Contribution to the Business and Governance Award
Catherine Alcock

WSTA – Outstanding Contribution to Women’s Studies
Rikki Hill

State Awards

• World Education Forum Outstanding Contribution to Learner Agency in Education Award:
  Taylor Goodwin (South Australian Wellbeing Leaders in Schools) & Charlotte Nixon (SA Area School Leaders Association)
• Credit Union SA Early Career Educator of the Year Award:
  Emma Cresdee (Australian Association of Teachers of the Deaf SA)
• Teachers Registration Board Outstanding Contribution to Regional Educators Award:
  South Australian Science Teachers Association
• Calm Wealth Outstanding Contributor to the Educator Profession Award:
  Karen Inwood (Creative Arts Association Australia)
• Educators SA Innovative Association of the Year Award:
  Australian Band and Orchestra Directors’ Association

Minister’s Awards

 Public Education Sector

Minister’s Arts Education Awards

• Susan Marshall (Unley Primary School) – ‘Public Primary Educator’
• Maria Bilske (Glenunga International High School) – ‘Public Secondary Educator’
• Tyson Olson (Para Hills High School) – ‘Early Career Educator’
• Meadows & Districts Kindergarten – ‘Preschool’
• Tanja Hasan-Warner (Kilparrin Teaching and Assessment School Services) – Impact through the Arts Scholarship
• Tahlia Pynor (Indulkana Anangu School) – Impact through the Arts Scholarship ‘Early Career Educator’

Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Financial Education

• Sandra Barazin (Morialta Secondary College) – ‘Public Secondary Educator’
• Lai Wei (Norwood International High School) – ‘Public Senior Secondary Educator’

Minister’s Language Immersion Scholarship Awards

• Jasmine Sotiroulis (Renmark High School) – ‘Public School Educator’
• Hunter MacFarlane (Millicent High School) – ‘Public Early Career Educator’

Independent Education Sector

Minister’s Language Immersion Scholarship Awards

• Amy Nairn (Faith Lutheran College) – ‘Independent School Educator’
• Matthew Casey (Concordia College) – ‘Non-Government Early Career Educator’

Catholic Education Sector

Minister’s Arts Education Awards

• Suzanne Healy (Our Lady Queen of Peace School) – ‘Non-Government Primary Educator’
• Danii Zappia (St Michael’s College) – ‘Non-Government Secondary Educator’

Minister’s Language Immersion Scholarship Awards

• Carey Murray (Cabra Dominican College) –‘Catholic School Educator’

Outstanding Graduate Awards

• Michael Russo (Flinders University)
• Xuan Luo (Adelaide University)
• Rachel Ross (Tabor College)