Educators SA honours 70 educators at prestigious World Teachers’ Day Awards Ceremony
Educators do make a difference and a landmark event celebrating educational excellence showed just how significant their impact is across South Australia. The gala evening acknowledged the outstanding work of educators from all sectors as 70 awardees were honoured at the annual World Teachers’ Day Awards Night at the Adelaide Oval.
The sheer scale of recognition was unprecedented, with the night featuring more award categories than ever before. A highlight of the event was the distribution of more than $120 000 in award grants, which will allow educators across the state to continue their research into learning and teaching practices that best support all learners to reach their potential.
Lisa-Jane O’Connor, president of Educators SA, hosts of the event, said the night was a celebration of those who “make a difference to the lives of our youngest generation”.
“You inspire minds, spark curiosity and engage the passions of our learners,” she said.
The ceremony brought together the state’s most distinguished figures in education and government, including Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC, Governor of South Australia, and Mr Rod Bunten, Joint Patrons of Educators SA.
They were joined by the Minister for Education, Training and Skills, and Minister for Police, the Hon Blair Boyer; the Shadow Minister for Education, the Hon Heidi Girolamo; and leaders from public education, the SACE Board, the Teachers Registration Board, and Independent and Catholic sectors.
Representatives from other major educator associations and unions, as well as education business partners such as Credit Union SA, Compass, Calm Wealth, and Officeworks, were also in attendance.
Minister Boyer presented the awards throughout the night, underscoring the government’s recognition of the awardees’ endeavours and demonstrating his personal enthusiasm and gratitude for the incredible work educators do every day.
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The evening opened with 45 representatives recognised for their outstanding contributions to the profession. History Teacher of the Year, Early Career Primary Principal of the Year, Wellbeing Leader of the Year, Spanish Teacher of the Year and Outstanding Lifetime Contribution were just some of the awards that highlighted the diversity of the contributions educators make to the learning lives of children and young people across the state.
This was followed by the presentation of the prestigious Minister’s Awards. As part of the proceedings, previous recipients shared the powerful impact these awards have had on their professional lives and the lives of their learners. The 2026 awardees now look forward to beginning their own journey, eager to make a lasting impact on teaching and learning across the state.
Another highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Outstanding Graduates of the Year to their education community. These graduates represent the future of learning in South Australia and, at a time when teacher recruitment and retention remain major challenges, celebrating and supporting them has never been more important.
The evening culminated with the presentation of the State Awards to outstanding educators from professional learning associations.
Carolyn Grantskalns, Presiding Member, Teachers Registration Board, brought the evening to a rousing close with her Toast to the Profession. The night was an outstanding tribute to the influence and impact the educators of SA have on the future of South Australia.
Here are the 2025 winners:
Minister’s Excellence in Financial Education Award
Jazmin Nardelli (Maryattville HS)
Bianca Drum (Maryattville HS)
The Language Immersion Scholarships
Melissa Watt (Warradale PS)
Caitlin Heinjus (Parafield Gardens PS)
Shontelle Stanyer (St Ignatius’ College)
Leah Wardle (St John’s Grammar School)
Jack Manning (Westminster School)
Minister’s Arts Education Awards
Kylie Pech (Port Pirie West PS)
Suriya Down (Aberfoyle Park HS)
Marianna Mastrapasqua (Cardijn College)
Kristen Mallia (Mark Oliphant College)
Preschool Arts Awards
Riverbanks College Preschool
Glencoe and District Kindergarten
University of Adelaide Outstanding Graduate Award
Allysa Verbart and Rhys Morgan
University of South Australia Outstanding Graduate Award
Ellyn Read
Flinders University Outstanding Graduate Award
Mary Forbes
Tabor College Outstanding Graduate Award
April Mears
Educators SA State Awards
Credit Union SA Early Career Educator of the Year Award
Kiara Schonberger (Business and Enterprise Teachers’ Association of SA)
Calm Wealth Outstanding Contributor to the Educator Profession
Alison I’Amafana (Australian Association of Teachers of the Deaf)
Officeworks Innovative Educator of the Year Award
Emma Fowler (EdTechSA)
TRB Early Career Mentor of the Year Award
HaSS Association of Australia
World Education Forum Outstanding Contribution to Intercultural and Global Understandings Award
Maria Bilske (Visual Arts Educators of SA)
Educators SA Innovative Association of the Year Award
Home Economics Institute of Australia (SA)
Educators SA is a peak body for 60 education professional associations who support a community of 15,000 educators statewide. It advocates for professional associations, educators, learners and parents and is the biggest provider of professional learning events for educators in SA.
See all winners and find more info at educators-sa.sa.edu.au/@educators_sa
