Terranora teacher honoured with top education award

TERRANORA Public School teacher Susie Harker has been awarded the Minister’s Award for Excellence in Teaching as part of the 2025 NSW Public Education Awards.

A longtime kindergarten teacher, Ms Harker said she was humbled to be recognised among the state’s best educators. The annual awards celebrate the outstanding contributions of teachers, students, schools and volunteers within the NSW public education system.

“I love my job,” Harker said. “I teach kindy so I love just being with the little kids and teaching them to read, write and count and watch them grow into little independent people. It’s just amazing.

“My kindergarten room is a place where you can feel happy, safe and loved, because if you don’t feel happy, safe and loved you don’t learn.”

A mother of three, Harker completed a degree in education at the University of Sydney and began her teaching career in 1985 at West Wyalong, in the Riverina region of western NSW.

She remained there for nearly two decades before transferring to Terranora.

Terranora Public School principal Jodi Bennett, who nominated Harker for the award, said she is respected across the school community.

“What sets her apart is her level of care, her dedication and her willingness to support the children,” she said.

“Students experience such success with Susie. She’s known for her expertise of being a kindergarten teacher, but even though she’s very experienced it’s also about her willingness to learn.

“She has a love of working with colleagues, engaging in research and a commitment to always improving her own teaching practice.

“She is an amazing mentor to others as well.”

The awards were announced at Sydney Town Hall during Public Education Week last week.

Other Northern Rivers recipients included Ballina Public School’s Berry Street Educational Model, which received the Secretary’s Award for Outstanding School Achievement, and Karen Kernaghan from Lennox Head Public School, who was honoured in the Parent and Volunteer of the Year category.