Whitebridge High principal Nadene Harvey said she was "very proud" of her school captains Ty Hughes and Mia Peden, who received a Minister's Award for Excellence in Student Achievement, and teacher Heather Arms, who received a Minister's Award for Excellence in Teaching on Tuesday night.

"We have a wonderfully caring staff team who are really committed to supporting our kids to achieve their best," Ms Harvey said.

"Mrs Arms over a long and distinguished career has always placed kids first and is committed to helping young people achieve better than they ever thought they could.

"This award is a testament to her commitment and dedication."

Mrs Arms said she was a strong advocate for public education and the award was an honour.

"There are so many amazing teachers in our schools and I feel that in teaching you are not an island, as teachers we are never doing it on our own," Mrs Arms said.

"We have a great supportive network and I have been blessed to work with great colleagues right alongside me.

"I was honoured just to be nominated but to win the award was very humbling. I was honoured to accept it on behalf of all the amazing teachers I have worked with, this really is a team award."

Ms Harvey said Mia and Ty were both "excellent ambassadors for the school" and were recognised for excelling in academic, sporting, cultural, community and leadership spheres.

She said the school regularly spoke with students about kindness, thoughtfulness and giving back.

"We have young people recognising and being grateful for the world they live in and talking about how they can contribute to making the world a better place for others."

Mia said she was grateful to know "the hard work you put in is getting noticed".

"You don't do it for that, but to be so well supported by our teachers throughout our education to help us achieve these things makes it an award for them too," she said. "It's an honour to know that a panel of judges who have never met us, value what we do. I am honoured to receive this award, it is very special."

Ty said the award was an achievement for the entire school.

"We have been encouraged to be active in our school and student voice is very important at Whitebridge," he said. "Our school, both staff and students support us in all that we do and we are encouraged to achieve."

West Wallsend High won the Secretary's Award for Outstanding School Initiative.

The citation for the school said its executive team had been instrumental in increasing student HSC success.

"They have embraced a vision for school improvement targeting specific initiatives with relentless focus," the citation said.

"Of critical importance has been the engagement in an extensive suite of internal and external professional learning offered over the last five years.

"The HSC improvement, evidenced in data is a testament to the strategic focus building professional capacity of staff to enhance opportunities for all students.

"Their commitment to innovation is to be commended."

Lambton High visual arts teacher Julie Fitzsimons and students Kate Lintott and Dewmi Kavya De Silva Paththini Kankanamge were also recognised with awards.

Ms Fitzsimons' citation described her as "an exemplary and greatly respected" teacher, "whose students have consistently achieved outstanding results".

"Reflective in her teaching, she ensures all students are engaged and progressing in learning.

"As head teacher teaching and learning, Julie's focus on aligning all practical learning programs has been pivotal in implementing innovative practice with teachers that is underpinned by an evidence base.

"Her vision has led to inquiry-based learning, meaningful observations, writing strategies, enhancing feedback and assessment. Julie's outstanding professional knowledge, practice and engagement make her a highly deserving candidate for the Minister's Award."

Kate was described as "an outstanding, highly motivated student who embodies the core values of public education".

"She is an exceptional role model and advocate in her various leadership roles, including SRC president and school captain, and represents her school with distinction.

"Kate has attained excellent scholastic achievement through her determination.

"A dedicated high achiever in all her endeavours, Kate is an accomplished musician and talented sportswoman who has made significant contributions to her school, region and community, not only through her achievements, but also 'giving back' through her teaching, performing, mentoring and volunteering."

Dewmi was described as "an outstanding, highly motivated and dedicated student with an enquiring mind".

"She has consistently attained excellent scholastic achievement in all areas, including distinguished achievement in accelerated HSC mathematics in year 11.

"A dedicated high achiever in all her endeavours, Dewmi has made significant contributions and led improvements to her school and community, as a positive role model and her leadership in the SRC and as school vice-captain.

"Dewmi is passionate about her community, her language and culture and has been recognised for her significant contributions to dance and cultural festivals.

Irrawang Public won the Secretary's School Achievement Award for the Raymond Terrace Community Positive Behaviour for Learning.

"This innovative and collegial approach to student wellbeing and learning brings a local stamp of high quality," its citation said.

"It is highly responsive and engaging for the whole school communities served by each of these schools and their principals.

"Ongoing principal planning and connection has generated a unified strength, which is affirming and reassuring to all schools' parents/ carers and their children.

"It reinforces the important student-centred message that students are truly known, valued and cared for, and helps to forge their lives with a remarkable level of compassion and care, equipping them for life's divergent challenges as engaged citizens."

The STEM Industry School Partnership (SISP) program, which was established in Cessnock, was acknowledged for outstanding achievement in public education.

SISP build a kindergarten to year 12 STEM education continuum, with an emphasis on the primary to secondary transition and promotes pathways to STEM jobs for students across regional NSW.

SISP connects schools with industry to provide contextualised, job-specific STEM learning activities.

It also provides teacher professional development to improve STEM expert knowledge.

Cessnock is home to the flagship SISP program, the Cessnock Academy of STEM Excellence (CASE) where SISP program leader Dr Scott Sleap said he was encouraging students to think big about their future.

"It is a great honour that the SISP program has been acknowledged for excellence at these awards," he said.

"This program, which began in Cessnock, is now being rolled out across NSW, with the support of our industry partners.

"Major changes in student aspiration have been observed as a result of this program.

"We now have students aspiring to be pilots, engineers and doctors and our industry mentors are helping our students to achieve these dreams."

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