A Park Ridge State High School department leader has been recognised on one of Australia’s biggest teaching stages, with Head of Mathematics Ms Rebecca Isakson receiving an Excellence Award as a Top 8 awardee at the 2026 Australian Education Awards.
The event, held on 7 August, celebrates outstanding achievement across the country’s schools.
Each year, principals, teachers and department leaders are nominated by their schools, with finalists selected by a national judging panel.
Categories include Teacher of the Year, School Principal of the Year and Department Head of the Year, with winners announced at a gala attended by education leaders from across Australia.
Ms Isakson was honoured in the Department Head of the Year category, recognising excellence in leadership, innovation and student outcomes.
It is her second nomination, after first being put forward two years ago.
She has led the mathematics department for five years, overseeing curriculum development, staff mentoring and student extension programs.
Her work has also supported improvement beyond Park Ridge, with Ms Isakson helping strengthen curriculum and middle‑leadership capability at other schools.
Ms Isakson’s aim is to develop partnerships and bring STEM opportunities to students across Logan, with her work already reflecting that effort.
Under her leadership, there have been measurable improvements in student outcomes and engagement.
Ms Isakson said the school had seen steady improvement in mathematics results during her time as department head.
“We’ve gone from about a 62% pass rate in Maths, to hovering at about a 95-97% pass rate across Years 7 to 12,” Ms Isakson said.
Park Ridge State High School also won Government Secondary School of the Year.
“Whilst individual recognition at a national level is incredibly humbling, winning Secondary Govt School of the Year was far more significant as it represents the collective work of the entire Park Ridge SHS community,” said Ms Isakson.
Executive Principal Sharon Amos was also an Excellent Awardee for the Government School Principal of the Year.
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