Several Cessnock-area schools were in the national spotlight at the Australian Education Awards, which were held in Sydney on Friday.
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Mount View and Kurri Kurri high schools brought home trophies, while Cessnock High and its partner primary schools, and St Philip's Christian College Cessnock were among the finalists.
Mount View High won the award for best student wellbeing program award, in recognition of its Five Ways to Wellbeing framework.
"It is our school's belief that our young people deserve to be 'better than OK' and that this can be substantially achieved through an effective, evidenced-based wellbeing program," principal Desley Pfeffer said.
"When our wellbeing is high, educational results, retention and attainment are also high."
The framework has seen the school develop ways to address and support students with complex mental health needs, professional learning for staff in the many areas of student wellbeing, and continued improvement such as animal assisted interventions.
Related: Spreading the word about wellbeing
Ms Pfeffer said the award was "wonderfully deserved recognition" for the work that the school's staff have undertaken to ensure students' wellbeing is supported.
"There is much more that we have set out to achieve in the area of student wellbeing and we are excited to continue as a lead educational setting in this field into 2020 and beyond," Ms Pfeffer said.
Kurri Kurri High teacher Lisa Scobie took out the tightly-contested Rising Star of the Year award.
Ms Scobie, now the head teacher of Stage 5, was recognised for her commitment and drive to develop the school's Stage 4 Hubs, helping to transform the delivery of its curriculum through the redesign of learning spaces and class structures.
The Rising Star of the Year award recognises a teacher's positive impact on students' learning experiences, a commitment to professional development and the potential to become a future school leader.
Kurri Kurri High School principal Tracey Breese said the award was a wonderful achievement for Ms Scobie and the school.
"We are absolutely thrilled to have such a passionate dedicated and intellectual educator at Kurri Kurri High School," she said.
"She is instrumental in working with staff to affect change. I would have her teach any if my own children - that's the highest accolade I can give. She is amazing."
Ms Scobie said it was an honour to be nominated.
"It's a testament to the inspirational work of my principal Tracey Breese, and the tireless efforts of all of the teachers, students, other staff and the community," she said.
Kurri Kurri High School was also a finalist in the professional learning program and school strategic plan categories.
Cessnock Academy of STEM Excellence (comprising Cessnock High School and its partner primary schools) were finalists in the best STEM program category, and Cessnock High's deputy principal STEM, Dr Scott Sleap was nominated for best teacher.
St Philip's Christian College principal Darren Cox was nominated for primary school principal of the year (non-government) and executive principal Graeme Irwin was nominated for school principal of the year (non-government).
Almost 600 principals, department heads and teachers from across Australia attended the awards at Dockside in Sydney, with St Paul's School (Queensland) winning the coveted Australian School of the Year award.
The awards, which are in their second year, are facilitated by leading education magazine and website, The Educator.
