San Clemente Catholic College pedagogical mentor, Rachel Noonan, has been recognised with one of New South Wales highest honours for educators – the 2026 Premier’s Teacher Scholarship.
Her research project, Creating Future-Focused Learners – Innovative Approaches to Teaching the New Commerce Syllabus, will see her embark on a study tour across Western Australia, Indonesia and Japan in April 2026. Over five weeks, she will explore project-based learning, digital integration and real-world applications to help students develop the skills they need for the future.
Highlights of her tour will include a visit to Green School in Bali, recognised by the World Economic Forum as one of the top 10 most innovative schools worldwide. There, students work in partnership with local businesses and communities to solve real-world problems – a model Rachel is eager to explore and bring back to her classroom.
“Project-based learning allows students to apply their knowledge in meaningful ways, while also building creative thinking, problem-solving and other vital general capabilities,” she said.
With more than 23 years of teaching experience, Rachel is deeply passionate about empowering her students and enhancing outcomes. She previously received the Premier’s First State Super Financial Literacy and Capability Scholarship in 2020 and said this new opportunity will allow her to continue growing as an educator.
“As teachers, we often don’t get the time to step back and conduct research to enhance our professional learning. This scholarship is an incredible opportunity, and I’m enthusiastic about the chance to build my knowledge and bring those insights back to my students and colleagues.”
Rachel joined San Clemente, Mayfield at the beginning of this year and has quickly become an integral part of the professional learning community. In her role as Pedagogical Mentor, she leads a significant portion of the professional development, focusing on high-impact strategies that support student success.
