Vicki Budden, Rachel Cody and Suzie Yaghjian were among just 26 NSW public school teachers to receive a Minister’s Award for Excellence in Sydney earlier this month.

All three have said that while it’s nice to be recognised, it’s not why they do what they do.

“There are so many great teachers out there,” said Ms Yaghjian, a science teacher at South campus.

“The reason that I like teaching is that … I like sharing my passion … every once in a while [a student comes back and says] ‘thank you. Now I’m doing science …’

“Every once in a while you get one of those and you think ‘phew! That’s what it’s all about’. If you can change one person’s direction or give them a little bit of passion then that’s what it's about.”

“That's what makes the difference in the classroom – it’s the passion and the ability to build relationships with the kids,” Ms Cody added.

Ms Cody teaches the Delroy campus’ Strive class – 15 year 8 students who receive extra literacy and numeracy teaching, and help to develop personal skills.

“To watch [my students] grow not only in their academic skills but in their personal skills is really exciting,” Ms Cody said. “But to have someone actually stop and say 'we want to recognise the work that you’re doing’ is totally amazing.”

Ms Budden has been teaching for 30 years, and said she was now teaching the children of some of her former students.

The relationships with families and students has been a highlight of her career.

“I guess sometimes you get really comfortable in a place. It’s the staff, it’s the community, it’s the students and that’s why I’ve stayed,” Ms Budden said.

“I enjoy what I’m doing and I’m really pleased that I’ve moved into this role.

“I’m not in the classroom so much anymore, but it’s working with the community and agencies outside that assist our students, so that has been really exciting.”