Bringing academic brilliance to the classroom
Meet Calista Camarda – Santa Sabina’s youngest teacher and a rising star in education! With multiple academic awards from the University of Sydney and a passion for creativity, Calista is inspiring the next generation every day.
Calista Camarda may be at the start of her teaching career, but she’s already turning heads with a string of prestigious academic awards and a passion for education that’s impossible to miss.
A standout graduate of the University of Sydney, Calista was awarded the University’s Academic Merit Prize in 2023 – announced in 2025. She also earned a place on the Dean’s List of Excellence in both 2022 and 2023. Her academic journey – leading to her Bachelor of Education (Primary) – also includes a 2021 Merit Prize, underscoring a consistent record of excellence. With grades and interests that could have opened doors to science or architecture, she chose instead to pursue her calling in primary education.
Now the youngest teacher at Santa Sabina College, Calista leads the Year 4 Daintree class in Del Monte with a blend of intellectual rigour, creativity, and compassion. ‘It’s something I’m really passionate about,’ she says. ‘I love to see students grow and flourish and being part of that journey.’
Her path to the classroom was inspired early on by her grandmother’s family day care. ‘It was such a nurturing environment,’ she recalls. ‘I knew I wanted to be part of that for other children.’
Calista’s connection to Santa Sabina began as a prac student, followed by an internship, and ultimately a permanent teaching role. Today, she guides a class of 23 boys and girls with a focus on emotional connection and academic growth. ‘Building a relationship with them is the most important thing – because if you don’t have that connection, it’s hard to build content knowledge.’
This month, her students are exploring poetry – a challenge for some, but one Calista meets with patience and encouragement. Her teaching is enriched by a specialisation in mathematics and a deep well of creative talent.
A self-taught artist, Calista’s realistic pencil drawings – especially of animals – earned her a Highly Commended award at the 2024 Sydney Royal Easter Show. She uses her artistic skills to inspire creativity and visual learning in her classroom.
She’s also a competitive dancer, having trained since age nine and performed at venues such as the Sydney Opera House and ICC Sydney. She’s even judged dance competitions. ‘Dance has taught me discipline, resilience, and the value of creative expression – qualities I bring into my teaching as well.’
Despite her accolades, Calista remains humble. ‘I just really love teaching at Santa Sabina,’ she says. ‘The staff are beautiful – always collaborative and helpful.’
With her award-winning academic background, creative flair and deep commitment to her students, Calista Camarda is not just a promising young teacher – she’s a rising star in Australian education.
