South Coast Educators Honoured with Prestigious Harvard Scholarships
Two NSW South Coast principals, Ruth Winfield and Caroline David, have won the 2026 Harvard Principals Scholarships. Recognised for leadership at Vincentia and Woonona High Schools, they will join a global cohort at Harvard to bring world-class educational research back to the New South Wales public school system.
Harry Taruva 
Sydney - Two prominent New South Wales (NSW) South Coast principals have been named among the four national recipients of the 2026 Harvard Principals Scholarships.
Ruth Winfield of Vincentia High School and Caroline David of Woonona High School will travel to the Harvard Graduate School of Education later this year to participate in an intensive leadership program.
The scholarships, awarded by the Public Education Foundation in partnership with Teachers Mutual Bank and the Harvard Club of Australia, recognise educators who demonstrate exceptional leadership and a steadfast commitment to the public education system.
Ruth Winfield, who has led Vincentia High School since 2019, is recognised for her extensive work in expanding vocational and academic pathways for students, including those from the Wreck Bay Aboriginal community.
Under her leadership, the school gained national acclaim for its mandatory Dhurga language program.
Winfield, who recently published her doctoral research, noted that the program will facilitate deep reflection and thought generation to bring new possibilities to her school community.
Caroline David of Woonona High School has been recognised for her research-led approach to education.
Currently completing her PhD, David says the democratic importance of providing a world-class education to every child is important.
“This scholarship gives me the opportunity to connect with research and with principals around the world who are grappling with the same questions we are,” David stated.
NSW Education Secretary, Murat Dizdar, praised the recipients, noting that their selection reflects the high caliber of educators within the state's public system.
“The fact that two of them are being recognised with a place at Harvard does not surprise me at all,” Dizdar said.
Manisha Amin, Chief Executive Officer of the Public Education Foundation, described the work of both principals as extraordinary.
The selection process, conducted by an independent panel, focuses on the capacity of leaders to translate international academic experiences into tangible improvements for their local Australian communities.
The 2026 cohort also includes scholarship winners from Tasmania and Queensland.
