Ms Courts will receive the University Medal when she graduates from her bachelor of teaching/science degree with first-class honours on April 9.

The award comes after six years of study and decades pursuing other goals such as having children and a career in accounting and banking.

"I always wanted to be a teacher but I was told when I left school that my marks were too good, so don't bother," Ms Courts said.

"My love of numbers saw me drawn into accounting and banking, but my passion had always been for teaching."

The decision to go back to uni part time as a mature-age student proved to be a beneficial one according to her practical supervisor and former Anna Bay Public principal Jon Derry.

"Leila is a born natural at teaching," he said. "I supervised her during her practical work and I've never seen a year nine class so enthusiastic about maths."