Stepping down from a job well done
He’s been the face of Wakatipu High School for 10 years now, through some of the school’s most challenging times, but it’s time for principal, Steve Hall to head off on his bike for some R & R.
Steve’s brought a wealth of outdoor adventure, education and business experience to the role, but he reckons it’s a good time for him to bow out, and for a leadership transition. “Ten years feels like a good stint in a job like this and I feel like I’m leaving the school in good shape,” says Steve, 58. “I’m going to have a break first and foremost and think hard about what to do next.” Much of that thinking will take place on the long arduous 3000km Tour Aotearoa cycling trail that he’s got planned from Cape Reinga to Bluff, hopefully in March, next year.
By then his replacement, long-time Wakatipu High School teacher and associate principal Oded Nathan, will be firmly entrenched in his new role, taking over as principal from Steve. “I handed in my notice in February and the board appointed Oded at the end of term two. He’s been here a long time so he knows the school intimately,” says Steve. Oded joined Wakatipu High School as associate head of maths in 2010, becoming Steve’s deputy in 2013.
Steve hails from an impressive professional background, which includes five years as a young English, Economics, Outdoor Education teacher and Dean at Wakatipu High School during the 1990s. Even then he brought a strong outdoors aspect to the role having previously worked locally in the ski industry as an instructor, heli-ski guide and also as a commercial rafting guide.
After leaving Wakatipu High School the first time Steve went on to become school director at Outward Bound in the Marlborough Sounds for five and a half years. He then became chief executive of the Halberg Trust.
All of his teaching and school principal’s career have been at Wakatipu High School.
“I’m not retiring, or leaving Queenstown. All I’m worried about right now is heading off on my bike,” he smiles.
The Hall’s youngest, Stefan, is just finishing Year 12, while their eldest is a lawyer in Queenstown, and the other serving in the NZ Army.
The most challenging aspects of his local principal’s role have been the initial transition from statutory management to his leadership when he started the job, relocating the entire school to Frankton and continuing roll growth. “We’ve just had our Orientation Day for 2023 and we expect 300 Year 9 students – our biggest number ever, to start at the beginning of next year,” says Steve. The year will open with a roll of some 1300 students. “That’s pretty much double what it was when I arrived.”
Phase Two of the new school’s expansion has been in full swing too, which has been very challenging to work through, he says.
“We’ve had areas of the school closed and been operating from temporary classrooms,” says Steve. “We’re always dealing with growth.” “At one stage, right in the real peak of the Phase Two expansions about a year ago, we had to rent a room at the Wyndham Hotel across the road and use it for classroom space.”
He says it’s been quite a transition even just relocating the school into the modern-style learning environment campus. Thrown into the mix these past two and a half years have been the challenges of Covid, the pressures that’s placed on local families and the move to online learning, all requiring extra support for students and staff.
“Covid was really challenging for all of the community, the education sector, school staff, students and families. It’s something none of us will ever forget,” says Steve. “We knew how much the community was struggling and we had a part to play to keep things normal for kids, offering support, but keeping teaching and learning going.”
Despite all this he’s pretty chuffed that during parts of last year in a couple of qualifications students achieved the highest passes ever. “Our predictions are for some really strong achievements when these current NCEA results come through in January.”
Steve says the school’s main aim has been for students to leave the school with the best possible qualifications, ready for successful futures, well versed in plenty of extra-curricular activities like sport, arts, culture, community and leadership. “That’s the all-round education our community wants,” he says.
Also pleasing has been the number of parents keeping their children in the basin for their high school years and not sending them away to boarding schools. “We’re looking at the highest retention of students locally for next year that we’ve ever had. There’s been a noticeable change in that,” says Steve.
There will be one last ‘Hoorah’ at the school’s legendary backcountry Branches Camp, which Steve’s enjoyed since his 1990s days at the school. “I will definitely be going to Branches this year for four or five days on the first camp (starts November 29) and several days on the second,” he says.
