Departing Leamington School principal Mike Malcolm, left, with the Service Award presented to him by Cambridge East School principal Hamish Fenemor on behalf of the New Zealand Principals’ Federation. Photo: Viv Posselt
“Go and be awesome” is something Leamington School principal Mike Malcolm says often… usually with his trademark grin.
That became the school’s parting shot to him last Friday at a special assembly that turned into an emotional farewell.
“Go and be awesome,” they shouted, as Malcolm squares up to a surprisingly different future. He’s Buffalo-bound, headed to the United States to do a master’s degree in finance.
Mike Malcolm and his family line up waiting for the students to start the haka at the end of the assembly. Photo: Viv Posselt
“I want to dive into how AI and finance can live together, and how AI can help people improve their lives,” he told The News days earlier. “I’m becoming a learner again. It’s like throwing a bag over a fence and chasing it. There are dreams in one hand, excuses in the other… it’s time for me to make the choice and make the change. Besides, I’ve wanted to live in the United States for so long … and I quite like the idea of snow!”
This is Malcolm doing exactly what he’s been telling students to do since he started. Live your dreams, be courageous, set high expectations, make good choices.
With 18 years leading Leamington School, Malcolm is believed to be the longest-standing principal around. He has a legacy of also being one of the most forward-thinking, transformational, ‘thinking out of the box’ principals, a view echoed by many who farewelled him on Friday.
BOT chairperson Karyn Porton, on stage with some other Board members, speaking during the assembly. Photo: Viv Posselt
One of them was Cambridge East School principal, colleague and good mate, Hamish Fenemor. He presented Malcolm with a framed Service Award for service and dedication to New Zealand education, given on behalf of both the Cambridge Principals’ and Waikato Principals’ associations. He described Malcolm as ‘one of a kind, special, unique’.
The two met in 2005 when they were both at a beginner principals’ session.
“It’s good to see him grow … to see the impact he has had, not just at this school but further afield,” Fenemor said. He praised Malcolm’s unique way of making staff and students be the best they could be, to find solutions within themselves for whatever challenges arose.
Malcolm’s desire to put the learners front and centre of every decision was mentioned by others at the farewell. For him, the kids have always been the most important thing about his role.
Their recollections tumbled out. “You’re funny and kind. You smile a lot … and read a lot. You inspire us, push us out of our comfort zones. You’re entertaining and cool. No-one will ever be a better principal. We’ll miss your bonfires at Matariki, pizza Fridays, those awesome trips, and Otis.” That is Malcolm’s dog and his fluffy shadow.
The Leamington School choir singing after the speeches. Photo: Viv Posselt
Board of Trustees chairperson Karyn Porton thanked him for his ‘persistence and passion’ and said working with Malcolm had been ‘character-building’. She presented him with a greenstone shaped as a manaia (guardian) on behalf of the board and the wider community.
Teaching staff – the ‘Blue Crew’ – thanked him for his ‘unique ability’ to lead them to solutions rather than dishing out answers. They spoke of his passion and curiosity, his love of learning and reading, his ‘kids first’ approach.
“You set high expectations, push us to follow them,” said deputy principal, now acting principal, Leesa Cooper. “Teachers talk about his unwavering belief in them. ‘Go and be awesome’, that captures how Mike leads.”
The school’s deputy principal, now acting principal, Leesa Cooper spoke to Mike Malcolm’s legacy from the staff perspective. Photo: Viv Posselt
Malcolm told The News his formula came down to simply employing the best people and then ‘getting out of the way’ … always intentional, always collaborative.
“All I have done is avoid being a roadblock. The ‘my way or the highway’ approach isn’t done here.”
He spoke to his passion and discipline for reading and listening to podcasts, his belief that teachers should always be learners themselves. He wove respect and resilience into the school culture, grew its numbers from around 300 when he joined in 2008 to over 500 today, introducing some ‘firsts’ along the way.
Surrounded by family, students, staff, parents and many other supporters, including several other former and present principals, an overwhelmed Malcolm thanked them all, then headed out to do something completely different.
Departing Leamington School principal Mike Malcolm, left, with the Service Award presented to him by Cambridge East School principal Hamish Fenemor on behalf of the New Zealand Principals’ Federation. Photo: Viv Posselt
