Inspiring excellence: Leading as a learner
School leadership is a journey, not a destination, says Tim White, former principal of a Hawke’s Bay school that won the Supreme Prime Minister’s Award for Educational Excellence in 2021. As applications and nominations open for the new 2026 New Zealand Education Excellence Awards, Tim – now the Ministry of Education Leadership Advisory Programme Chief Advisor – reflects on what the award meant for his school community, and on his own 35-year journey of learning in leadership.
Tim White was a beginning teacher at a four-teacher school on the edge of Lake Taupō when he found himself with a seat at the table of a brand new board of trustees.
Tim White, former Frimley School principal and now chief advisor for the Leadership Advisory Programme.
His first teaching role out of teachers’ college and Massey University had coincided with one of the biggest changes in schooling: The move to self-management. A new board was formed, but Tim’s colleagues were reluctant to be the staff trustee.
“I got muscled into that role, but it was one I thoroughly enjoyed,” remembers Tim, who had arrived at former Tauranga-Taupō School motivated to find learning experiences and opportunities.
“I really wanted to see New Zealand and experience communities that I hadn’t had the opportunity to experience growing up in Whanganui.”
After two years and working with two principals at Tauranga-Taupō, Tim took his first step onto his principal pathway at a smaller school near Dannevirke.
“I was ambitious, and I saw an opportunity. Being a principal in a two-teacher school was predominantly teaching – you were teaching four-and-a-half days a week. So, I thought I knew enough about that to apply for the principal’s job.”
Tim says he appreciated and valued the support he received from Dennis Coxon, the rural and small school advisor at the time, to develop his principalship capabilities while refining his teacher skills.
Three years later Tim moved again, this time to lead Galatea School in Bay of Plenty, followed by the larger Russell Street School in Palmerston North and finally, in 2016, to Frimley Primary School in Hawke’s Bay.
Students engaging with kaumātua to hear local pūrākau, with the school pou supporting the learning.
An advisory for principals, by principals
In between his Galatea and Russell Street principalships, Tim applied for the role of small and rural school advisor at Massey University.
Tim relished the professional learning development (PLD) he gained as he worked alongside, and supported, new principals and new leaders in his role.
“No school is an island – we’ve got so much to learn from our colleagues.
“I see principalship as a journey and not a destination.
There are so many opportunities through leading different schools, and opportunities like a secondment to the leadership advisory service to really grow and refine your skills. We should be taking those opportunities, seeking them out.”
A shared commitment to equity and excellence
In 2021, seven years after Tim moved to Frimley School, the school won the Supreme Prime Minister’s Award for Educational Excellence | Te Tohu Nui a Te Pirimia.
The award recognised the building of strong community partnerships and focusing on student-centred, culturally connected learning.
Frimley also received the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning | Te Hiranga o te Ako and was a finalist for the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Engaging | Te Hiranga o Te Tuitui Tāngata.
Tim says Frimley was committed to developing a relevant curriculum with the community, using the local pūrākau, places and mātauranga of Ngāti Kahungunu.
“Making this happen meant a lot of new learning, and staff needing to be open to learning. More often than not, we were learning from our whānau and community.”
Students deeply engaged in learning.
Frimley School entered the awards to achieve three important outcomes, explains Tim.
“The first of those was we felt that the staff had really dug deep and had undertaken really significant learning.
They extensively contributed to the shift with learning and teaching, and we wanted them to be recognised for that.
“The second one is that we felt that we were contributing, in our small way, a journey or a pathway that others might be able to reflect on and think about in their particular context.”
A third outcome was to have “someone other than me and the staff” confirm the value of their journey to the community.
“For many, it hadn’t always been that comfortable and at times it was just plain hard work. But, you know, we got there.”
Tim adds that the awards were not a destination, but a “staging post” for the team, and the work started then continues today.
“It’s a work in progress and you need to feed, nurture and grow it.”
Supporting others to do what is best
Tim left Frimley in 2023 to take on his current role at the Ministry.
“Having the chance to develop a leadership advisory service from the ground up with cohorts of experienced principals from across the motu was such an enticing chance.
I knew how much I had benefited from it.
“With the talents that would come from a small regional team of experienced principals each year we could create a really strong and effective ‘for principals by principals’ service.”
Tim at the dawn blessing for Te Wao Tapu nui in 2021. Hawke’s Bay Today/NZME by Warren Buckland.
Reflecting on key leadership learnings from his own career, Tim admits principalship is “a bit of a vampire – it takes everything you give it”.
“I was still learning how to set those really constructive boundaries and be comfortable with the incomplete you – you never get it done.”
He says it is important to lean into the support others can provide when things get tough and for experienced principals to model and foster across school collaborations.
“It’s being a servant leader – making decisions based on what’s best for students and their whānau rather than those who are employed in the school.”
Being disciplined and leading with purpose and personal integrity are also critical to create a high trust environment, Tim says, while modelling being a learner to refine your own leadership.
That might mean being vulnerable and taking risks, he adds, but it is important to “relax into that place as a learner” to create the better outcome for all.
“An example of that for me would be my own te reo me ona tikanga Māori journey during my time as the principal at Frimley.”
Tim encourages schools and kura to apply for this year’s new Education Excellence Awards.
“If principals see themselves as system leaders, then they should be looking for opportunities to share their stories for others to reflect on and learn from.”
New Zealand Education Excellence Awards 2026
This year, schools and kura around the motu can be nominated for the New Zealand Education Excellence Awards 2026. Anyone can nominate a school or kura to apply for an award, including students, whānau, staff and members of the wider community.
The awards have categories according to school or kura size and type:
- Primary schools with up to 150 students.
- Primary schools with more than 150 students.
- Kaupapa Māori.
- Secondary schools.
Awards will recognise the fields of:
- Excellence in Raising Student Achievement
- Excellence in Student Engagement and Attendance
- Excellence in Quality Teaching and Instruction
- Excellence in Educational Leadership.
Winning schools will receive $20,000. Award winners and finalists will also be formally recognised at a ceremony in Wellington on Wednesday 24 June.
Nominations and applications open on 16 March.
Nominations close on 10 April and applications close on 1 May.
The Ministry of Education website has full details about the awards, including how to enter.
