E251 | Susan Hassall

Show Notes | Susan Hassall

0:00 - Intro

1:25 - Who is Susan Hassell?

3:03 - Susan's first memories of Steven and Seamus

4:55 - Seamus’ apology for the worst football season

5:29 - "You can pretend to care, but you can't pretend to show up"

8:14 - Aretē: the Greek concept of excellence

10:30 - 46 years at one school

11:17 - Susan's family: a Scottish father and Kiwi mother

20:25 - Breaking up fights as a young teacher

21:07 - Speaking at assemblies about what you believe in

21:32 - What makes a good leader: vulnerability

22:10 - Being open about breast cancer with the boys

23:04 - "Somebody has to talk about what makes a good man"

24:08 - Susan's origin story: Scotland to Manurewa

25:30 - Her father's last words: "I love you, Susan"

27:06 - Where the empathy comes from

28:06 - Mr. Brown: the teacher who changed everything

37:10 - "I had a very strong vision from the start"

37:44 - The vision: every boy feels loved, happy, and successful

38:15 - Changing the uniform: the first move

38:44 - The importance of having a great team

39:19 - Graeme Robinson: noble in defeat, the ultimate ally

41:04 - Yin and yang: how Susan and Robo worked together

42:03 - Saturday detentions and star jumps

43:09 - Robo as a surfer with long hair — the photo at his funeral

43:44 - Graeme Robinson's sudden death

45:00 - Navigating loss as a school leader

46:01 - The unseen roles of a headmaster

46:38 - Being the first female head: was there resistance?

53:17 - "If a first-year teacher can't articulate the vision, you're not winning"

54:51 - What do people get wrong about teenage boys?

55:36 - "When boys are at their most unlovable, that's when they need love the most"

57:10 - Physical touch and showing you care

58:03 - Patience with boys vs. girls

58:33 - The boyfriend/girlfriend diary story

1:06:33 - The one title that got away: basketball

1:07:28 - Kapa haka, chess, and the changing face of the school

1:08:04 - "Every student should see themselves in the mirror of the school"

1:09:24 - Traditions and rites of passage

1:10:40 - Singing at assemblies: Flower of Scotland, Danny Boy

1:12:41 - Spotting a boy who looks fine but isn't

1:20:29 - Bullying: from physical to 24/7 social media

1:21:28 - "It's like a dog whistle — only the students can hear it"

1:22:34 - Breaking through the echo chamber

1:23:51 - Breast cancer: "You'll either be dead in 6 months or you'll be cured"

1:32:37 - Service: Waikato Hospice, mentoring, and giving back

1:34:30 - Why hospice funding is a travesty

1:35:11 - Chancellor of Waikato University

1:37:00 - The new medical school: what it means for NZ

1:39:00 - Deciding to step down after 25 years

1:40:06 - The final assembly: bagpipes, tears, and a new tune

1:43:38 - Handing over to Jared Williams

1:44:32 - Life after Boys High: culture shock and becoming CEO of Hospice

1:45:23 - The full plate at 70: boards, mentoring, and university

1:49:18 - Big Questions: What did you used to believe that's changed?

1:49:54 - "I used to believe some boys couldn't be saved. Now I believe almost every boy can."

1:51:36 - What would you do differently?

1:51:42 - "I would have been much more aggressive about making changes quickly"

1:52:43 - What changed you the most in the role?

2:01:04 - Celia Lashley's dinner: "When did you become a man?"

2:02:55 - Reading back the Year 13 testimonials

2:05:03 - "If you know the boy, you know the man"

2:06:06 - "What can I do that will make people feel I'm doing what they need?"

2:07:26 - Stu Hackney's story: "I won the lotto ticket"

2:09:21 - Steven and Seamus say thank you

2:10:55 - "There is never enough love. Full stop."