David Walsh, Junior/Senior Campus Principal at Emerson School, has always had a knack for managing the more difficult students. He finds them interesting and says he understands them and the underlying reasons for their poor behaviour.
“I get what they need,” David says. “They will always reject you first, to protect themselves from hurt or rejection and that can manifest in behaviours that are quite challenging.”
Early in his time at Emerson, David asked to be given a class of the most challenging students. His proviso was that he wanted them for two years, not one, so that the work he did in building relationships with them to improve their behaviour could be properly embedded over an extended period.
“My strategy is to be reliable and steady, set limits, have a good sense of humour, and treat the kids with respect,” he says. “Give them positive experiences and opportunities, such as taking them on camps, and ultimately show them that they are cared about, and safe.”
He says the students can “sniff out a fake” a mile away, and it is important to be genuine. “My favourite part of the job is being part of the kids’ journey to growth and development and seeing them blossom and flourish. It’s a great feeling.”
David grew up in Rutherglen in country Victoria but has spent his teaching career working in Melbourne. His first qualification was in painting, photography and ceramics, which he obtained at La Trobe University in Bendigo. This was followed by a qualification in education, then special education.
He started working in a mainstream school across Prep to Year 8 levels, before moving to work at a private specialist school, Rossbourne School. He dropped to three days a week there to spend more time with his then-young sons. In 1999 David started working two days a week as a Casual Relief Teacher at Emerson, supplementing the work at Rossbourne.
He moved from being a CRT at Emerson to becoming a full-time classroom teacher in the upper primary level, eventually being appointed Head of Junior School, before a stint as Head of Middle School. In 2012 he moved to his current role of Junior/Senior Campus Principal.
Over the years David has seen a huge change in the culture of the school. He describes the Dandenong area, and the students, as being “hard going and streetwise” when he first started at Emerson, confirming that the reputation of the school now is quite different. “The environment today is extremely nurturing, the staff are caring and supportive, and the facilities at Emerson are excellent—almost like a private school. For those of our students with difficult home lives, Emerson is often where they feel safest and most cared about.”
Outside work, David collects art—with a particular interest in paintings—and even has a few key pieces displayed in his office at Emerson. He also enjoys live theatre and shows, with The Book of Mormon being a recent favourite.
He has two granddaughters, currently 13 and 4 years old, the former of whom lived with David for several years along with her dad. With family being paramount, David is always there to lend support for his boys and grandchildren. He doesn’t describe himself as a “cat person”, but when a stray cat at Emerson School was caught, and went on to have two kittens, David adopted one of them.
His key piece of teaching advice could apply to any aspect of life, not just within a school setting. He says it is important to “treat others as you want to be treated yourself.”
[interviewed June 2026]
Photo credit: feature image in this article by Tristan Hope
