Middle School Teacher David Walters ’02 Makes Learning Fun

As he headed to college, Pine Crest School lifer Mr. David Walters ’02 never thought he was going to be a teacher!

Enrolling at Pine Crest as a pre-kindergarten student, Mr. Walters says his fondest memories were playing soccer, hanging out with friends in the quad, studying languages, and math classes.

“After Pine Crest, I went to Florida State University,” Mr. Walters said. “I did not know what I wanted to do. I studied psychology and sociology. I had a friend from Georgia who would tell me about this summer camp he worked at in Florida and told me I should work with him. It was Pine Crest Day Camp! I found out that I loved working with kids and that I was good at it. I spent two summers working at Pine Crest, and when I graduated, I was offered a job as a substitute teacher.”

However, Mr. Walters did not remain at Pine Crest long. “I was a substitute for one year and also did some math tutoring. In my second year, I was a public speaking coach for Middle and Upper School debate.” 

After that year, Mr. Walters resigned from Pine Crest and moved to Orlando. However, he didn’t stop teaching. He spent one year teaching high school geometry before taking a job at Universal Studios as a sous chef and an instructor in food safety and preparation. 

“I just couldn’t get away from teaching!” He said. A lover of cooking and spending time in the kitchen, the role was a lot of fun. “I was going to be a line cook, but Universal was getting ready to open the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and they needed someone to teach and work as a sous chef helping to run orientations for new hires.”

Mr. Walters was on hand while the park was being completed, even meeting some of the cast from the Harry Potter films and enjoying many of the park's culinary treats and features. While the job was interesting and exciting, after one year, Mr. Walters decided to return to Fort Lauderdale. 

Mr. Walters returned to Pine Crest as a substitute teacher, working with students in all three Divisions before being offered a math position in the Lower School. After four years of teaching fourth and fifth grade math and one year of reading, Mr. Walters transitioned to the Middle School, where he has been teaching ancient civilizations for the past seven years. 

“I always say yes!” Mr. Walters said. “Wherever the administration has needed me, I have gone.”

Speaking more about what he enjoys most about teaching Middle School students, Mr. Walters said, “I love that Middle School provides the first instances of true independence at school for students. They have a degree of academic independence in terms of choosing their electives and participation in sports, and they learn to navigate their social circles. I love Middle School a lot because when I was a student, there wasn’t a Middle School—I am jealous!”

When asked what has kept Mr. Walters at Pine Crest for the last 13 years, he said, “A lot!” One of the most special reasons is Mr. Walters’ son Nicholas ’37. 

“Seeing Nico here following my footsteps as a pre-kindergarten student is beyond anything I could have dreamed. Seeing him wear Pine Crest colors and the uniform is surreal—he even wears my old shirts from 1988. I have spent 32 years of my life at this address, and it’s cool to see him here.”

“Beyond that,” he continued, “I have never worked at a place where I have felt true happiness. I met my wife here. It’s a really special place. I have never felt so happy to come to work, engage with the students, teach them, and learn from them. There is something here that makes teaching fun.”

Outside of the classroom, Mr. Walters coaches a variety of Middle and Upper School athletics, even helping call the games from the press box. 

“Middle School athletics are awesome!  They really give students a chance to try everything. In Middle School, we’re less concerned with the ‘Ws’ and ‘Ls’ and more concerned with teaching the fundamentals of the game. Also, what it takes to put on that uniform and represent our school. It is a big responsibility and something we talk a lot about in athletics.” 

Mr. Walters looks forward to commencement every year. “I don’t have a single moment that I am most proud of as an educator, but the proudest I am is at commencement,” he said. “Attending that every single year (I go with my wife, Mrs. Andrea Walters, First Grade Teacher) and watching students we taught become young adults—it is such a proud moment for us to watch them cross that stage and move on to the next phase of their lives. I love when they come back and visit as they get older.  Hopefully, we made an impact and made their school experience amazing for them—that’s why we’re here.” 

Sharing advice for new faculty members, Mr. Walters says, “I got great advice when I came to Middle School—laugh a lot! I think laughter is so important in teaching.” 

“Another piece of advice, if you’re bored looking at a lesson or a drill in practice, then your students are bored doing it. If there is something I think would be boring, I change it. If you don’t make learning fun and exciting, then what’s the point? You’re not going to get the results you want. There is no reason learning shouldn't be fun. From the beginning of my career, Pine Crest has given me the professional development and tools to succeed. I’ve loved every minute of teaching here, but the best part of it all is watching the students learn and grow.”