David Baker

Principal

As a teacher and Principal with over 30 years of experience, I am passionate about holistic co-education that places students at the centre of everything we do. At each school I have been a part of, I have been heavily involved in co-curricular programs, experiences that have enabled me to connect with students and create learning environments based on respect, deep learning, and a lot of fun. Woodleigh's extensive program of purposeful experiences is what I continue to love most about our school.

Our students will inherit a world vastly different from that of my youth. I am frustrated by quick-fix solutions, and instead, I aim to help students collaborate to solve deep-seated issues with a regenerative and compassionate mindset. They need skills to communicate, collaborate, and engage with the agency to think critically, regulate behaviour and emotions, and unpack complexity in our natural and man-made world.

At Woodleigh, I witness staff and students engaging with authenticity and a uniting of people to accomplish great things daily. Unlike my own one-dimensional education, which focused solely on outcomes, Woodleigh emphasises the process, ensuring that results naturally follow.

To me, an Adventurous Mind is curious and unafraid to tackle big issues. It loves learning, echoing Leonardo Da Vinci's belief that study without desire spoils the memory.