David Russell-Smith joined St Andrew’s Grammar at the commencement of 2022, returning to Perth after a period of rural teaching in Western Australia’s South-West region. David is a recent graduate of the University of Western Australia, where he trained as a humanities and social sciences teacher specialising in Politics and Law, and Civics. He has a bachelor’s degree in Law and Society, and Philosophy and a Master of Teaching from UWA.

David’s teaching reflects an ongoing commitment to up-to-date evidence-based practice with a particular emphasis on the work of researchers such as John Hattie and his theory of Visible Learning. He has a passion for lifelong learning which is central to the message that he coveys to his students.

David’s pedagogy is further informed by his past career experiences as a leader in the Australian Defence Force which informs his understanding of how to overcome obstacles, build on existing strengths and nurture the ambitions of his students. Through a holistic approach to his student interactions, he aims to grow the person inside the student, developing their initiative and fostering a desire to succeed and lead.