 Welch was born and grew up in Lincoln. He attended Carroll Catholic
School, and he graduated from Lincoln Community High School in 1986.
After attending Southern Illinois University for two years, he
transferred to Illinois State University, Normal, and graduated with
a bachelor's degree in history."I didn't get a teaching
certificate at the time," he said, "and without it, you can't really
do anything with a subject like history. Now, I believe they
encourage students to work for the teaching certificate if they
major in history or something similar. Then you can apply it to
something."
Welch went to work in social services and then for Universal
Sports Lighting. While in college, Welch met his future wife,
Melanie, and they have four children. As the children grew to school
age, he thought more about the field of education and returned to
school to earn a teaching certificate in 2002.
His classroom experience began with social studies at Pleasant
Plains, where he taught for one year, and then at Lincoln Community
High School for two years. But budget cuts in 2006 forced the local
school district to eliminate several teachers.
"It was last in, first out," he commented, "and since I was one
of the new hires, I was out."
After leaving LCHS, Welch taught English at Stephen Decatur
Middle School and Warrensburg-Latham High School.
He returned to school and earned his master's degree in
administration from the University of Illinois Springfield in 2010.
He applied for the principal's position at Carroll Catholic when it
became available, and he was hired in June.
"I really like teaching," Welch said, "so I didn't apply to that
many schools after I had my administrator's credentials. I was
selective in the process, and even though I was interested in being
a principal, there were only a few places where I would have
accepted an administrative position. Carroll Catholic School was
definitely at the top of my list."
Having taught for several years at the high school level, it is
different living in the world of elementary school.
"I came from a high school background, so I am learning how the
elementary school works," Welch said. "It is an adjustment to go
from one level of education to another. It isn't that much
different, but each one has its own set of unique characteristics."
Questions asked of Welch were: Are there changes he would like to
make, or has he considered a project? Also, Carroll Catholic is one
of the area schools that has received a Woods Foundation grant. What
would he like to see happen?
"We will implement some technology improvements," Welch
responded. "We need Smart Boards, and I would like to purchase a few
iPads so students can learn how to use them. We'll take it slow, not
have a lot of them, but enough to allow a group to use them and
become familiar with learning in new ways.
"I would also like to add as many peripheral subjects as
possible," Welch continued, "so there could be Spanish, music -- not
the core subjects, but certainly subjects which enhance their
education in other ways."
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Welch sees another challenge -- "scheduling, to get everything
in," he said. "And with our church-school situation, we lose one
period due to religion class. That's who we are and what we do, but
it is a challenge.
"Also, being a parochial school, we must answer to and satisfy
not only the Illinois State Board of Education, but the Diocese of
Peoria. They are two very separate entities, but equal in their
demands and requirements. That will be a challenge -- the policies
and paperwork."
Welch talked about coming back to run the very school where his
parents, Tom and Mary Welch, sent him.
"There are teachers here who I had as a student," Welch
explained, "and if I was several years younger, it would probably
feel odd to be in this position. But at some point you become less
awkward about that. By now I have gotten used to being around people
in different positions who are older or younger than myself, and it
is not as much an issue.
"I guess it is a testament to their teaching and guidance that I
am here," he said. "I am happy to be here with the same teachers. My
three youngest children are here, too.
"That is one thing about the parochial schools," Welch noted.
"Parents choose to send their children here, and they are invested
in the school. It is like a community. This parish has always been
supportive of the school, and it offers good will for the future."
Welch isn't always at work. He plans to make an effort to keep
his hobbies and interests as a way to relax, and to set time aside
for his family. In his spare time, he likes to read and write
poetry. He is a big Pittsburgh Steelers fan, as visitors to his
office will see.
He and Melanie own a two-story house outside of Lincoln where
they have lived since they married and where they are raising their
four children. It has been in David's family for over 100 years. So,
even though it is 95 percent remodeled, it continues to ask for
attention, and they have worked on it together.
Melanie is from Decatur, so her family is not far away.
So, David Welch has returned to the school where he began his
education as a child. But it is an exciting endeavor, and he is
enjoying the experience.
[By MARLA BLAIR]
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