School Information

Hello East Grand Rapids Middle School Families, 

I am honored to serve the East students, families, and community as the principal of East Grand Rapids Middle School. Our staff is committed to creating a safe, welcoming, and engaging learning environment for all students. We deeply value the traditions that have led to an incredible community and academic environment at East, and look forward to working alongside you and your students over the course of the school year. Our priority is ensuring each student receives individualized support for their academic success and social and emotional (SEL) well-being. 

Our daily PIERS time supports this priority, through weekly SEL lessons and team building activities. The PIERS time on non-lesson days focuses on providing academic intervention and enrichment opportunities for each student, based on their individualized needs. Our goal is for students to be well-rounded and engaged in positive character building that will serve them well in the future. We want our students to own their learning and be empowered to seek academic support to maximize their success during the academic support days. 

We are so lucky to have an active and vibrant Parent Teacher Organization (PTO). This group supports the school through volunteering and financial donations, and our staff is extremely grateful for all the support provided. Our main fundraiser each year is the EGRMS Regatta, an exciting annual cardboard boat race on Reeds Lake. Students design and build boats in their PIERS groups, and the planning comes to fruition through an exhilarating boat race! This tradition remains a standout moment of our school year. 

My wife Amanda and I moved to Michigan from Milwaukee, WI. We are both career educators who deeply value community and education, and are excited to return home to the district where Amanda graduated from and where our family lives. We have two young children and our son will be attending Woodcliff this year.

I look forward to meeting each student and family. Please reach out with any questions or concerns you may have related to your child’s educational experiences. 

Warm regards, 
David Walker