David Jewett Waller Jr. (July 17, 1846 – June 28, 1941) was a Pennsylvanian minister and educator.
When Waller was fourteen he was sent to a school run by Revered Gayley in the community of Media.
[3][5] Juniata College granted Waller an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 1934.
[6] While teaching at the Bloomsburg Normal School he sometimes occupied pulpits as a supply pastor.
Waller returned to preaching after leaving the office of Superintendent of Public Instruction in 1893.
During his time teaching at the Bloomsburg Normal School he also lectured at the Columbia County Institute on occasion.
He made three appearances at the Columbia County Teachers' Institute, which was held in December 1878.
[5] From 1890 to 1893, he was superintendent of public instruction for Pennsylvania, following the death of the previous holder of this office.
He returned to Bloomsburg for a time in October 1895 after the death of his eldest son, David Jewett Waller III.
He attended the Convention of Pennsylvania State Teachers at the Bloomsburg Normal School in July 1896.
[5] In the middle of October 1906, Waller was invited to return to serve as the principal of the Bloomsburg State Normal School, and he accepted this position.
He also developed the school's curriculum, adding such ourses as domestic science and agriculture and library economics.
[2] While in the office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Waller advocated the introduction of free textbooks, higher salaries for teachers, and endorsed professorships in normal schools.
Waller was among the principal people to speak at the spring 1892 convention of City and Borough Superintendences in Williamsport.
Waller spent most of 1892 trying to gather support for his ideas on education in the previous years.
On the Christmas of 1921 Waller made a speech at the Harrisburg's Pennsylvania State Education Association.
His last appearance at an event of statewide significance was in 1934, at the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Free School Act.
[5] A bronze tablet inscribed with Waller's contributions to education was created in 1922 by Tiffany Studios.