When David (he/him/his) and his husband Manny (he/him/his) joined Beth Israel, they quickly found a second home, celebrating Shabbat and attending Torah study. David recently served on the Rabbinic Search Committee.
David’s professional journey spans over 24 years, starting with his first teaching job in California. He dedicated himself to teaching elementary and middle school students for the first two decades. However, his passion for special education led him to switch his focus four years ago. He runs the Jewish Club and Rainbow Club at a middle school with San Diego Unified and has been recognized for his exceptional work. He was named teacher of the year for the Cajon Valley Union School District, and this year, he was honored as teacher of the year for his middle school with SDUSD. He has collaborated with The Butterfly Project to bring their education on the Holocaust to students at his middle school and helped to create a large mural installation to showcase the butterflies representing the 1.5 million children killed.
David’s commitment to creating safe spaces for all students extends beyond the classroom. He is an active member of the board of GLSEN San Diego, the leading national organization focused on ensuring safe schools for all students. His involvement with GLSEN underscores his dedication to advocacy and community service.
David, Manny, their dogs Hope and Timmy, and their cat Flippy love spending time outdoors, dinners with friends, and traveling.