Career Roadmap
David's work combines: Education, Writing, and Helping People
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Iowa City West High School
Bachelor's Degree
Spanish Language and Literature
Brigham Young University-Provo
Graduate Degree
Secondary Education and Teaching
Stanford University
Doctorate
Educational Leadership and Administration, General
Brigham Young University-Provo
Certification
Law
Brigham Young University-Provo
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Training & Development Managers:
Bachelor's Degree: Spanish Language and Literature
Graduate Degree: Secondary Education and Teaching
Doctorate: Educational Leadership and Administration, General
Certification: Law
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
1.
Deciding to attend a master's/teacher certification program at the Stanford Graduate School of Education instead of pursuing a doctoral degree in Spanish.
2.
Deciding to pursue additional graduation education by attending law school instead of immediately joining the work force as a classroom teacher.
3.
Leaving the private practice of law after only one year to gain experience as an administrator in a large public school district.
4.
Returning to the private practice of law to gain experience representing public schools and colleges
5.
Turning down the opportunity to be a partner at my law firm to take a position in higher education administration.
6.
Taking the biggest risk of my life by accepting an appointment as superintendent of the first new school district to be created in over 100 years.
7.
Staying strong in the face of intense public scrutiny and criticism during my tenure as superintendent.
8.
Leaving public education to take a non-traditional education role in the private sector in order to focus my efforts on students in poverty.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Early in my career I was told that I would never become a superintendent or high-level educational leaders unless I followed a traditional path of serving as an assistant principal, then a principal, and then a district-office administrator.
How I responded:
Stay true to yourself, don't be afraid to take risks, and never stop learning. There is no such thing as irrelevant experience, and there is no such thing as too much knowledge.