David Trautman '07
David says his time in LAS launched his interest in and passion for social justice, as well as his commitment to public education. In particular, his studies helped him understand the ways schools are used as instruments of both oppression and community liberation.
After graduating from the University of Arizona with his BA in Latin American Studies and Anthropology, David joined Teach For America, where he taught in East San Jose, CA. He later obtained an MA in Latin American Studies from the University of California, Berkeley where he explored the intersectional dynamics of race, class, and gender on school choice and alternative education in Chiapas, Mexico. David then continued his career in urban public schools while pursuing an MEd in Education Leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University. David is currently the principal of a K-6 elementary school along the US-Mexico border in Southern California and a core faculty member of the RISE Urban Principal Pipeline. In both roles, he is an advocate for equitable opportunities and outcomes for students served by San Diego area public schools.
David's time in LAS launched his interest in and passion for social justice, as well as his commitment to public education. In particular, his studies helped him understand the ways schools are used as instruments of both oppression and community liberation.