David Edwards grew up in Santa Monica and attended the public schools in the Santa Monica – Malibu Unified School District. He received a bachelor of arts in History from Occidental College in 2001.
Mr. Edwards spent the first seven years of his professional career with the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, and visited over 300 schools in the county with the museum’s mobile education programs. He received his teaching credential and master of education from the UCLA Teacher Education Program. Mr. Edwards is now in his second year of teaching fourth grade at LFCSA.
One thing that draws him to the school is his strong belief in public education. LFCSA’s status as a public charter school allows it to serve students of all socio-economic backgrounds. Furthermore, he’s an equally firm believer in the importance of arts education.
As a lifelong musician, Mr. Edwards believes that the visual and performing arts are crucial in helping children grow academically and socially. Mr. Edwards’s philosophy of education is shaped largely by the time he spent as a museum educator. Just as he did in exhibit halls and mobile classrooms, he strives to make learning an active, hands-on experience. He believes that students need to take ownership of their learning process, and that they make the most meaningful discoveries when they guide their investigations. Like any of his colleagues, Mr. Edwards does not settle for simple answers. He expects students to be able to explain their reasoning in detail, and values critical thinking above absolute accuracy.
When not teaching, Mr. Edwards can be found playing his trombone with the various classical and jazz ensembles. He’s an avid hiker and spends as much time outdoors as possible. He’s a self-professed bookworm and internet junkie, though he still doesn’t have a Facebook account! He loves to travel and has a long list of foreign locales that he wants to visit.
