I was born and raised in NYC. My wife and I have three grown children. I attended and graduated from Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx. I earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from Five Towns College in Dix Hills, NY. My master’s degree is in Elementary Education and I have an Education Specialist’s Degree in Administration, Supervision and Educational Leadership, from Liberty University.
I have extensive teaching and leadership experience, spanning more than 25 years. My teaching career began in NYC Public Schools in 1999. Upon moving to Virginia, I taught Middle School Math in Richmond City and Henrico County Public Schools respectively, and served as an Exceptional Education Teacher in Chesterfield County Schools.
Administratively speaking, I’ve worked in educational leadership in various capacities, over the years. Most recently, Henrico County Public Schools is where I worked as an Assistant Principal, before returning to Chesterfield County Public Schools in 2023, where I taught 4th Grade. However, my heart began pulling me to return to administration.
As Dean of Students, I believe that fundamentally all students desire to learn and live up to the expectations of their parents and teachers. Students will live up to what is expected of them. Behaviorally speaking, I often say that “if you don’t allow a teacher to teach you, then life will.” Students will rise and fall based on their understanding that their own choices determine how high or low they can fly. I thoroughly believe that, as educators, it is our responsibility to effectively train and prepare our students to be significant contributors to solving the problems that plague our world. My job is not to punish children, but rather to teach them accountability and make them owners of their own solutions to correcting mistakes. If I can help them understand a better way, they will increase in knowledge and choose to use that knowledge to make the world around them better.
The choice in coming to Falling Creek Elementary was an easy one. I will always choose the path with the greatest reward, which for me is to teach students that hardwork and dedication are the anchors for success. Partnering with the Falling Creek Elementary School community in making a positive impact in the lives of the students is my primary goal. “Hard Work… Dedication! Dedication… Hard Work!”
David_Leath@ccpsnet.net