David Edelman

David teaches upper-level courses including Civics, Economics, and AP Government. For him, civic education is not just a subject but a mission: to make Justice Stephen Breyer’s description of schools as the “nurseries of democracy” a reality.

He has transformed his classroom into a “laboratory for civic engagement” where students participate in caucuses, debates, and action civics projects. His innovative classroom caucus model lets students physically move to indicate agreement, disagreement, or uncertainty, then collaborate to refine arguments and reconsider positions.

David’s students have been featured on PBS’s Preserving Democracy, showcasing how his methods bring civic issues to life and empower students to lead. He also designs units on contemporary issues like censorship and book banning, asking students to analyze Supreme Court opinions and write their own briefs, connecting constitutional principles to modern debates.

For David, civics is about elevating student voice, fostering inclusion, and practicing democracy in the classroom. His hope is that students remember their time with him as a chance to ask tough questions, think critically, and engage with multiple perspectives in civil, meaningful ways.