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David Lai serves as Director of English Language Learner Policy and Research at the Council of the Great City Schools. He joined the Council as a policy fellow in the summer of 2016 and now leads legislative, policy, and research initiatives focused on English learners (ELs). His work includes shaping policy positions, advancing research to strengthen support for ELs, coordinating national convenings of EL program directors, and providing technical assistance and strategic guidance to member districts.
Prior to joining the Council, David taught middle school science and STEM (Project Lead the Way) in Prince George’s County Public Schools. While teaching, he advised award-winning STEM competition teams, helped revamp the district’s science curriculum for ELs, presented workshops on instructional technology, and spearheaded sustainability projects that earned Thomas Johnson Middle School Maryland Green School certification. He also served on the Prince George’s County Program Advisory Committee for Project Lead the Way, which aimed to develop and foster an engineering student pipeline within the school district.
David earned a Bachelor of Science in Bioengineering and a Citation in Environmental Studies from the University of Maryland, College Park. He later earned a Master of Science in Education from Johns Hopkins University and is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Education Policy at the George Washington University.
FUN FACTS: David is a Boy Scouts of America merit badge counselor and a member of the Project Lead the Way Program Advisory Committee for Prince George's County Public Schools. Additionally, he remains engaged in volunteerism as a member of Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity, and occasionally, coaches academic teams.
