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David J. Weinstein has served for six years on the Cambridge School Committee. As he returns to place yet another bid for a seat on the board, he hopes to tackle the district’s persistent achievement gaps.

Weinstein is one of ten candidates with children in Cambridge Public Schools and one of six educators. He began his career as an educator in New York in 1996 where he taught art to children with special needs. In 2001, he received a M.A. in Education from Harvard’s Graduate School of Education.

Weinstein said that though he has extensive experience as an educator, he understands the importance of uplifting the voices of teachers and experts in the district.

“I really try to stay up to date with some of the sort of best thinking in the field,” he said. “But it also is important to really be always listening and always learning and not kind of feel like, ‘Well, I just, I know it now.’”

Weinstein said that consulting researchers at the forefront of education policy would be especially pertinent in eliminating achievement gaps in the district. Recent scores from the 2024-25 Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System exam showed an increasing gap in standardized test scores between Black and white students, despite overall district scores improving.

The new data has been at the forefront of district discussion — in the past two School Committee meetings, members spent hours deliberating plans to address the increasing achievement gaps.

Almost all challengers in this year’s race have cited decade-long gaps as a priority in their run for election.

Weinstein said that he is not discouraged by persisting achievement gaps, and aims to work with the Ed Redesign Lab at the Harvard Graduate School of Education — a research group dedicated to ensuring equal opportunity for all students — to create a “success planning model” where educators create personalized learning goals for each student.

“We are in process of building this out, with the ultimate vision being that every student has an adult navigator who’s making sure that they’re getting the access to both supports and opportunities that will enable them to thrive to their full potential and follow their own paths,” he said.

Weinstein warned that while “so many kids in Cambridge” receive enough support for their success, there were many that fell through the cracks.

“We have students who aren’t benefiting from all we have to offer in Cambridge, it’s even more frustrating, I think, than in other places, because it’s there,” he said.

Still, he remains hopeful that following the initiatives from the EdRedesign lab can create positive change.

“I think it has a lot of potential, from what I’ve seen in other communities, both around Massachusetts and around the country, to really make a difference and help us use the resources we do have, not just financial, organizational people, more effectively and efficiently, in support of all kids,” he said.

Weinstein emphasized that continuing to adapt the district’s advanced learning policy will help address achievement gaps by establishing high expectations for all students.

In June of 2024, the School Committee resolved to mandate Algebra 1 for all eighth graders starting in the 2026 school year, a facet of the district’s initiative to give students access to a more advanced curriculum at an earlier age. Weinstein said he played a pivotal role in the expansion of Algebra 1 and co-sponsored the policy for its implementation.

Through advocating for an advanced curriculum for all students, Weinstein said the district would be able to support students from diverse backgrounds, “not only those who are advocating or have somebody advocating for them, or paying for something outside of Cambridge.”

In the vein of promoting inclusivity for underrepresented groups, Weinstein highlighted his work in updating the district’s policies on hate and bias related incidents and consent education in athletics.

“I will always stand in defense of in solidarity with our trans and gender non conforming students, Black and brown students, or immigrant and refugee students — with all of our students,” he said.

“We’re at a time where the threats are real, and you know we need to in word and deed, in the city and in the schools, really make sure that we’re protecting each other,” he added.

— Staff writer Ayaan Ahmad can be reached at ayaan.ahmad@thecrimson.com. Follow him on X @AyaanAhmad2024.

— Staff writer Claire A. Michal can be reached at claire.michal@thecrimson.com.