Biography
David Goldberg, Ed.D., is an educational leader, researcher, and teacher educator whose work centers on teacher decision-making, professional identity, and the institutional conditions that shape inclusive and sustainable practice. He holds a Doctor of Educational Leadership and Policy and a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from California State University, Northridge. His research examines how personal beliefs, emotions, and professional values intersect with programmatic forces such as policy, school culture, and leadership, with particular attention to gender identity content and justice-oriented teaching. He is the co-developer of the Personal + Programmatic (P+P) Model, a conceptual framework for understanding how educators navigate inclusion within politically and institutionally constrained environments.
Dr. Goldberg currently serves as Lecturer in the Department of Education at California State University, Northridge, and as Adjunct Faculty in the College of Education at Alliant University. In these roles, he teaches courses in assessment, curriculum design, and data-informed instructional decision-making, mentoring credential candidates and graduate students to develop coherent instructional goals, and reflective professional judgment. He also brings over a decade of experience as an elementary lead teacher in independent school settings, alongside leadership work in literacy reform, accreditation, faculty development, and program design.
In addition to his academic appointments, Dr. Goldberg is the founder of DGK Educational Consulting, where he partners with schools and educators to strengthen professional agency, ethical clarity, and long-term sustainability in teaching. His scholarship has appeared in peer-reviewed journals and practitioner outlets, with forthcoming work on contextual burnout and teacher decision-making.
Professional Interests
Teacher Burnout, Teacher Decision-Making, Elementary Education, Curriculum Design
Education and Certifications
Ed.D
Scholarship & Contributions to the Field
- Goldberg, D., & Knotts, G. (in Press). Contextual Saturation: Burnout Redefined. The New Educator.
- Goldberg, D., & Knotts, G. (in Press). Teacher Decision-Making: Understanding Gender Identity Content (GIC). Issues in Teacher Education (ITE).
- Goldberg, D. (2025). Elementary Teacher Decision-Making and Gender Identity: To Include or Not to Include? [Doctoral Dissertation, California State University, Northridge]. ProQuest Dissertations.
- Goldberg, D., & Knotts, G. (2024). Gender Inclusive Elementary Social Studies: Not as Hard as You Think. Teachers Connecting to Advance Retention and Empowerment (T-Care). (17) 7.
- Goldberg, D & Knotts, G. (2021). Curriculum In-Queery: Untangle, Include, & Start Early: Stop Reifying and Start Reshaping Elementary School Curriculum. International Journal of Social Policy and Education. (11) 13.