Dr. David Lawrence was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio, and is a 1984 graduate of Paul Laurence Dunbar High School. He has more than 27 years of experience in public education, having served in a variety of roles throughout his career.

Dr. Lawrence has taught at Edwin Joel Brown Middle School, Meadowdale High School, has served as Assistant Principal at Stivers School for the Arts, and Principal at Thurgood Marshall STEAM High School. He has also served as the Chief Academic Officer for the Dayton Regional STEM School, Chief of School Innovation for Dayton Public Schools, and Principal of Northmoor Elementary School. In September 2022, he returned to Dayton Public Schools to serve as Business Manager, and in July 2023 was selected to serve as Interim Superintendent.

As Interim Superintendent, Dr. Lawrence immediately implemented new guiding principles for staff in an effort to improve culture and morale. These principles, known as the “5 C’s,” include culture, commitment, communication, competence, and collaboration.