A Parent. An Attorney. An Advocate for Exceptional Schools.
I'm David Cienfuegos, a trial attorney and the parent of three BHUSD students. I am running for the Board of Education because I believe Beverly Hills should have one of the finest public school systems anywhere—and because these are the schools my own children attend.
I’m running for the Beverly Hills Unified School District Board of Education because, first and foremost, I’m a BHUSD parent.
My wife and I are raising our three children in Beverly Hills, and all three attend Horace Mann. Our twin boys are in third grade, and our daughter is in fifth grade. My wife is also an attorney and an active member of the Horace Mann PTA, so our family is deeply invested in the success of our schools and the community that surrounds them.
Over the past several years, I have had the opportunity to see BHUSD not only as a parent, but also through direct involvement with school leadership. I have served on the Principal’s Advisory Council, where I have worked with administrators and gained a closer understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing our schools.
I am running because I believe Beverly Hills should have one of the finest public school systems in California. Our classrooms should be focused on strong academics, exceptional teaching, critical thinking, reading, writing, mathematics, science, history, and preparing students for the opportunities ahead.
I also believe parents deserve a meaningful voice in their children’s education and that School Board decisions should be transparent, thoughtful, and grounded in what is best for students.
Experience That Matters
Professionally, I am a California trial attorney. My career has also included experience in finance, investment management, real estate, and complex business transactions.
I began my career in the litigation department at Morgan Stanley and later worked extensively over fifteen years in real estate and investment management. Over the years, I have formed and managed investment companies, overseen complex transactions involving non-performing loans, and managed over millions in assets. My experience spans commercial real estate, multifamily housing, investment funds, acquisitions, development projects, asset management, and complex financial matters.
That experience has taught me the importance of asking difficult questions, understanding the numbers, demanding accountability, and making decisions based on facts rather than politics or pressure.
Those are the same principles I would bring to the School Board.
My Purpose
BHUSD has tremendous resources, talented teachers, engaged families, and extraordinary students. We should expect equally extraordinary results.
I am not running simply to manage the school system we have today. I am running to help build the school system our children will need tomorrow. The world our students will enter is changing rapidly. College admissions expectations continue to evolve. Technology is transforming industries. New careers are emerging while existing professions are changing.
BHUSD should prepare students with exceptional academic foundations while also giving them the judgment, communication skills, technological fluency, creativity, confidence, and real-world experience they will need to succeed.
Strong foundations. Bigger opportunities. Extraordinary outcomes.
A TK–12 Vision for Student Success
Academic excellence with measurable results. Earlier college preparation. Exceptional teachers and consistent classrooms. Career exploration and internships. Arts, music, athletics, and enrichment. Purposeful technology. Safe schools. Fiscal responsibility. Parent transparency and accountable leadership.
Transparency, accountability, and responsible stewardship — with respect for educators and families.
