David has been tutoring for 12 years, beginning at the U.C. Berkeley Student Learning Center. After graduation, he put his Economics and Mathematics training to use as an oil derivatives trader on the New York Mercantile Exchange floor and with his firm, Abbot Kinney Capital. Taking advantage of his flexible schedule, he began tutoring underprivileged children in the Bronx and has expanded to clients around New York City. He loves devising creative ways to reach students and has helped hundreds of all ages master a wide variety of subjects, from Calculus to History. He is also familiar with the demands of an intense preparatory school schedule, having himself attended Jewish middle and high preparatory-schools.
David splits his practice into two areas: test preparation and academic enrichment.
For test preparation, David tutors the ISEE, SSAT, SAT, and ACT working primarily with students having difficulty with quantitative subjects and test anxiety. Through extensive drills and visual teaching, he has succeeded in helping students overcome an initial aversion to math and become more confident in their test-taking ability. He also tutors the GMAT (with a score of 750, 98th percentile) and LSAT (170, 98th percentile).
David’s academic enrichment practice consists of the following subjects: Math (up to Calculus), Statistics, English, History, Government, Economics, and Science. For Judaic and Bar/Bat Mitzvah studies, he offers comprehensive instruction in Chumash, Talmud, Navi and Mishna. His securities-trading experience lends him particular expertise in teaching Finance and market-related subjects. A majority of his clients have been with him for over a year and these patient and consistent relationships have worked wonders.
David also coached the boys’ varsity baseball squad at SAR Academy in Riverdale for 2 years and loves teaching fundamentals to young players and seeing them grow in skill and sportsmanship. He offers one-on-one instruction in this area as well.
In his spare time, David is a member of the board of the American Jewish World Service Young Leadership Circle and is passionate about fly-fishing and outdoor sports.