David Zyngier is an Associate Professor (Adjunct) in the Faculty of Education at Southern Cross University retiring from Monash University after 16 years in the education faculty. He is a former school principal and state school teacher. His research focuses on Culturally, Linguistically and Economically Diverse (CLED) learning communities; social justice; democratic education; teacher knowledge and beliefs.
David is the founder of the Public Education Network https://www.facebook.com/groups/134951450492088/
He has published widely on teacher pedagogies that improve outcomes for students from communities of promise. He is a co-founder of the Global Doing Democracy Research Project, an international project examining perspectives and perceptions of democracy.
In 2013 David was awarded an Australian Research Council Fellowship ($365000) to further research teachers' perceptions of democracy. In 2014 he contributed to a submission for the Constitution Education Fund of Australia (CEFA) that was presented to the Attorney General Senator George Brandis on the issue of education for democracy.
In 2010, the ruMAD program that he wrote received the prestigious Garth Boomer Award for its contribution to education in Australia. He developed the Enhanced Learning Improvement in Networked Communities program which gained a Schools First Award of $75,000 in 2010 and 2011 for its contribution to students experiencing learning difficulties and school engagement problems.
He is also a member of a 7 highly esteemed peer reviewed Editorial Boards. In 2011, he was appointed Expert Commentator for the Australian Council of Education Leaders (ACEL).
David provides pro-bono education advice and support to a number of community organisations including Fairness in Religion in Schools (FIRIS), The Ardoch Foundation, State Schools Relief (SSR) and Our Children Our Schools (OCOS).