David Dernier

“Years ago, my mother used to say to me, ‘In this world, Elwood, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant.’ Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant, and you may quote me,” – Harvey, 1950

David was born in Japan, has lived all across the United States, but has called Texas home for the majority of his life. David received his undergraduate degree from Baylor University in Waco, TX, and then pursued his master’s degree at the University of Texas at Dallas. (Sic ‘em, Comets?!) David’s career path has always centered around supporting and enriching young people—from teaching high school English in central Texas, to leading summer elective courses, to tutoring foreign exchange students, and even working retail at a video game store. (Hey, it still supports young people—just in a very different way!)

David began his KD career as an instructor in 2017. But here’s how he describes what he does currently: “If a student is pulling out his or her hair during a particularly difficult reading passage, chances are that I’m to blame. Coordinating the creation, revision, and delivery of our curriculum is my primary goal, but I especially seize any opportunity to craft questions that meticulously test a student’s understanding of the content.”

Fun Facts About David:

What do you like best about KD College Prep?
“As a parent myself, I love that KD looks beyond just test prep and instead uses these tests as a framework to teach students how to set goals and accomplish them methodically over an extended period of time. The study habits and organizational skills that KD helps develop in students will be of use long after their test scores no longer have a place on their resume.”

What is your List of Loves?
“Creation has always been one of my passions, encompassing drawing, painting, composing, and (of course) writing. Currently, I enjoy writing short fiction with my wife, who is also a writer. Like many readers, I constantly have a long list of books I intend to read, but I seem to always end up re-reading my favorites instead, like Watership Down or The Lord of the Rings.”

What is something interesting about the school you attended?
“While UTD enjoys a reputation as an academically rigorous institution, that hasn’t always been the case. UTD’s chess program was partially implemented to attract students of a higher intellectual caliber, and that gambit has certainly paid off since its implementation in the 90s.”

What would you go back and say to your 16-year-old self?
“Who you were yesterday is the only person worth comparing yourself to. Also, turn your music down: your future hearing will thank you.”

---