Despite only spending two years at Diamond Bar High School, alumni David Goldenberg was inspired sufficiently to pursue a career in teaching, and eventually become an award-winning educator.

In 2013, Goldenberg, along with four other California teachers, was recognized as one of the state’s best educators.

Goldenberg teaches AP U.S.  History, as well as AP World History, at Arnold O. Beckman High School in Irvine, and boasts an incredible 81 percent  student passing rate on AP exams, according to the Orange County Register.

The DBHS alumnus likes to introduce difficult concepts through simple games, such as  Simon Says, and believes that encouraging discussions among students is crucial to the learning process.

During his time at DBHS, Goldenberg was on the football team and was also part of the Yearbook staff. Transferring to the school during his junior year, Goldenberg said he regrets not being able to study at DB earlier.

“I really loved DBHS. I was struck by the strong campus culture. Back then, we went to an amusement park on the first day of school– what an amazingly positive way to begin the school year,” Goldenberg said via email. “I would say that DBHS had more school spirit and that showed in how it supported the various athletic activities.”

After graduating  in 1988, Beckman went on to Cal State  Fullerton, where he  earned a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1993, followed by a master’s in science in education-educational administration in 2001.

However, Goldenberg initially had interest in joining the Air Force, especially after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

He had received a commission from the Air Force, but reapplied in order to try for a position in intelligence.

“As I was waiting for my application to be processed for a second time, I watched a friend of mine coach and teach at a middle school and I was hooked,” Goldenberg said. “After 9/11, I had an opportunity to go into the Air Force and my dad convinced me to remain a teacher.”

Goldenberg said his favorite memories of DBHS consist of playing football because of all the support the team had received from the school.

“The student body and community really supported the team. My senior year I remember the students making a corridor as we went to get onto the bus to play Charter Oak. The moment that I exited the locker room and saw the students continues to resonate with me,” Goldenberg said.

Among the staff at DBHS, Goldenberg recalls mathematics teacher Dorinda Hewitt, and retired history teacher Kim Cleveland as his favorites, along with peer counseling director Sandy Davis.

“I had a goofy group of friends. During our senior year, for a week we sat at our bench overlooking the main stairwell and we rated people as they walked up or down the stairs. My favorite moment was giving [Davis] a 10 and telling her how much we loved her.”

The distinguished teacher was previously a manager trainee for World Savings and Loan, and served as the administrative assistant to Fountain Valley’s city Finance Officer.

However, no job is more enjoyable than teaching.  Goldenberg’s favorite part of the job is helping his students.

“Teaching provides me with the opportunity to have job where every day is important,” Goldenberg said. “My students have made me a better person, better husband and better father. I am blessed to have an opportunity to play a part in their lives and I hope that in some small way that I can help them become the best versions of themselves.”