Helping Youth Tell Their Own Stories

​David Surface works with students and teachers to bring creative writing techniques into the classroom and help young writers find their voice.

As a teaching artist for Teachers and Writers Collaborative, David designs and leads writing residencies in New York City school classrooms, grades 2-12, using creative writing to enhance students' understanding of a wide variety of social studies topics, while building students' confidence and skill as writers.
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David has also conducted professional development seminars for the New York City Department of Education, showing teachers and administrators strategies for integrating creative/narrative writing techniques with expository writing in accordance with Common Core standards.

As writer in residence at Lehman High School, NYC, David has created a unique and effective curriculum for guiding students through the creation of of their college entrance essays at every phase of writing and revision.

For ten years, David was lead writing instructor at Usdan Center for Creative and Performing Arts, where he created an engaging and supportive environment for young writers to explore new approaches to writing fiction, poetry, and theater.