Dave Levin is a native of New York City, where in 1995 he co-founded – and currently serves as superintendent of – KIPP NYC, the family of all KIPP programming in New York City.

After graduating from Yale University in 1992, Levin joined Teach for America and taught fifth grade in Houston, Texas. In 1994, he co-founded the Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) with Mike Feinberg and won the Jefferson Award for outstanding community service in the city of Houston. In the same year, he earned Teacher of the Year honors from his school in Houston and an outstanding teaching award from Teach for America. Passionate about innovative teaching, Levin co-authored KIPP Math, a comprehensive math curriculum for students in grades five through eight that culminates in students completing a two-year high school Algebra I course by the end of eighth grade. Levin also has a master's in education from National Louis University.

In the spring of 2000, Levin and Feinberg were approached by Doris and Don Fisher, founders of Gap, Inc., to replicate KIPP's success nationwide. Together they co-founded the KIPP Foundation which supports the opening, growth, and evaluation of KIPP schools around the country. KIPP has grown from two schools serving 400 kids in Houston and New York City to 99 schools serving over 27,000 kids in 20 states and the District of Columbia. 88% of the KIPP alumni have matriculated to four-year colleges and universities, and KIPP has quadrupled the college graduation rate for kids from underserved communities.

In 2007, Levin, along with Norman Atkins from Uncommon Schools and Dacia Toll at Achievement First, co-founded UKA (Uncommon Knowledge and Achievement) and launched Teacher U in partnership with Hunter College. Teacher U is a master's program designed to prepare teachers with the best of both theory and practice so that their students can develop the transformative academic and character skills needed to succeed in college and life.

In the spring of 1999, KIPP was named one of the 25 most effective schools in the nation in low-income communities. Of these 25 schools, Levin was selected as one of the seven most effective principals. He is the recipient of the Robin Hood Foundation's John F. Kennedy, Jr. Hero Award in Education and an Ashoka Fellowship, awarded to leading social entrepreneurs with innovative solutions and the potential to change patterns across society. Levin also served on the New York State Commission for Education Reform. In 2010, Levin and Feinberg spoke at TED on the topic of how to reform America's public education system. Most recently, they were awarded the Thomas Fordham Foundation Prize for Valor; the National Jefferson Award for Distinguished Public Service by a Private Citizen; the Charles Bronfman Prize, an honorary degree from Yale University; and the Presidential Citizen's Medal, our nation's second highest presidential award for a private citizen. Levin and Feinberg's work is the subject of the best-selling book Work Hard, Be Nice: How Two Inspired Teachers Created America's Most Promising Schools.

Levin speaks regularly to groups from across the country on issues relating to leadership, teaching, coaching, transforming education, character development, motivation, and parenting.

Levin currently serves as the superintendent of KIPP NYC and plays an active role in the leadership of the KIPP Foundation and Teacher U

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