When he was 5 years old, David Zaid, Long Beach’s new public school superintendent, loved reading the story about the battle between David the shepherd boy who bravely defeated the giant warrior Goliath with just a simple slingshot and a stone.
“It was my favorite book as a child,” Zaid said last week in an interview in his office. “It changed my life.”
It also changed his name.
Zaid was born with the first name, Mynason. But he said he was so inspired by David and how he defeated Goliath that Zaid changed his name to David, and it has stuck for 46 years.
Zaid, 51, said he will be remembering David’s story on the first day of school Tuesday with visits to Wilson High School to celebrate that school’s 100th anniversary and Cabrillo High School. He will follow those visits with trips to all the high schools and other schools in the district in the weeks ahead, he said.
Long Beach Unified School District Superintendent David Zaid at his office in Long Beach on Wednesday, August 19, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
From left, Long Beach Unified School District Superintendent David Zaid speaks with the Press-Telegram’s Rich Archbold at his office in Long Beach on Wednesday, August 19, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
From right, Long Beach Unified School District Superintendent David Zaid speaks with the Press-Telegram’s Rich Archbold at his office in Long Beach on Wednesday, August 19, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
L to R: LB City College President Dr. Mike Muñoz, LBUSD Superintendent David Zaid, LB Mayor Rex Richardson, and CSULB President Dr. Loren J. Blanchard attended a reception honoring Zaid and Blanchard at Hotel Maya on July 16, 2026. (Courtesy of Long Beach Unified School District)
A “Donuts with David” flyer to promote the new superintendent’s community engagement. (Courtesy of Long Beach Unified School District)
Long Beach Unified School District Superintendent David Zaid at his office in Long Beach on Wednesday, August 19, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
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Long Beach Unified School District Superintendent David Zaid at his office in Long Beach on Wednesday, August 19, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
“David’s story is something that has guided me for all these years,” Zaid said. “David was old enough to have wisdom and young enough to fight. I believe that giants do fall. Regardless of the giant problems in front of us, they will fall, too.”
Those giant problems facing the Long Beach school district include declining enrollment and a financial deficit. Also critical is ensuring instructional program priorities and supportive and diverse environments for students.
Earlier this month, a team of reporters from the Southern California News Group, which includes the Press-Telegram, detailed that K-12 enrollment nationwide has dropped by at least 1.4 million students since pre-pandemic highs in the 2019 school year.
This is especially prevalent in Orange and Los Angeles counties, where declining enrollment has outpaced the statewide average. Compared to 2015-16, the most recent school year in each county has seen enrollment drop by over 14% and 18%, respectively.
Current enrollment in the Long Beach Unified School District is at 61,267, a loss of 16,371 since 2015-16. On the financial deficit, Zaid said the immediate goal is to cut about $30 million.
“These issues may be difficult, but difficult doesn’t mean impossible,” he said. “Any problem can be solved as long as we do it together, as a team. Long Beach is defined by the power of its people.”
Zaid said his top priority now is to listen to what parents, teachers and other school employees and community leaders and members have to say about issues facing the school district.
“My number one plan is listening and then developing an action plan by January,” he said. “People want to know that their talk will lead to action. Otherwise, they get frustrated and angry.”
Zaid said that he has already embarked on what he calls his “Listening and Learning Tour” to draw on “the wisdom and insights of our schools and broader community.”
He said the West African Adinkra symbol of Mate Masie is helping to root him in this value. The symbol of four linked ears, originating with the Akan people of Ghana, reminds people of the importance of listening and communicating. “It means, “What I hear, I keep,” or ‘The wisdom and knowledge I collect I put in practice,” he said.
As part of a recent community engagement process, seven priorities emerged, he said. Zaid is asking those he talks to what is most important to them and where would they start in dealing with these issues:
–Support for a shared vision for the future.
–Stabilization of the district’s fiscal position.
–Committing to the student outcome governance model.
–Ensuring safe, orderly and supportive school environments.
–Strengthening student achievement and instructional programs.
–Addressing declining enrollment.
–Deepening community engagement.
He also is asking the questions, “What would “early wins” be that could be attainable by June 2027 and what are we missing?”
(For more information on these issues, click on lbschools.net.)
David is calling his meetings, “Donuts with David. The hot light is on!” He said he was inspired by former Long Beach School Superintendent Carl Cohn’s sessions, which Cohn called, “Cookies with Carl.” Cohn was superintendent from 1992-2002.
Tuesday may be Zaid’s first day as superintendent on the opening of the school year, but he is no stranger to the Long Beach school district.
In fact, Long Beach is the only school district where he has served – for 32 years – after graduating from Poly High and Cal State Long Beach.
He started as a teacher’s aide and then fourth and fifth-grade teacher at Lafayette Elementary followed by being principal at Stevenson Elementary. He also has worked as director of employee relations, assistant superintendent of human resource services and, most recently, assistant superintendent, elementary office.
Long Beach School Board President Diana Craighead said Zaid was “a respected and student-centered leader who understands our schools and our community. The Board is confident in his ability to build on our strong foundation and continue advancing success for all students.”
Zaid was born in Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Harbor City. His mother is from Mississippi, joined the Job Corps and taught English in Ethiopia where she met her husband. Hisparents returned to the United States where they have retired as social workers.
Zaid spent his first five years in Long Beach, moved to Compton and graduated from Poly High in 1993.
Zaid is married to his wife, Donica. They have three daughters: Zara, who is in college, and twins, Zimra and Zoie, who are in high school.
Zaid said his love of education as a career started when he was in the VIP program at Poly.
“I noticed that not everyone was getting the same information so I began sharing with friends,” he said. “My counselor encouraged me to go to college, which I did. I love helping students and their parents. I grew up in neighborhoods with some challenges, but I survived and set out to help others.”
He earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology at Cal State Long Beach and a master’s degree in education administration from National University in 2007. He is currently pursuing his Doctor of Education in Leadership.
He also has been pastor at the Seventh Day Adventist Church, The Philadelphian, on Santa Fe Avenue in Long Beach, but he said he is resigning from that position because of the additional time he will be spending in his new job as school superintendent.
Zaid’s tenure as superintendent officially began July 1 and it’s been non-stop activity since.
On July 16 he was honored at a reception hosted by Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson and Long Beach City College Superintendent-President Dr. Mike Muñoz at the Maya Hotel in Long Beach. Also honored was another new education head in Long Beach, Dr. Loren J. Blanchard, who recently took over as president at California State University, Long Beach.
Earlier in the day, Zaid joined these education leaders for the annual Long Beach College Promise summer retreat. It’s a long-time collaboration of Long Beach public educational institutions with the mission to make higher education accessible and equitable, guiding students from elementary school through college.
Zaid credits former school superintendents – Carl Cohn, Chris Steinhauser and Jill Baker – with building a strong foundation for schools in Long Beach as “transformational leaders.”
He said, “My commitment is to build on that foundation because the future of Long Beach is students sitting in our classrooms today. These students deserve a superintendent and community who will confront the challenges in front of us. Where others see fear, I see hope.”
Zaid said to students, teachers, parents and community members: “I look forward to standing next to you, walking beside you and listening to you, turning those thoughts into action.”
He also will be thinking about David who faced insurmountable odds but still defeated Goliath.