Dave Zavatson joined the Peregrine School Board in 2015 during the school’s expansion into its South campus, offering critical support with financial matters. With a background in management and experience in project costing, pricing, and budgeting, he provided thoughtful oversight to the school’s finances by developing budgeting documents and financial reports.
Dave also contributed his IT expertise by advising on key technology decisions, helping set up networks (including memorable moments crawling through rafters to install wireless access points), and supporting hardware and software acquisitions.
Both of Dave’s daughters attended Peregrine School, starting in preschool and continuing through sixth grade, with his youngest graduating in 2024. He recalls his first aha moment when picking up one of his daughters, then three, from preschool. He watched in amazement as children created paintings using a swinging cup filled with paint, suspended from a tripod they had built with their teachers. As the cup swung, it painted patterns, introducing the concept of pendulum motion through hands-on exploration. It was clear Peregrine approached early education in a truly unique way, emphasizing student-led exploration and hands-on learning.
Dave was also struck by the school’s approach to elementary education after attending a welcome night hosted by one of his daughter’s head teachers. The teacher thoughtfully compared the Peregrine curriculum with that of typical public schools, describing immersive, theme-based learning. While still targeting the same Common Core standards, the school’s curriculum was designed to tap into students’ interests. Rather than relying on rote memorization, Peregrine’s model aimed to energize students and foster a genuine excitement for learning.
Originally from Germany, Dave moved to the United States at the age of 18 as an international student. He spent ten years involved in amateur motorcycle racing with the American Federation of Motorcyclists. He is also an avid board gamer and an enthusiastic traveler, with one of his most memorable experiences being the opportunity to attend Olympic events in Paris in 2024.