David Cienfuegos Kicks Off BHUSD Election Bid

David Cienfuegos officially entered the race for the Beverly Hills Unified School District Board of Education on Aug. 23, launching his campaign before a gathering of parents, community members and supporters hosted by Jasmine and Jacob Rastegar.

Cienfuegos, a father of three children attending BHUSD schools, framed his campaign around preparing students for a changing academic and professional environment.

"Our children only get one chance at an education," Cienfuegos said. "We have a responsibility to give them the strongest academic foundation possible and prepare them not simply for the world as it is today, but for a world that is changing faster than ever before."

According to his campaign, Cienfuegos is a California attorney and managing partner with more than two decades of experience in law, business, finance, real estate and investment. The campaign says he holds a master's degree in finance from Harvard University and a law degree from the University of San Francisco, and has professional experience involving generative AI, legal technology and workflow automation.

He has also served for the past two years on the Horace Mann Principal's Advisory Council, including as chair during the 2025-26 school year, according to the campaign.

A central part of Cienfuegos' platform is what he describes as a TK-12 college readiness culture. His proposals include greater emphasis on reading comprehension, handwriting, mathematics and critical thinking in elementary school, followed by expanded access to honors courses, Advanced Placement classes and dual enrollment.

He is also calling for expanded SAT and ACT preparation, earlier college counseling, application and essay assistance, and additional guidance for families during the admissions process.

"A Beverly Hills diploma should mean more than college eligibility," Cienfuegos said. "Our students should graduate prepared to compete, succeed and distinguish themselves wherever they choose to go."

Cienfuegos is proposing a BHHS Internship and Community Service Network connecting students with businesses, law firms, medical practices, financial institutions, technology companies, nonprofits and civic organizations throughout Beverly Hills and the Los Angeles area.

His platform also calls for additional student pathways in entrepreneurship and business, law, medicine and health sciences, research, arts and entertainment, technology and athletics.

On classroom technology, Cienfuegos is advocating for reduced reliance on screens in younger grades while expanding AI literacy, coding, digital research and other technology skills as students get older.

"Technology and AI should enhance education, not replace the fundamentals of learning," Cienfuegos said. "Our goal should be students who can think independently without technology and use it exceptionally well when it adds value."

Cienfuegos has branded his broader campaign philosophy "Raise the Ceiling," describing it as an effort to build on BHUSD's existing programs while pressing for additional academic and student opportunities.

"I'm not running to tear down what BHUSD has accomplished. I'm running to build on it," Cienfuegos said. "We have the resources, the families, the educators, and the community to create opportunities that other districts simply cannot replicate. It's time to take BHUSD to the next level."