A Rare Fusion of Private Sector Finance and K-12 Educational Leadership To Make School District’s Capital Smarter
David Trautenberg is the principal of AlignK12, an educational consulting firm dedicated to helping school districts optimize resources by aligning financial expenditures to students’ outcomes. Most recently, Dr. Trautenberg was the financial officer and deputy chief of operations for the Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB) located in New Orleans, Louisiana, an economically challenged (98% free and reduced lunch) predominantly African American community. He was recruited to New Orleans Public Schools to assist the district in its unification of 78 charter schools to local control. In addition, Trautenberg lead the transformation of the finance division from a compliance entity into a shared services consultative organization.
Prior to his recruitment to OPSB in 2017, David was formerly chief financial officer of the Aurora Public Schools, a large semi-urban and predominantly Latin-X district in Colorado. There, he focused on helping the district align and optimize financial resources to improve students’ outcomes, culminating in the passage and issuance of a $330 million municipal bond financing.
His career path is unusual; before his school district appointments, Trautenberg spent over 2 decades on Wall Street as an investment strategist and managing director. He earned his doctorate and master’s degree in education from the University of Pennsylvania, an additional MA from Leeds University’s (UK) School of Education, his BA from the University of Pennsylvania, and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Urban School Districts
AlignK12 Educational Consulting, New Orleans, LA
Principal
Garfield Re-2 School District, Rifle, CO
At the request of Hazard Young national education search consultants, as an “essential person” conducting on-site forensic accounting and budgeting analysis of Garfield Re-2 school system, necessitated by systemic breakdown in which neither cash entries nor quarterly reports were done over an 18-month period.
During first 30 days, assessed the financial needs of the district, recruited a Virtual Finance Team (VTF) to identify, isolate and correct deficiencies in Accounting, Budgeting and Forecasting and Grants/Federal Funding reimbursements and provided an assessment to the Board of finance department’s operational capacity and longer term staffing needs.
Building 5-year forecasting model to support district’s efforts to modeling financial projections during Covid-19, Pandemic, providing staffing options that support budget conservation and conducting community engagement sessions to rebuild district’s financial integrity and transparency. .
Omaha Public Schools, Omaha, NE
Under the auspices of the Superintendent, recently completed a forensic review of Omaha Public Schools (OPS) financial planning, budgeting and allocation process.
Charged with identifying general fund, operational and categorical spending continuities and discontinuities that impact OPS’ ability to support and sustain 2025 Strategic Plan and its over 80 schools.
Presented findings and recommendations to OPS’ Board of Education and Leadership Cabinet to inform and enhance strategic planning and goal setting, including realigning over $30 million in funding.
New Orleans Public Schools (Orleans Parish School Board)
Chief Financial Officer and Deputy Chief of Operations; District Leadership Team Member
Responsible for reculturing Division of Finance to align human capital and financial resources to support the return of all schools, including 78 charters, under local school board control
Strategically manage $1 BLN capital budget ($403MM general fund budget) for 42nd-largest school district in the US (50,000 students, 80 school sites)
Restructured Accounting, Budget and Nutrition Services Departments, including the hiring/onboarding of new Budget, Accounting and Payroll Managers
Restructured Federal Programs and Federal Funding, resulting in a 20% reduction in expenses while increasing compliance standards and claims reliability
Commenced the district’s first-ever CAFR
Aurora Public Schools, Aurora, CO
Chief Financial Officer
Chief Financial Officer Strategically managed $720MM capital budget ($380MM general fund budget) for 5th-largest school district in Colorado (41,700 students, 61 school sites) and 115th-largest school district in U.S. Reported directly to superintendent, served as member of district’s Leadership Team and Board of Education (BOE) negotiating team and on-going monitoring of fiscal integrity. Oversaw Division of Finance (365 staff), including Accounting, Accounts Payable, Budget, Grants and Federal Programs, Nutrition Services, Payroll, Risk Management, Warehouse, and Print Services.
Corporate Experience
Oppenheimer & Company, Denver, CO
Negotiated selling agreement to market Spectrum Fund, a fixed-income hedge fund specializing in asset-backed securities
Marketed fund to institutional and ultra-high-net-worth investors, resulting in total raise of $125MM
Standard Steam Trust (SST), Denver, CO
Managed capital raising and capital formation of early-stage geothermal-exploration company
Positioned SST for Q4 2009 IPO on Toronto Stock Exchange, including negotiating with underwriters, interfacing with legal and accounting, and coordinating roadshow strategy to maximize investor participation
Negotiated sale of advanced-stage geothermal properties to industry participants, generating 3X ROI in 18 months
Credit Suisse Securities LLC/Private Banking USA Jackson, WY/Los Angeles, CA
Served as senior relationship manager for ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, and financial entities
Cross-sold firm’s capabilities/products in restricted stock, 10b5-1 selling programs, hedging, monetization of concentrated equity positions, asset allocation, and asset-manager selection
Established largest revenue-generating derivatives program within Private Banking USA division
Generated $1.45MM in gross commissions from zero base within 14 calendar months (2005–2006); $1.25MM (2007); $1.05MM (2008); and $750K (first six months of 2009)
Salomon Brothers Inc./Smith Barney/Citigroup Inc. New York, NY
Developed business plan for and founded start-up unit to represent and cross-sell firm’s capabilities in securities trading, derivatives, prime brokerage, underwriting, M&A, and asset management to individuals with liquid net worth exceeding $10MM; full P&L responsibility managing a team of twelve
Executed over $1BN in fixed-income an d equity derivative trades
Substantial capital markets experience in municipal and fixed asset financings