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David Leitch

Dave Leitch, JD, PhD

Associate Professor of Special Education

Biography

Professor Leitch came to Cedarville with a diverse background. He served as a youth pastor at a church outside of Chicago for two years. He then served five years as an Air Force nuclear missile launch officer. Next, maintained a private law practice for more than 10 years. Since moving into the special education field, Professor Leitch has worked as an intervention specialist in a public middle school and a juvenile correctional facility. His interests mirror his vocational experience with a particular passion for special education law, juvenile corrections, and the impact of religion on individuals with moderate to severe disabilities.

Education and Credentials

  • Ph.D., Kent State University 
  • J.D., Cleveland State University
  • M.Ed., Cleveland State University
  • M.S., Central Michigan University
  • B.S., Baptist Bible College of Pennsylvania

Scholarly Works

  • A Legal Primer for Special Educators in Juvenile Corrections: From Idea to Current Class Action Lawsuits (David B. Leitch) Journal of Correctional Education (2013)
  • Conference Presentations (18)   Applied Behavior Analysis for Homeschoolers (David B. Leitch) Midwest Homeschool Convention (2018)  
  • When Problem Behavior Impacts Learning (David B. Leitch) Association of Christian Schools International Early Childhood Conference (2017)
  • Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports: What It Is and How It Works (David B. Leitch, A. Cornwell, R. Davis, et al.) Ohio Correctional Education Association Conference (2016)
  • Implementing Schoolwide Positive Behavior Support in Juvenile Corrections (David B. Leitch) Council for Children with Behavioral Disorders International Conference (2015)

Interests

  • Hobbies: Strategy games; Cleveland sports teams, in conjunction with developing the character trait of long-suffering
  • Why I'm at Cedarville: Cedarville has been a part of my life and heritage for many years. My grandfather, George Dunn, was chairman of the Board of Trustees when the Cleveland group of Baptists assumed responsibility for Cedarville College. Numerous family members have connections to Cedarville, including my mother who attended Cedarville in the 1950s. In addition, my wife is a graduate of Cedarville, as are two of my children.

Expert Topics

  • Special Education in Christian Schools 
  • Special Education Law 
  • Behavior Management 
  • Assessment and Differentiated Instruction