David Quinn is an American actor, entrepreneur and teacher, currently serving as the Director of IB Programs and IB Diploma Coordinator in The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme at Harlem Village Academies Charter schools in New York City. In 2014, he founded The High School Counselor Challenge,Chronicle of Higher Education article a national social-media campaign with the goal of getting more public-school counselors from underserved communities to one of the admission profession's premier gatherings: The annual NACAC conference.
As an educator, Quinn is a 2009 Recipient of the US Presidential Scholars Program's Teacher Recognition Award.2009 Presidential Scholars Yearbook page 61 In 2013, Quinn was honored by Northwestern University as one of the Distinguished Secondary Teachers in America.Five high school teachers are the recipients of the Northwestern University Distinguished Secondary Teacher Awards In 2013, he was selected as a Claes Nobel Educator of the Year and named one of the top ten educators in America.
Quinn began acting at the age of four, starting out as a regular on the enduring children's program Sesame Street. Between 1986–1988, he was the host of 3-2-1 Contact, the educational science series produced for The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). In 1988, he hosted the TV series "I Have AIDS, A Teenager's Story" with noted AIDS advocate, Ryan White. The program won the Peabody Award.IMDB entry for Peabody Awards 1989 As a teen, Quinn went to noted performing arts training center Stagedoor Manor in New York for many summers, and roomed with friend Jon Cryer.New Yorker article on Theatre Geek In 2026, at the celebration of Stagedoor Manor’s 50th Anniversary, Quinn was named the inaugural winner of the Lifetime Camper Award for his service to alumni, education, and the arts. In 1985, Quinn performed in the original Live Aid concert in Philadelphia, singing in the show's finale with the group "Children to Children". During his television career, Quinn appeared in numerous commercials and television programs before embarking on simultaneous careers in business and education.
In 1993, Quinn left acting for the field of secondary education. He earned a B.A. (English/Anthropology-Archaeology) and an M.Ed. from the University of Washington.University of Washington Newsletter While at the University of Washington, Quinn co-founded Allrecipes.com and became a founding partner of the Pinpoint Venture Group, which invests in startup companies in the Pacific Northwest. In 2003, he was a recipient of the Puget Sound Business Journal's 40 Under 40 Award, honoring young leaders in Seattle's business and philanthropic community.List of winners of 40 under 40 Award In April 2006, Quinn sold Allrecipes to Reader's Digest. Quinn also founded ZC Entertainment in Los Angeles, which creates celebrity-based charity events for major corporations.Pinpoint Ventures Bio for David Quinn In August 2007, Quinn sold ZC Entertainment to SportsQuest, Inc.ZC Entertainment Acquired by SportsQuest, Inc In 2010, Quinn returned to filmmaking, serving as Associate Producer of Order of Chaos, starring Milo Ventimiglia.
Currently, Quinn serves as an Artistic Advisor to the American Playwriting Foundation and sits on two advisory boards: SeriesFest,SeriesFest a showcase for new pilots from established and emerging content creators, and The AXS Foundation The AXS Foundation which focuses on increasing higher education access by simplifying the complex college application process. While in Seattle, Quinn served on the board of trustees of the 5th Avenue Theatre5th Avenue Theatre Board of Directors and on the board of directors of the Seattle Repertory Theatre.
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