Letter from Founder
I founded Chestnut State to provide mentorship and guidance to adolescents. Addressing adolescents as individuals, I listen and learn with them along the way, push them to challenge themselves and their self-limiting beliefs, make them self-reflect and analyze themselves, and help them find a vision for their future.
Through coaching, students gain insight, grow secure with themselves, and become more emphatic, more strategic, more interested, and more engaged. When this occurs, they ask questions, continue to wonder, and find hope in tomorrow. Chestnut’s teaching approach pushes students to wrestle with material in order to reflect on who they are, ultimately learning more about themselves and their world. A young person’s mind is so capable and flexible, but so susceptible to becoming numb and static— addressing it robustly is absolutely critical.
Adolescents face a complicated world: one of economic instability, social media toxicity, academic pressure, historic college competitiveness, and the loss of interconnectedness and community. Developing young people as comprehensively as possible— intellectually, socially, and emotionally— is vital to their overall growth and fulfillment. Each area supports the others; one area is strengthened when another is addressed. This principle is vital to the work I do.
When taken together, young people develop in a way that I find truly inspiring. They find connection with themselves, develop deeper intellectual ability, build a larger worldview, and aim for purposeful living, one connected to the human condition.
David
About David
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David Joseph Issabey
FOUNDER & DIRECTOR
David has worked with students and families for more than a decade through teaching, academic planning, college admissions counseling, and developmental mentorship. He began his work in education while attending graduate school, directing educational programming for students from underserved communities. He later led educational programs, supervised teachers, and advised hundreds of students and families before founding Chestnut State in 2023.
David brings a wealth of experience applying to academic programs, having been accepted to college, law school, graduate school, and medical school. He earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from DePaul University, where his graduate work focused on political philosophy and the role of education in society.
He is also the author of Developing the Adolescent, a handbook examining adolescent development, learning, mentorship, family dynamics, and the pressures facing young people today.
Read a more complete bio here.
Academic Partners
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Having earned a graduate degree from Northwestern University, Maraya is a professional engineer, and former student of David’s. She brings a very personable and accessible approach, allowing students to move through material thoughtfully.
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A professional math coach, Yingying earned her graduate degree from Boston University. She seamlessly blends genuine understanding with a straightforward approach. She is sweet and tough, and all at the same time.
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A PhD student in cancer biology at Sloan Kettering, Samuel is an experienced teacher, having worked with a diverse group of students. His reason for joining Chestnut State was prompted by his shared perspective of how teaching ought to look.