Meet Dave Sabol '99: Where Curiosity, Compassion and Leadership Meet

Dedicated, service-oriented, creative, multi-talented, compassionate leader—these were just a few of the words used to describe the Saint Ignatius Class of 1999 Conor J. Murphy ’98 Bellringer Award recipient during his senior year. Twenty-seven years later, those same qualities still define David Sabol ’99, now Assistant Principal for Academics at Saint Ignatius High School.

Sabol grew up in Seven Hills and attended St. Michael School in Independence before arriving at Saint Ignatius in 1995. He recalls the Summer Enrichment Program (SEP) before freshman year as formative, introducing him to classmates who would become friends. At Saint Ignatius, he immersed himself in theater, speech and debate, music, and service opportunities. By junior year, he had a clear goal: become a math teacher, ideally at his alma mater. He attended Loyola University Maryland because of its Jesuit approach to education. Though he remained open to changing majors, math stayed with him.

After graduating from Loyola in 2003, Sabol joined the Jesuit Volunteer Corps and spent a year in Los Angeles helping individuals coming out of incarceration, homelessness, or addiction build resumes and find employment. “I wanted life experience,” he said. “I didn’t want to go straight from being a student to teaching students.” He spent a second year in Baltimore working with individuals recovering from mental illness. The work was meaningful but demanding. “It changed how I think about supporting people and the importance of it,” he said.

In 2005, Sabol returned to Cleveland and taught for one year at Cleveland Central Catholic before a position opened at Saint Ignatius. He joined the Math Department in 2006. Over the next 15 years, he taught nearly every math course offered at the school. His teaching style emphasized curiosity and experimentation. He often compared learning math to playing video games. “You don’t read the manual first,” he said. “You try things, learn patterns, and ask for help when you need it.” For Sabol, math was never simply black and white. “At a higher level, it’s about creativity,” he explained. “It’s about seeing patterns, exploring possibilities, and figuring out what works.”

Although working in Administration did not initially interest him, Sabol eventually became Math Department Chair, a position he held for nearly a decade. He focused on student placement, building systems to analyze data and ensure students were enrolled in the right courses. “There is a linear progression to math,” he said. “Placement matters a lot. We needed good systems to get it right.”

That same curiosity about systems and problem solving eventually led him to apply for the Assistant Principal role. Now in his fifth year, Sabol oversees school-wide academic processes and support systems. “I’m not competitive,” he said. “I’m curious.” That curiosity drives much of his work. Whether refining schedules, organizing academic data, or identifying students who need support, Sabol focuses on building systems that work effectively for the entire school community. “How do you make something work for 1,400 students?” he said. It is critical to make it clear, consistent, and effective.  

Many colleagues describe him as a “data wizard,” though he downplays the title. “I think people say that because I’m good with spreadsheets,” he joked. He believes his strength lies in the interpretation of data and how it is communicated. “If data is useful, it’s because it is presented in a way people understand and can act on,” he said. Ultimately, his goal is to remove obstacles. “I’m no longer in the classroom,” he said. “But I can clear the path between teachers and students.”

Recently, that work has expanded into conversations about artificial intelligence (AI) and education. Sabol has helped the school consider how AI can support teaching and learning without replacing critical thinking. “AI can be a powerful tool,” he said. “But if students rely on it too much, it limits their growth.”

Outside of school, Sabol’s interests are quieter but equally thoughtful. He collects vinyl records and appreciates the intentionality of listening. He is also deeply interested in storytelling and school history, currently working on the preservation of oral histories from alumni, faculty, and staff.

Sabol is energized by his work and its constant evolution. “There is always more to figure out.” Much of Sabol’s work happens behind the scenes, but his impact is felt throughout the school. “If I’m doing my job right,” he said, “teachers and students can just focus on what matters.” In many ways, the qualities recognized in him as a student still define him today: curious, compassionate, and quietly impactful.