AME Wins Massachusetts Teacher of the Year for 2023

The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced that De’Shawn C. Washington, a fourth-grade inclusion teacher at Maria Hastings Elementary School in Lexington, is the 2024 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year. Education Secretary Patrick A. Tutwiler joined Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley to make the announcement during an assembly at the school.

The Massachusetts Teacher of the Year Program is the state’s top award for educators and annually recognizes excellence in teaching across Massachusetts through the selection of a teacher who exemplifies the dedication, commitment, and positive contributions of educators statewide.

“We’ve heard from students, fellow educators, and administrators that Mr. Washington is skilled at building a classroom and school community where everyone is valued and nurtured,” said Governor Maura Healey. “We deeply appreciate the contributions of Mr. Washington and are proud to have him represent Massachusetts’ incredible teaching force.”

“Mr. Washington represents the very best of our educators. He helps students learn leadership and conflict resolution skills while emphasizing the joy of learning,” said Lt. Governor Driscoll. “We are grateful for his hard work and for the work that all of our teachers do every day.”

Mr. Washington is the first Black male to become Massachusetts Teacher of the Year and the fourth winner from Lexington. He is the 62nd recipient of this award and automatically becomes Massachusetts’ candidate for the National Teacher of the Year program.

Mr. Washington is in his seventh and fourth year of teaching at Hastings Elementary. He works carefully to create a supportive classroom community where students know each other, handle conflicts constructively, and feel comfortable enough to participate and take risks. His students work on conflict resolution daily, sitting in a circle to discuss concerns they have with each other or conflicts within or outside of school that might be impacting their friendships. In those restorative circles, he teaches students to speak from the heart, listen with their heart, acknowledge their own and others’ behavior, and apologize for or forgive the conflict.

“It’s a pleasure to celebrate Mr. Washington, his colleagues, and his students today. Mr. Washington has demonstrated the importance of recognizing his students for who they are and supporting them in achieving their individual goals, all with an eye toward growth and learning,” said Education Secretary Dr. Patrick Tutwiler. “The impact of a caring teacher and an inclusive classroom is immeasurable, and Mr. Washington’s work is a credit to the profession.”

“Mr. Washington creates joyful, meaningful lessons for his students that also build a strong classroom and school community,” said Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley. “It’s an honor to recognize him and the amazing teachers he represents here in Massachusetts.”

Mr. Washington makes a point of learning about his students. One of his favorite ways to start the year is to have students discuss their visible and invisible identities and learn about their names by interviewing their family members. At the end of the unit, students – and Mr. Washington – make posters about who they are and hang them on the classroom walls. Students can change their posters to reflect their personal growth over the year.

A strong believer in developing students’ skills as advocates, Mr. Washington oversaw his previous class advocate for one longer recess instead of two short recesses, and he is one of the people helping to launch the school’s Student Leadership Team, a group of fourth and fifth graders who can help plan schoolwide events and offer a student perspective on other facets of school life. His goal as a teacher is to cultivate changemakers and develop students’ agency with respect to their learning and their community.

In addition to his work in the classroom, Mr. Washington is a member of his district’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Community Input Team and the School Site Council. Outside of school, he runs workshops at UMass Boston to help teacher candidates pass the Massachusetts Tests for Education Licensure, has presented and published on culturally responsive instruction, and volunteers at his church and as a Big Brother.

Mr. Washington, a Boston resident and member of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Boston, taught elementary school in Boston Public Schools before joining Hastings Elementary. He is a graduate of City on a Hill Charter Public School in Boston. He earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from the University of Massachusetts Boston, and he also holds two master’s degrees, one in elementary education and one in special education, both from UMass Boston. Mr. Washington is currently working on a doctorate in educational leadership and policy from Vanderbilt University.

“De’Shawn Washington is an outstanding human being. Education as a profession appeals to outstanding people, so Mr. Washington is right where he should be,” said Sen. Michael J. Barrett (D-Lexington), assistant majority leader. “Here’s to him and his fellow Lexington teachers for work well done.”

“Massachusetts is so fortunate to have passionate, dedicated, and caring teachers educating our young learners, and Lexington is even more fortunate to have the 2024 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year in the classroom,” said Sen. Cindy Friedman (D-Arlington), vice chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “We owe congratulations to De’Shawn Washington for achieving this recognition, but we also owe a debt of gratitude for his commitment to one of the most important and impactful jobs our society has – a classroom teacher.”

The selection process for the 2024 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year began in January with a call for nominations from administrators, teachers, students, parents, and others. An initial review of each nominated teacher’s application led to the selection of 10 semifinalists, who then submitted additional supporting material. Four finalists were selected and interviewed by a panel that included prior Massachusetts Teachers of the Year. That panel then recommended Mr. Washington to Commissioner Riley….

“Mr. Washington’s commitment to building a joyful learning community is an asset to his school and to our district,” said Lexington Superintendent Julie Hackett. “He is an exceptional teacher who inspires his students to work hard and contribute to one another’s success. Mr. Washington has the respect and admiration of our entire school community, and it is heartwarming to see him share this honor with his students and colleagues.”

“I can’t say enough about Mr. Washington’s ability to build a learning community that invites ALL students into his class,” said Hastings Principal Christopher Wai. “I’m proud to see him honored today, and I’m happy to work with such a strong team of educators.”

“As a teacher, advocate, student, and a cultivator of young changemakers, it is my duty to continuously learn how to empower my students to not only master grade-level standards but to be upstanding individuals with the capacity to ignite change in their communities,” Mr. Washington said.