Monica Washington

A decorated educator of over twenty years, Monica has received honors and awards from a wide variety of organizations for her leadership, advocacy, and classroom instruction. She is a 2015 Milken Unsung Hero Fellow and a 2015 NEA Foundation Global Fellow. In addition to instructional coaching, Monica supports teachers through workshops, speaking engagements, and blogging for Education Week and Education Post. Her “4 Things Great Principals Don’t Do” was the most read and shared Education Week post of 2017. Monica is passionate about creating equitable and inclusive school environments that celebrate teacher and student voice, and she serves as Leading Educator Ambassador for Equity for the Education Civil Rights Alliance. Additionally, she serves on the Board of Directors for the National Education Association Foundation. Monica is the 2014 Texas Teacher of the Year.

Posts By Monica Washington

Teaching

Teaching Critical Thinking? Start with Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Performance

Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime performance gave America the discussion starter it needs right now, and it reminded many educators of the best ingredients for a lesson plan. Rich in...

Teaching

Your Teacher Voice Is Strong. Use It.

Not everyone who talks about teacher voice really wants to hear it. Take a peek into many schools and this is what you might see. A veteran teacher shares an idea she has about improving school...

bias

Ava Duvernay’s ‘When They See Us’ Is Unfolding Right in Our Schools

When you see them, they may be laughing, talking loudly, listening to music that is not your music. They may be dressed in clothes that are not your clothes, speaking words that are not like yours....

Politics

Would We Advocate for Boys in Hoodies the Way We Advocate for Boys in MAGA Hats?

Educational empathy. That’s what guides me in my work with students. It’s the very foundation of my educational advocacy. “How would a student feel if I introduced the lesson this way?” “If I were in...

Diversity

Start the School Year With Equity in Mind

I’ve always liked the beginning of the school year much more than I like the ending. There is a mad rush at the end of the year that precedes that final bell. Compare that to the beginning of the...

Teaching

Hey Kanye, I'm an English Teacher But I've Got a History Lesson for You

Welcome to my class, Kanye. Before you arrived, I read this quote from you telling me that learning is important to you and that you are good at absorbing information. “I was never really good at...