Ep13 Dr. De'Shawn C. Washington, Ed.D., Statewide Teacher of The Year: Leadership Development podcast
Podcast: LEADERSHIP MESSENGERS™ with Ovi VasquezPublished On: Wed Dec 17 2025
Description: What questions do you want asked at in the show? HOST: This leadership development podcast is brought to you by: Ovi Vasquez, Inspirational Leadership Keynote Speaker. Fatherless farm boy from rural Guatemala—Inspiring teams to peak performance. He challenges teams to embrace change and step into bold leadership through leadership culture. He grew up in a village without electricity, learned English in two years, graduated from high school in three years, earned a B.A. in management, in two years. Ovi has worked for Apple, Tesla, Salesforce, and Uber. He is a TEDx speaker, author, and social entrepreneur. r. GUEST: Dr. De’Shawn C. Washington is the 2024 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year and Founder of Cultivating Changemakers, LLC. He is an educator, author, and national speaker focused on literacy, financial education, and equity, helping schools create joyful, student-centered learning environments. Find our guest at: https://www.cultivatingchangemakersllc.org Find our host at: https://www.ovinspires.comLeadership Keywords: educational equity, teacher development, Gen Z leadership, student-centered learning, restorative practices, financial literacy, classroom culture, youth empowerment, instructional coaching, values-driven leadership Leadership Summary: In this episode, Dr. Washington shares how he went from struggling new teacher to statewide leader. He explains how the “CRAZY” framework builds strong classroom systems, student voice, and trust. His stories highlight the impact of mentors, morning meetings, and culturally affirming spaces. Leaders in education and corporate spaces will find practical strategies to build emotional safety and high performance. 10 Takeaways on Leadership ✅ See talent beyond today ✅ Feedback is support ✅ Mentorship creates legacy ✅ Kids need voice, not control ✅ Normalize financial education ✅ Build systems, not quick fixes ✅ Praise effort, not perfection ✅ Teach through relationships ✅ Stay aligned with your purpose ✅ Develop routines that grow trust 5 Titles for Leadership ✅ From Classroom Chaos to CRAZY Framework ✅ Dr. Washington’s Blueprint for Teaching with Purpose ✅ Every Teacher Was Once a Learner ✅ What Students Teach Us About Leading ✅ Why Financial Literacy Belongs in Every School 5 Sound Bites for Leadership 🗣 “Your story gets better when you add others to it.” 🗣 “Joy is the goal, structure is the tool.” 🗣 “Teaching is the profession that builds all others.” 🗣 “You need mentors older and younger than you.” 🗣 “We are models of learning, not perfection.” 10 Chapters on Leadership 00:00 – Meet Dr. Washington 03:00 – Serving Massachusetts Students 06:00 – Reading With Grandma 09:00 – Business or Education? 12:00 – Failing, Learning, Rising 15:00 – Student Voice and Community 20:00 – The CRAZY Framework 25:00 – Financial Literacy for Kids 30:00 – Lessons from Losing Focus 35:00 – Tools, Books, and Final Advice #OVinspires #LeadershipMessengers #leadership #community Leadership Culture podcast Top Management podcast Business leadership podcast Executive leadership podcast Organizational leadership podcast Transformational leadership podcast Top Leadership podcast for managers Building High-Performance Teams podcast Corporate leadership podcast School leadership podcast Educational leadership podcast Professional Development podcast Change Management podcast Corporate leadership podcast
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