098: Literacy, Money, and Joy: Building a Generation of Changemakers with Dr. De'Shawn Washington

<p>What does it mean to truly prepare students for life?</p><p></p><p>In episode 98 of SELinEDU, I sit down with Dr. De'Shawn Washington, 2024 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year and founder of Cultivating Changemakers, for a conversation that weaves together three things every student deserves: the ability to read, the knowledge to manage money, and the freedom to learn with joy.<br /></p><p>We dig into why over 60% of Massachusetts third graders are reading below grade level, why less than 10% of students are getting financial literacy education, and why neither of those things can be fixed without joy at the center of how we teach.<br /></p><p>Dr. Washington reminds us that joy is not a reward for academic success. It lives within us, and it is our job as educators to help students find it, name it, and keep it.<br /></p><p>This one is worth your full attention.<br /><br />Connect with Dr. Washington via his <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="www.cultivatingchangemakersllc.org" target="_blank">website</a> and <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/deshawncwashington/" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>!</p>