Massachusetts' 2024 Teacher of the Year is making history

De'Shawn Washington, a fourth-grade teacher at Maria Hastings Elementary School in Lexington, has been named the 2024 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year.

De’Shawn’s dedication to teaching leadership and conflict resolution skills to his students helped set him apart from his peers, earning him the state's top award for educators.

Today on The Common, we take you to Lexington to learn more about what brought De'Shawn to teaching, how he hopes to advocate for teachers and students alike during his tenure as Teacher of the Year, and what it means to him to be the first Black male recipient of the award in Massachusetts.