Monica Washington

2014 Texas Teacher of the Year

Monica Washington is the founder of M.U.S.E. Education, and through her work, helps educators create meaningful, uplifting student experiences. A decorated educator of over twenty-five 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. Through M.U.S.E., Monica supports educators through workshops, speaking engagements, and blogging. In 2021, Brightbeam named Monica one of the top twenty-one rising women in the country for her equity and advocacy work.  Monica is passionate about educational equity, and she serves as an Ambassador for Equity for the Education Civil Rights Alliance. Additionally, she serves on the Board of Directors for the National Education Association Foundation and The National Network of State Teachers of the Year. Monica is the 2014 Texas Teacher of the Year and a 2023 inductee into the National Teachers Hall of Fame.