Testimony of Dr. De’Shawn Washington, City On A Hill Alumnus, In Opposition to Section 4 of the Thrive Act, S.374
November 12, 2025 | Dr. De’Shawn Washington, City On A Hill Alumnus
Good afternoon. My name is Dr. De’Shawn Washington. I began my teaching career in Boston Public Schools before moving to Lexington Public Schools. In 2024, I had the distinct honor of becoming the first black male educator to be recognized as the Massachusetts Teacher of the Year.
I believe deeply in the power of public education, which includes traditional public schools that I taught in, as well as charter public schools, which I attended as a student.
As a product of a charter public school, I was incredibly lucky back in 2005, when my name was drawn in the random admissions lottery for City on a Hill Charter Public School.
At City on a Hill, which we called COAH, I was both challenged as a student and supported as a leader in becoming the passionate educator I am today. At COAH, I was provided opportunities to use my voice in advocacy of school policy while leveraging curiosity to connect learning with life experiences. I was taught how to organize my materials, prioritize my assignments; to this day, I carry a planner everywhere I go, just like COAH taught me to do. COAH’s mission focused on developing responsible citizens with upstanding character, and it is there that I developed these skills in becoming a public servant. If it were not for COAH, I can say with certainty, I would not have become a teacher, much less the Teacher of the Year. Put simply, I would not be the person I am today without COAH Charter Public School.
As an educator, I am hopeful that all members of the public education community will recognize the importance of supporting and expanding public school options that are already making a positive impact on the academic achievement and outcomes of our students. All types of public schools play an important role in ensuring we Cultivate a community of Changemakers who are empowered, inspired, and moved to use their curiosity towards making our great state an even better place to live.
Please reject Section 4 of S.374.
Thank you.
Charter public school alumni, leaders, board members, parents, and educators testified before the Joint Committee on Education on November 12th, 2025, expressing unified opposition to Section 4 of the Thrive Act (S.374). Their testimony highlighted how the proposal would eliminate high-quality public school options, undermine strong student outcomes, and restrict access for families – particularly in the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable communities. Together, their perspectives underscored the urgent need to preserve effective charter public school seats and protect the educational opportunities students rely on.
