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 off-the-grid, migrated to the U.S., 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 a social entrepreneur.

GUEST: Connie Hall, the 2023 Nevada State Teacher of the Year, is currently a Kindergarten teacher for the Washoe County School District in Nevada. She is very enthusiastic about teaching children, helping other teachers and families, and supporting her community. One of her primary goals is to build meaningful relationships with those within her sphere of influence. And she gets great joy from former students who come back to share how she was instrumental in their successes.

Find our guest at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/connie-hall-340344141

Find our host at: https://www.ovinspires.com

Leadership Keywords: educational leadership, teacher development, values-based leadership, relational leadership, talent retention, early education, mentorship, classroom culture, education equity, SEL, community impact

Leadership Summary:
In this episode, Connie Hall shares how growing up quiet and overlooked shaped her into a leader fueled by love, faith, and consistency. From volunteering as a teen to national recognitions, Connie reflects on how showing up with excellence, empathy, and honesty keeps teams strong. She shares actionable insights for retaining talent and nurturing a culture of trust in both schools and corporations.

10 Takeaways on Leadership
✅ Show up professionally
✅ Celebrate others' wins
✅ Create safe spaces
✅ Lead through listening
✅ Stay grounded in values
✅ Uplift the next generation
✅ Retain talent by removing stress
✅ Don’t forget the front lines
✅ Let care drive decisions
✅ Speak with confidence and truth

5 Titles for Leadership
✅ From Quiet Kid to State Teacher of the Year
✅ Love Is the Leadership Strategy
✅ Why Real Leaders Remember the Front Line
✅ The Power of Showing Up Well
✅ Teach, Lead, and Still Care

5 Sound Bites for Leadership
🗣 “You don’t quit. You keep moving forward.”
🗣 “Be willing. That’s where the doors open.”
🗣 “I don’t train to be better than you, I train to be better than me yesterday.”
🗣 “A leader should want everyone around them to grow.”
🗣 “You lead by creating a safe space.”

10 Chapters on Leadership
00:00 – Meet Connie Hall
04:00 – Her Teaching Philosophy
08:00 – Early Life in a Two-Room School
11:00 – College Lessons That Sparked Her Path
14:00 – Mentors Who Believed In Her
17:00 – How Visibility Opens Opportunity
21:00 – Grit, Faith, and Relentless Drive
26:00 – Values Every Leader Should Show
31:00 – Retaining Talent Through Listening
40:00 – Personal Reflections and Legacy

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Leadership Culture podcast
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Executive leadership podcast
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Transformational leadership podcast
Top Leadership podcast for managers
Building High-Performance Teams podcast
Corporate leadership podcast
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Educational leadership podcast
Professional Development podcast
Change Management podcast

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 off-the-grid, migrated to the U.S., 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 a social entrepreneur.

GUEST BIO: Noé Lemus-Diaz is a GTM strategy and operations leader at LinkedIn Marketing Solutions, building scalable commercial systems across Sales, Deal Desk, Pricing, Finance, Legal, and Product. He turns complex, high-stakes deals into clear governance, decision frameworks, and operating rhythms that protect revenue, increase velocity, and reduce friction. He’s focused on AI-first ops and expanding career pipelines for underrepresented talent.

Find our guest at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nld
Find our host at: https://www.ovinspires.com

Leadership Keywords: leadership development, Latino leadership, GTM strategy, inclusive leadership, AVID, educational equity, operations excellence, mental models, mentorship, employee experience, career access, AI tools, LinkedIn, resilient leadership

Leadership Summary:
Noe Lemus shares how growing up in a farmworker family shaped his values and mental models for leading in tech. He breaks down how AVID taught transferable skills, why showing up builds trust, and how reflection powers resilience. His practical advice bridges education, identity, and corporate leadership.

10 Takeaways on Leadership
✅ Lead by showing up
✅ Mental models solve real problems
✅ Don’t wait to be ready to lead
✅ Equity starts with perspective
✅ Give space, then listen
✅ Family shapes leadership
✅ Create balance with purpose
✅ Let talent rise before judging
✅ Advocate without shame
✅ Reflect to overcome

5 Titles for Leadership
✅ From Farm Fields to LinkedIn Strategy
✅ AVID Lessons for Corporate Success
✅ Leading Without Permission
✅ Mental Models in Motion
✅ How Resilience Builds Belonging

5 Sound Bites for Leadership
🗣 “If no one steps up, you must.”
🗣 “Copy how they speak until your voice forms.”
🗣 “My sister led so we didn’t have to pick fruit.”
🗣 “Being Latino shaped me more than I thought.”
🗣 “Show up. That’s leadership.”

10 Chapters on Leadership
00:00 – Meet Noe Lemus
02:00 – From AVID Student to LinkedIn Leader
05:00 – Early Role Models and Latino Educators
08:00 – Corporate Lessons from Rural Life
12:00 – College Challenges and First-Gen Barriers
17:00 – Identity, Leadership, and Family Roles
21:00 – Mental Models and Ray Dalio
24:00 – Avoiding Burnout and Building Belonging
28:00 – Spotting Untapped Talent
32:00 – AI, Tools, and Final Advice

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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

HOST: 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. He grew up in a village off-the-grid, migrated to the U.S., 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 a social entrepreneur.

GUEST BIO: Meet Dr. Alex Alejandro Jauregui, a lifelong advocate for emergent bilinguals whose work in Buena Park School District, the Cotsen Foundation, and Biola University centers one belief: students’ heritage languages and cultures are powerful assets. He partners with teachers and coaches to design classrooms where translanguaging is welcomed, biliteracy is the goal, and every child’s story is seen, heard, and honored.

Find our guest at: https://cotsen.org
Find our host at: https://www.ovinspires.com

Leadership Keywords:
educator development, teacher coaching, emergent bilinguals, biliteracy, educational equity, translanguaging, instructional leadership, mentorship, values-based leadership, Latino leadership, student identity, professional growth, community voice

Leadership Summary: Dr. Alex Alejandro Jauregui shares his path from East LA to becoming a statewide education leader and coach. Rooted in family, faith, and bilingual pride, he highlights how mentors and early experiences shaped his values. From janitor to Teacher of the Year, he models servant leadership and explains how the Cotsen coaching model supports teacher growth. His story offers a guide for leaders who build trust and empower others through listening and gratitude.

10 Takeaways on Leadership
✅ Mentorship is an obligation, not a bonus
✅ Leaders must model empathy, not perfection
✅ Make failure safe and part of growth
✅ Every teacher deserves a coach
✅ Coaching should be relational, not evaluative
✅ Translanguaging builds student confidence
✅ Family values shape leadership
✅ Every team member brings cultural assets
✅ AI tools like Perplexity and Canva enhance productivity
✅ Free resources like Libby and LOC.gov increase access

5 Titles for Leadership
✅ From Janitor to Doctor: A Leadership Journey Rooted in Faith
✅ Why Every Teacher Deserves a Coach
✅ Music, Mentorship, and Meaning: Leading With Connection
✅ Bilingual and Blessed: Empowering the Next Generation
✅ Gratitude, Grit, and Growth: Dr. Jauregui’s Road to Impact

5 Sound Bites for Leadership
🗣 “Mentorship is walking alongside someone, not above them.”
🗣 “You will be bilingual. You will use your voice.”
🗣 “Failure isn’t the end. It’s where growth begins.”
🗣 “Every teacher needs a coach, not just new ones.”
🗣 “Hard conversations require curiosity, not judgment.”

Chapters
03:00 – 31 Years in Buena Park
05:00 – Abuelita’s Influence
08:00 – Ballet Folklorico, Flute, and Faith
13:00 – Paying for School Through Janitorial Work
18:00 – Mentoring Gen Z and Gen Alpha
21:00 – Coaching Frameworks From Cotsen
28:00 – Doctorate, Teaching Awards, and Vision
34:00 – Books, Tools, and Final Leadership Wisdom

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Top podcast for executives
Top podcast for corporate leaders
Top podcast on leadership
Top podcast for school superintendents
Top podcast for college professionals
Top podcast for educators
Top podcast for teachers
Top podcast on Leadership Development
Top podcast on Social impact

HOST: 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. He grew up in a village off-the-grid, migrated to the U.S., 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 a social entrepreneur.

GUEST BIO: Jeff Bettinger is a global CHRO & board-level advisor who partners with CEOs and investors to unlock growth through people, culture, and leadership. With 20+ years across Fortune 100/500, high-growth, and PE-backed companies, he’s led transformation through M&A, IPOs, and rapid scale. Jeff is a best-selling leadership author, board-certified executive coach, and trusted advisor at critical inflection points.

Find our guest at: https://JeffBettinger.com
Find our host at: https://www.ovinspires.com

Keywords: leadership development, executive coaching, IPO strategy, corporate transformation, people-first leadership, talent development, psychological safety, emotional intelligence, growth mindset, mentoring, organizational culture, business education.

Summary: In this episode, Jeff Bettinger, Chief Administrative Officer at Hudson Talent Solutions, shares how his foundation in education shaped his global impact as a corporate leader. Drawing on lessons from teaching, parenting, and executive coaching, Jeff offers practical advice for C-suite leaders navigating rapid change. He explains why psychological safety and failure-tolerant cultures are essential for leadership development.

Takeaways
✅ Great leaders create safe environments for failure and learning.
✅ Self-awareness is the most important leadership trait.
✅ Most executive challenges are rooted in personal patterns that began long before leadership.
✅ The best way to develop leaders is by giving them responsibility.
✅ Change management is at the heart of leadership in both education and business.
✅ YouTube is an underrated tool for just-in-time leadership learning.
✅ Giving others ownership builds confidence and reveals future leaders.
✅ Strong leaders help teams navigate complexity by breaking responsibilities into small, clear parts.

Titles
✅ From Classroom to C-Suite: Jeff Bettinger’s Leadership Blueprint
✅ Lessons from a CHRO: Growth, Grit, and Developing Future Leaders
✅ Psychological Safety and Self-Awareness: The Foundation of True Leadership

Sound Bites
🗣 “Leadership is people stuff.”
🗣 “Most problems executives face started before they became executives.”
🗣 “Self-aware leaders develop the next generation of leaders.”
🗣 “The best leaders I’ve seen make failure safe.”

Chapters
00:00 – Intro: Who is Jeff Bettinger
02:00 – From Teacher to Global CHRO
04:00 – Leadership that Earns Trust
07:00 – Education, Boy Scouts, and Swiss Alps Lessons
09:00 – Executive Coaching Patterns
13:00 – Building Psychological Safety at Work
16:00 – Navigating Change in IPOs and Mergers
19:00 – Giving Responsibility to Grow Leaders
21:00 – Book: Geysers, Grizzlies, and Grit
26:00 – Books Every Leader Should Read

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Top podcast for executives
Top podcast for corporate leaders
Top podcast on leadership
Top podcast for school superintendents
Top podcast for college professionals
Top podcast for educators
Top podcast for teachers
Top podcast on Leadership Development
Top podcast on Social impact

HOST: 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. He grew up in a village off-the-grid, migrated to the U.S., 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 a social entrepreneur.

GUEST BIO: Dr. Michael Herrera is the Executive Director of Upper Bucks County Technical School and a nationally recognized leader in Career and Technical Education (CTE). He serves as Region 1 Vice President on the National Board of Directors for the Association of Career and Technical Education. As a thought leader, author, and advocate, he helps bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world career readiness through systems that connect purpose, credentials, and opportunity.

Find our guest at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-herrera-ed-d-70b554a
Find our host at: https://www.ovinspires.com

Keywords: systems thinking, CTE, workforce readiness, career development, mentorship, credentials, language access, leadership development, student success, purpose-driven leadership, career-connected learning, technical education, employability skills

Summary:
In this episode, Dr. Michael Herrera shares a powerful message for education leaders and impact-driven executives. With over 20 years of experience in technical education and leadership, Dr. Herrera explains how value-centered leadership, career-connected learning, and credentialing systems can change lives. From growing up in a working-class family to becoming a national thought leader, he reveals how clear systems, trust, and consistency drive student transformation. Listeners gain tools to reimagine leadership through equity, purpose, and scalable infrastructure.

Takeaways
✅ Great leaders create clarity, build trust, and remove barriers.
✅ Career-connected learning must be infrastructure, not enrichment.
✅ Hard work, purpose, and mentorship were critical in his leadership journey.
✅ Public libraries and LinkedIn Learning are underused educational assets.
✅ Universal design for learning ensures real access for all.
✅ Mentorship ecosystems are more effective than one-to-one hero models.

Titles
✅ Dr. Michael Herrera, Systems that Develop New Leaders, from the Locker Room to the Boardroom
✅ Building Pathways: How Career-Connected Learning Drives Student Leadership
✅ From Coaching to Credentialing: Dr. Herrera on Purpose-Driven Education

Sound Bites
🗣 “Leadership isn’t about titles. It’s about stewardship.”
🗣 “Credential your strengths. Don’t hide them.”
🗣 “Let’s stop asking students to fit into systems. Let’s build systems worthy of their potential.”

Chapters
00:00 – Meet Dr. Michael Herrera
02:00 – Career Journey and Leadership Beliefs
05:00 – Lessons from Athletics and Coaching
10:00 – Systems Thinking and Earning a Doctorate
14:00 – How to Develop More Leaders
18:00 – Global Workforce and Local Impact
20:00 – Confidence and Discovering Student Strengths
24:00 – Free Resources and Mentorship Access
27:00 – Personal Values, Favorite Books, Music, and Legacy

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Top podcast for executives
Top podcast for corporate leaders
Top podcast on leadership
Top podcast for school superintendents
Top podcast for college professionals
Top podcast for educators
Top podcast for teachers
Top podcast on Leadership Development
Top podcast on Social impac

HOST: 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. He grew up in a village off-the-grid, migrated to the U.S., 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 a social entrepreneur.

GUEST BIO: Marcus Stevenson is the Senior Manager of AI Augmentation and Role Redesign at Salesforce. Based in the Bay Area, Marcus leads workforce innovation initiatives focused on empowering humans through AI, not replacing them. From selling bathtubs to presenting to the Congressional Black Caucus, his journey reflects a powerful blend of humility, leadership, and next-gen workforce vision.

Find our guest at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcussavon
Find our host at: https://www.ovinspires.com

Keywords: AI leadership, Salesforce, workforce development, Year Up, career advancement, imposter syndrome, mentorship, employee engagement, Gen Z leadership, equity, psychological safety, leadership development, talent pipeline, Bay Area tech, opportunity equity.

Summary:
In this episode of Leadership Messengers, Marcus Stevenson shares how he went from working retail to leading AI transformation at Salesforce. Marcus opens up about overcoming imposter syndrome, creating equitable access to opportunity, and how tech leaders can shape a future where humans thrive alongside AI. His insights offer a blueprint for forward-thinking executives and educators focused on developing talent and leading with purpose. Marcus discusses the power of visibility, psychological safety, and strategic risk-taking to unlock hidden leadership potential.

Takeaways
✅ AI should augment humans, not replace them
✅ Keep humans in the loop when redesigning roles
✅ Imposter syndrome is common but can be overcome through clarity and contribution
✅ Visibility matters—young professionals need to see leaders who look like them
✅ Give emerging leaders low-risk opportunities to lead meetings and manage projects
✅ Promote from within to foster loyalty and retention
✅ Mentorship can start with your own family—start where you are
✅ Invest in leadership development early with tools like Toastmasters & ambassador programs
✅ Tech-native Gen Z & Gen Alpha require adaptable leadership styles
✅ Leaders must accept that the world—and workforce—is changing fast

Titles
✅ Keeping Humans in the Loop: AI, Empathy, and Redesigning Work
✅ Imposter Syndrome to Influence: A Salesforce Leader’s Journey
✅ Year Up, Level Up: Marcus Stevenson’s Blueprint for Talent Equity

Sound Bites
🗣 “Give people low-risk chances to lead. A meeting can change a life.”
🗣 “Talent is equally distributed. Opportunity is not.”
🗣 “Every step in my journey—even selling bathtubs—taught me skills I use today.”
🗣 “My superpower is connecting. Relationships move business.”
🗣 “Tech isn’t going away. So I stopped fighting it and found a way to lead through it.”

Chapters
00:00 – Intro to Marcus Stevenson
03:00 – Leadership Lessons From His Father and Salesforce Mentor
06:00 – How Year Up Changed His Trajectory
08:00 – A Teacher Who Believed in Him
11:00 – Creating Growth Through Opportunity
14:00 – Adapting Leadership for Gen Z and Gen Alpha
17:00 – Entering Salesforce and Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
22:00 – The Moment He Believed He Belonged
27:00 – His Why: Building a Foundation for Community Uplift
31:00 – Supporting Berkeley Community Scholars
33:00 – Rapid-Fire Leadership Wisdom

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HOST: 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. He grew up in a village off-the-grid, migrated to the U.S., 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 a social entrepreneur. .

GUEST BIO: Dr. Brett Fickes, a retired educator with 36 years in public schools (history teacher & administrator until June 2025), is now a CEO and entrepreneur. Post-retirement, he became CEO of Universal Dental Clinics. He owns Redline Motorsports Racing, Chicago's premier NASCAR® Xfinity team, and Teachercraft, which makes classroom easels. He also serves on the Learning Forward Illinois board.

Find our guest at: www.uudclinics.com
Find our host at: https://www.ovinspires.com

Keywords: leadership development, values-driven leadership, corporate leadership, mentorship, education innovation, strategic planning, emotional intelligence, business transition, loyalty, servant leadership, NASCAR, entrepreneurship, teamwork, CEO mindset, educator impact.

Summary:
Dr. Brett Fickes unpacks a rare leadership evolution. He shares how 36 years in public education laid the groundwork for his roles as CEO of a dental group and owner of Chicago’s only NASCAR team. Brett breaks down how leadership skills transfer across industries when grounded in integrity, clarity, and service. From building a school-based dental care system to launching a professional racing team in four months, Brett’s story proves leadership is about mission, not titles. His biggest asset? Relationships built through respect, vision, and humility.

Takeaways
✅ Relationships are the foundation of long-term leadership success.
✅ Great leaders embrace roles they don’t fully understand, and build teams.
✅ Clearly defined mission and values align and activate any organization.
✅ Conflict resolution and active listening build team trust.
✅ Career growth follows when you say yes to responsibility and change.
✅ Entrepreneurial mindset thrives with curiosity and courage.
✅ Loyalty matters. Brett stayed at one district for decades, impacting thousands.
✅ Public libraries remain powerful, underused resources.
✅ Ask questions. Most people want to help when asked.

Titles
✅ From Public Schools to NASCAR: Dr. Brett Fickes' Leadership Pivot
✅ Leading with Loyalty: A CEO’s Path from Classroom to Boardroom
✅ How a History Teacher Became a Multi-Industry Entrepreneur
✅ Leadership is a Relationship Game: Lessons from Brett Fickes

Sound Bites
🗣 “Strong leadership is strong leadership in any field.”
🗣 “I never imagined owning a NASCAR team. It started with an idea among four friends.”
🗣 “I define the mission, communicate it clearly, then hold the team accountable.”
🗣 “If you're not reading a leadership book a week, you're doing your team a disservice.”
🗣 “You don’t have to know everything. Build a team that does.”

Chapters
03:00 – Leadership Across Industries
06:00 – Building Chicago’s First NASCAR Team
10:00 – Mentorship, Relationships, and Conflict Resolution
14:00 – Dental Equity and Serving Low-Income Youth
22:00 – The Power of AP Courses and History
27:00 – Saying Yes to Growth and the Unexpected
34:00 – Top 3 Leadership Books Brett Recommends
40:00 – Public Libraries, Asking Questions, and Staying Curious
43:00 – Beatles Songs that Fuel His Leadership Energy

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HOST: 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. He grew up in a village off-the-grid, migrated to the U.S., 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 a social entrepreneur.

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.com

Keywords: education leadership, classroom management, financial literacy, CRAZY framework, equity, Gen Z, restorative circles, teacher support, mentorship, storytelling, growth mindset

Summary: Dr. De’Shawn Washington shares his journey from being raised by his grandmother in Boston to becoming a statewide Teacher of the Year. He reflects on the hard lessons from his first year teaching, the mentors who believed in him, and how he now trains educators to build high-performing classrooms. Dr. Washington explains why schools must include financial literacy in their curriculum and how he uses storytelling, morning routines, and restorative practices to empower students. He also introduces his signature CRAZY Framework—giving new teachers a clear system to follow.

Takeaways
✅ Reading was foundational to his leadership and student success journey
✅ First-year struggles required intervention from his school’s principal
✅ Mentors played a key role by modeling strong classroom systems
✅ Educators must offer both supportive and constructive feedback
✅ Financial literacy is essential and under-taught in most states
✅ Only 11 states mandate financial education, Massachusetts isn’t one of them
✅ Predictable classroom routines support emotional safety
✅ Student voice should dominate classroom dialogue (80/20 ratio)
✅ Canva is free for teachers, but district accounts limit content ownership
✅ New teachers need systems like the CRAZY Framework to avoid burnout

Titles
✅ From the Back of the Class to Teacher of the Year
✅ Why Financial Literacy Should Be Taught Like Reading
✅ How the CRAZY Framework Helps New Teachers Lead with Confidence
✅ The Joy of Learning and Leading: Dr. Washington’s Mission

Sound Bites
🗣 “My first year, the principal had to teach my class while I sat in the back taking notes.”
🗣 “Financial literacy is knowledge. And knowledge is power.”
🗣 “You need two mentors—someone 10 years older and someone 10 years younger.”
🗣 “The classroom should be 80 percent student voice, 20 percent teacher voice.”

Chapters
00:00 – Meet Dr. De’Shawn Washington
03:00 – Bringing Financial Literacy to 4th Grade
07:00 – His Grandmother Taught Him to Read
09:00 – Leaving a Big 4 Accounting Firm to Teach
11:00 – Classroom Struggles and Mentor Support
13:00 – Building a Culture of Feedback and Trust
22:00 – Becoming Teacher of the Year
31:00 – The CRAZY Framework for New Educators
35:00 – Books, Tools, and Lessons for Leaders
43:00 – The Substitute Teacher Hack
46:00 – Closing Reflections

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