NASBE Honors Téa Washington, Former DC State Board of Education Student Member, with Distinguished Student Service Award

Alexandria, VA – The National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) is pleased to present the Distinguished Student Service Award to Téa Washington, former student member of the District of Columbia State Board of Education. This award was established in 2023 to recognize the dedication and education policy impact of student representatives on state boards of education.

Téa Washington is a recent graduate of BASIS DC Public Charter School and recently concluded her second term on the DC state board as a student member. As a member of the state board’s State Level and Systemic Policy Committee, Washington collaborated with the Office of the State Superintendent of Education to update the categories and format of the DC School Report Card for 2024. She provided invaluable feedback on the district’s first-ever financial literacy standards. She also advocated for social and emotional learning standards, urging their incorporation of social media and the internet’s impacts on student wellness. Thanks to her feedback, the final standards help ensure that students learn important media literacy skills.

Passionate about student safety and mental health, Washington presented on the subject at NASBE’s Annual Conference in 2023. During the session, Washington drew from her own experiences as a student to help attendees understand the importance of taking care of one’s mental health during the school day. She also provided strategies and mindfulness practices state leaders can encourage to promote students’ emotional regulation and wellness.

Washington is now pursuing her undergraduate degree at Howard University on a merit scholarship. She has served in additional leadership roles, including state director of the Youth Legislative Action Center (DC Chapter), city council chair of YMCA DC Youth & Government, a member of Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s Youth Advisory Council, and a delegate to the YMCA’s Youth Conference on National Affairs. She also cofounded her high school’s Black Student Union to bring students together to talk about the challenges Black students continue to face.

“Téa is a shining example of what it means to live a life in service of others,” said Jen Briones, deputy director of policy and research for the DC state board. “Her passion and dedication to improving our DC community are evident in every effort she makes. She’s the kind of leader that doesn’t shy away from complex challenges and tirelessly advocates for policies that prioritize students’ safety and mental health.”

“Student voices play a crucial role in shaping effective education policy. Téa’s remarkable contributions to the DC state board—especially her advocacy for student mental health—exemplifies the impact that passionate and dedicated student leaders can have,” NASBE President and CEO Paolo DeMaria said. “We are honored to present her with the Distinguished Student Service Award.”

The 2024 awards will be presented at NASBE’s Annual Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, October 23–25.

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