Her Story
About Rosalyn
Dr. Rosalyn Washington is a professional in the education sector based in Newark, Delaware. She received an excellent K-12 education across seven schools, including Catholic, public, and private institutions in New York and Alabama. Dr. Washington attributes her success to a supportive mother who encouraged her to be anything, a community that affirmed the world was her oyster, and her strong educational foundation. She values connection, rapport, honesty, transparency, and interpersonal relationships in her work with students, and she has benefited from great mentors and accountability partners. In her career, she advises others to master the craft of teaching, which is both an art and a science, before advancing to roles like coach or assistant principal, to collaborate with others, and to reject a scarcity mindset by bringing colleagues along. She also emphasizes valuing oneself and holding others to one's professional worth, refusing to work for free or allow others to pick one's brain without compensation.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Rosalyn
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute it to a mother who told me I could be anything and meant it, a community that told me that the world is my oyster and meant it, and an excellent education. I had an excellent K-12 education even though I went to seven schools before graduating high school, including Catholic, public, and private schools in New York and Alabama.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice was to value yourself and hold people to your worth. Don't allow others to expect you to work for free or pick your brain without compensation. A mentor taught me this by charging $8000 for a day of training, leading me to immediately raise my rates and tell every woman I knew.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Take time to master the craft of teaching, which is both an art and a science. Master the classroom before moving on to roles like coach or assistant principal. Collaborate with others, and reject the scarcity mindset that there are only so many seats at the table - bring others along with you instead.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Connection and rapport are most important. I have benefited immensely from personal relationships, friendships, collegiality, collaboration, grabbing a cup of coffee, talking things over. I try to bring that to my relationships with my students, along with honesty, transparency, and interpersonal connectedness. I also value having great mentors and accountability partners.
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