Dr. Shawn Washington
Columbia,SC
Summary
Transformational and equity-focused educational leader serving as a change agent with a demonstrated record of improving secondary school performance through high standards, universal expectations, and strong accountability systems. Adept in shifting practice from equality to equity by aligning targeted resources and supports for teachers and students. Proven leader in developing teacher-leaders, strengthening PLCs, and using data-driven instructional systems to raise achievement, attendance, and college and career readiness outcomes.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Principal
Columbia High School
Columbia, SC
01.2022 - Current
- Serves as instructional leader and change agent driving systemic school improvement through equity-driven leadership and accountability.
- Led a schoolwide shift from equality to equity, ensuring resources, interventions, and staffing decisions are aligned to student and teacher needs.
- Established high behavioral expectations and accountability structures, improving school culture and maximizing instructional time.
- Implemented protected Wednesday PLC collaboration for EOC teachers focused on Common Formative Assessments and benchmark data analysis.
- Coached and developed teacher leaders to lead PLCs and build sustainable instructional capacity.
- Increased overall student achievement and earned an Average School Report Card rating for the first time in over a decade.
- Improved EOC performance rankings across Biology I, English II, U.S. History, and Algebra.
- Reduced chronic absenteeism from 52% to 39%.
- Increased College and Career Readiness from 32% to 70%.
Assistant Principal for Curriculum & Instruction
Dreher High School
Columbia, SC
01.2012 - 01.2022
- Led curriculum, instruction, and assessment initiatives resulting in graduation rate increases from 86.8% to 89.5%.
- Secured funding for SAT preparation programming resulting in score gains for all participating students.
- Implemented Wellness Wednesdays to support faculty morale and retention.
- Collaborated with teachers to analyze data-driven assessments, to meet diverse student needs.
- Monitored student behavior and enforced discipline policies.
- Established intervention programs for struggling students, improving overall academic achievement levels at the school.
Education
Ed.D. - Educational Leadership
South Carolina State University
Orangeburg, SC01-2014
Ed.S - Educational Leadership
South Carolina State University
Orangeburg, SC05-2011
Master of Science - Sports Science Pedagogy
Gardner-Webb University
Boiling Springs, NC08-2008
Bachelor of Arts - Physical Education And Health
College of Charleston
Charleston, SC05-2001
Skills
- Change Agent Leadership
- Equity-Focused Resource Allocation (Equity over Equality)
- High Behavioral & Accountability Expectations
- High Standards & Universal Expectations
- Data-Driven Instructional Leadership
- Common Formative Assessment & Benchmark Data Analysis
- Teacher & Principal Leadership Development
- Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)
- College & Career Readiness Strategy
Affiliations
- Michigan State University Practitioner Learning Academy Participant (2026)
- South Carolina Alliance of Black School Educators (SCABSE, 2018-present)
- South Carolina Association of School Administrators (SCASA, 2012-present)
Timeline
Principal
Columbia High School
01.2022 - Current
Assistant Principal for Curriculum & Instruction
Dreher High School
01.2012 - 01.2022
Ed.D. - Educational Leadership
South Carolina State University
Ed.S - Educational Leadership
South Carolina State University
Master of Science - Sports Science Pedagogy
Gardner-Webb University
Bachelor of Arts - Physical Education And Health
College of Charleston