Mashea Ashton '96, M.Ed. '97
Mashea Ashton '96, M.Ed. '97, is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Digital Pioneers Academy (DPA), a computer science focused charter middle and high school in Washington, D.C. Its mission is to develop the next generation of innovators.
"I identified my life’s passion for education early on. Every kid deserves access to a William & Mary education, an amazing education that empowers you to have amazing opportunities. My time at William & Mary really inspired and propelled that," said Ashton.
After graduating from William & Mary, Ashton began her career as a special education teacher in Williamsburg, VA, and Washington, D.C. The first school she taught at in D.C. is in the same neighborhood as DPA. Prior to founding DPA in 2018, she spent 25 years implementing and scaling the best practices in urban education across the country. Most recently, she served as the CEO of the Newark Charter School Fund, overseeing a $48 million initiative to support the quality growth of charter schools. Ashton has also held senior roles within New Leaders for New Schools, the New York City Department of Education, and the Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP).
Over her career Ashton has served on the boards of the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA), the Black Alliance for Educational Options and the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. She currently serves on the board of the William & Mary Foundation and on the Virginia State Board of Education.
"William & Mary fundamentally shaped my belief that all students deserve an education that combines high expectations and high empathy," Ashton said. "Three professors stand out to me: 1) Dr. Patton: He served as a professor and mentor to me, and was also my supervisor during a summer internship. During my internship, he empowered me to lead a Saturday program called Project Reclaim, which supported African American students in Williamsburg. The program reminded students of the history of Black Excellence, and that their potential was high if they believed in themselves and put in the effort; 2) Dr. Korinek: I worked closely with Dr. Korinek through my focus on Special Education. She taught me that 'good teaching is good teaching,' that what is good for a diverse learner is good for all students. I learned from her the importance of working hard to create inclusive environments where all students feel welcomed, and known, loved and respected, and; 3) Dr. McLaughlin: Her serving as the Dean of the School of Education was inspiring to me, and she encouraged me to think more broadly about the impact that I could have. Dr. McLaughlin encouraged me to always be curious, and always be willing to learn new ideas and perspectives that could help all students."
Ashton credits William & Mary for setting a high bar for excellence across all of its programs, and she experienced that at the School of Education. She explains that William & Mary’s core principles around academic excellence, along with her professors, elevated the teaching profession for her and her peers as a path that was the most noble, inspirational career to pursue.
"Our professors had incredibly high expectations but also demonstrated empathy, and combined rigorous academic preparation with real world experiences," she adds. William & Mary had a partnership with James City County where Ashton served as a student teacher under four different teacher leaders. Through this, she saw many different teaching styles meeting the needs of diverse student populations. This taught her that is what teaching is – there is no one best style. Developing the perspective and skills to meet a range of student learner needs was at the core of the practicum experience.
