Cedric A. Washington is an internationally recognized educator, author, curriculum designer, and speaker, known for his unapologetic commitment to literacy, cultural intelligence, and student empowerment. He is the creator of the Teach Like Ced¿ Cultural Sentence Strips Literacy Framework and the Knowledge of SELF¿ (Social Empowerment Learning Framework)-innovative instructional systems designed to restore structure, clarity, and agency to education. With more than two decades of experience in classrooms, mentoring programs, and professional development spaces, Washington has worked extensively with educators, school districts, nonprofit organizations, and youth-serving institutions across the United States and internationally. His work centers on one core belief: Literacy is liberation when students are taught how to think, speak, and write with ownership. Washington is the author of The MISEDUCATION of the Negro in the 21st Century, a research-based memoir and educational text that examines identity, culture, power, and schooling in modern education systems. His writing and curricula are widely recognized for bridging academic rigor with cultural relevance-without controversy, dilution, or lowered expectations. As the Founder and Executive Director of NERD Youth Services, Inc.

, Washington has led mentoring, literacy, and leadership initiatives serving youth and families throughout Northwest Indiana and beyond. His work emphasizes long-term outcomes, intergenerational impact, and the development of confident, articulate thinkers. Cedric A. Washington is also a former collegiate athlete whose background in sports deeply informs his instructional philosophy-particularly the importance of discipline, repetition, structure, and earned mastery. These principles are embedded throughout the Teach Like Ced¿ framework. Through keynote addresses, professional development, and curriculum adoption, Washington continues to influence educators globally, advocating for literacy instruction that honors culture, demands excellence, and prepares students not just for school-but for life.