Dr. Jess Weiler

Jess Weiler is an Assistant Professor and the Program Director for the Educational Leadership program in the College of Education and Allied Professions at Western Carolina University (WCU). Dr. Weiler received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in communication sciences and disorders from St. Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri. She worked as a speech-language pathologist and special educator in both healthcare and educational settings throughout southern California before returning to graduate school to explore the reasons students with disabilities were not succeeding at high levels.

Recognizing the promise of Dr. Capper and Dr. Frattura’s equity systems work, Dr. Weiler completed her doctoral degree in educational leadership and policy analysis at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Weiler moved to Asheville, NC in 2009 (where she presently resides) and served as a high school administrator before moving to her present position at WCU. Her research focuses upon leadership competence and educator-teaming for equitable and socially just schools.