About: Dr. Erin West is an educator, author, and advocate committed to advancing equity and inclusion in education. She currently serves at her alma mater, Appalachian State University, where she earned her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership in 2022. At Appalachian, Dr. West supports initiatives focused on rural education, teacher leadership, microcredentials, and equity-driven professional development.
With a career spanning early childhood classrooms to higher education, Dr. West has held a variety of roles, including kindergarten and first-grade teacher, elementary principal, assistant principal at both middle and high school levels, mentor and tutor coordinator, and instructor at Michigan State University. Her background also includes extensive volunteer work in schools, churches, and local communities, where she has led summer literacy programs, youth missions, and parent engagement initiatives.
Dr. West’s research and writing draw upon critical theory and narrative inquiry to examine how educators navigate complex political and social landscapes. She focuses particularly on issues of educational policy, teacher agency, and literacy instruction. Her recent work includes book chapters and journal articles exploring the discourse of care in early childhood education and the impact of microcredentials on teacher learning.
A frequent presenter at national and regional conferences, Dr. West advocates for equity-focused leadership and community-based approaches to learning. Her work reflects a belief in the power of storytelling, relationships, and collective responsibility to transform educational spaces. Whether teaching, writing, or mentoring others, Dr. West is committed to creating environments where all learners are seen, heard, and valued.
Accolades: NC Principal Fellows, 2007-2009 |North Carolina EPFP Alumni, 2023
Professional Organizations: AERA, NC Reading Association, NAEYC, Kiwanis, Curriculum and Pedagogy
