Jane E. West

Dr. Jane West joined the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education in February 2006, where she directs the department of policy, programs, and professional issues. West brings over 30 years of education and public policy experience to the organization as a former teacher, education administrator,PTA officer, researcher, and university faculty member.

West served as senior policy analyst for the Presidential Commission on the HIV Epidemic under President Ronald Reagan and was staff director of the Senate Subcommittee on Disability Policy under the leadership of Sen. Lowell P. Weicker,Jr. of Connecticut. In that capacity she shepherded the reauthorization of several laws,including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Vocational Rehabilitation Act, and the Developmental Disabilities Act. She has published several articles on education policy issues and edited two books. She served on the faculties of the University of San Francisco and Johns Hopkins University.

Since joining AACTE, West has led the organization’s effort to build a unified voice for educator preparation during the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act and No Child Left Behind policy deliberations. She orchestrates AACTE’s annual “Day on the Hill”, has initiated numerous advocacy activities with AACTE state chapters, and leads the effort to increase federal funding for educator preparation. Dr. West received her BA from the University of California at Santa Barbara, her MA from Columbia University and her Ph.D. from the University of Maryland.