Walter, Heather | College of Education and Human Development

Phone: 17039936582
Email: hwalter2 (@gmu.edu)

George Mason University
Fairfax Campus
Finley Building 206
4400 University Dr.
MS 4C2
Fairfax, VA 22030

View Heather Walter's curriculum vitae in PDF format.

Dr. Heather L Walter, Ed.D, is an Assistant Professor of Special Education, a Senior Scholar for Center for the Advancement of Wellbeing, an Educational Consultant. Her expansive interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary knowledge (inclusive education, science of wellbeing, educational neuroscience, and organizational psychology) and passion for using mixed methodology to engage in research and dialogue have been been built upon more than 15 years in the field cultivating the unique strengths of individuals, and teams in diverse educational settings and communities. She does this by partnering and providing support in the direct teaching and coaching of strategies, recruitment, and retention of highly-qualified educators and employees, and the wellbeing of individuals, teams, and organizations. She is most aligned when she is working across disciplines and fields, working together to solve complex challenges and bridging effective leadership practices that lead to increased trust, job-alignment, and occupational and organizational wellbeing for meaninfgul, actionable, and purposeful educational and community outcomes.

Walter is engaged in federally funded research (OSEP), and is a recent Spencer Foundation Small Grant Recipient for work in Special Education Burnout and Wellbeing Measurement. She has published in premier field based and cross-disciplinary practitioner and research journals. Walter's service supports the alignment between research, practice, and cross-disciplinary needs. to support complex problem-solving at the Local (Board Chair, Privafe School) Regional (VA, EI Consortuim), University, (Mental Health Wellbeing Task Force), and national education organizations (Division of Early Childhood Personal Preperation).

Walter has been recognized for the 2021 Dissertation Award in Mixed Methods for the American Educational Research Association (AERA) and her contributions to policy research through the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) and won an Exhange Leaders Award through the Exchange Leaders Initiative in 2021.

Early Childhood/ Early Childhood Special Education

Personnel Preperation/ Worforce Retention

Policy and Eduational Systems Change

Wellbeing

Mixed Methods Research

Implementation Science

*Please see full CV for all Publications

Books

Coogle,C., Walter, L., H & Mitchell.K (in press). wrote a book through Routledge called "Using Data-based Pocesses to Create Sustainnable Change in Your School and Community: A Step-by-Step Guide for Leaders in Education."

Book Chapters

Coogle, C & Walter L. H (2024) published a book chapter in the NAEYC Assessment Book titled 'Assessing Young Children in the Inclusive Classroom: Using Data to Create Equitable and Joyful Learning Experiences for All"

Manuscripts

Karly Ball, Heather L Walter, and Hallie Fox (2024) published a manuscript in Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability titled "Chronically-ill college student well-being: A systematic review of the literature"

Water and Colleagues (2004) published a manuscript in the DEC Recommended Practice Monograph Series No. 9 called "Leading Systems Change: A Framework for Embedding Well-Being EI/ECSE."

Stephanie Dailey, Beth Hosek* and Heather Walter (2023) published a manuscript in The Qualitative Report titled "A Thematic Analysis of Teacher Experiences During Active Shooter Lockdown Drills." https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2023.5915

Walter and Colleagues (2023) published an artivcle in Early Childhood Research Quartely titled "A Mixed Methods Approach to Understanding Early Childhood Specia Educators' Well-Being." https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecresq.2023.08.002

Hallie Fox, Heather L Walter and *Karly Ball (2023) published a manuscript in Psychology in Schools titled "Methods Used to Evaluate Teacher Well-being: A Systematic Review." https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.22996

Walter and Colleagues (2022) published a manuscript in the Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education titled "The dual-factor model of special education teacher well-being." https://doi.org/10.1080/10901027.2022.2093296

Walter and Colleagues (2021) published a manuscript in the Journal of Organizational Psychology titled " Understanding teacher well-being during Covid-19 pandemic overtime: A qualitative longitudenal study" https://doi.or1g/10.33423/jop.v21i5.4716

Michele Stites, Heather Walter, and Jaquiline Krikorian (2020) published a maniscript in the Journal for Early Childhood Teacher Education titled "These aren't the kids I signed up for: The lived experiences of general education early childhood preservice teachers in classrooms for children with special needs doi.org/10.1080/10901027.2020.1718806

Walter and Colleagues (2018) published a Discussion Paper at the Institue of Medicine for the Fifth Annual DC Public Health Case Challenge titled "Lead and Adverse Childhood Experiences: Neurological and Behavioral Consequences for Youth in the District of Columbia.https://nam.edu/fifth-annual-dc-public-health-case-challenge/

Invited Speaking Engagements

Coogle & Walter (2024) Invited Speaker, Alexandria Public Library; Topic Challenging Behaviors

Walter (2023) Invited Speaker, The Goddard School Staff Training; Topic- Building Positive Relationships

Walter & Coogle (2023) Invited Speaker, The Gardner School Staff Training; Topic Challenging Behaviors and Building Positive Relationships

Walter & Spencer (2023) Keynote Speaker, All our Kids Network Conference, Chicago, IL; Topic Educator Mental Health and Wellbeing

Spencer & Walter (2023) Invited Speaker, Kiddie Academy Staff Training; Topic New year, new path. Finding Balance and Wellbeing

Walter (2022) Invited Speaker, Gan Ami Preschool; Topic: Teacher Wellbeing and Self-Compassion

Walter (2021) Invited Speaker, Marquette University Journalism Fellowship; Topic: Teacher Wellbeing and Retention

Walter (2018) Invited Speaker, Mayberg Center for Jewish Education and Leadership, George Washington University; Topic Inclusive Jewish Education

Walter & Jones (2015) Invited Speaker, Joe's Champs, Fight For Children and Friendship Public Charter Schools, Topic: Teaching Self-Regulation Through Group Games

Walter (2008) Invited Keynote, University of Buffalo, President B Simpson's House; Topic: Newly Established Jewish Studies Program at Suny Buffalo

Introduction to Special Education (EDSE - 501)