Walter, Heather | College of Education and Human Development

Phone: 17039936582
Fax: This information is not available
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 Walter is an Assistant Professor of Special Education and a Senior Faculty Fellow in the Center for Advancement of Wellbeing. Her expertise builds upon over 15 years in diverse education settings. She has extensive experience cultivating the unuqie strengths of individuals, and communities by partnering, and providing support in the recruitment and retention of highly qualified educators as well as the wellbeing and sustainability of educational systems. She achieves this through teaching, coaching, organizational leadership, and research and evaluation. Most specifically, her primary goal is to support educational systems in making evidence-based decisions that close the opportunity gap- that lead to thriving, and balanced educational outcomes for all children and the adults that serve them.

Dr. Walter has published extensively in both research and practitioner peer-reviewed journals and has presented at over 100 local, regional, and national conferences in support of educational topics that are important to her practice to research agenda such as (1) occupational well-being and systems change, (2) coaching, (3) risk and resilience, (4) methodology and measurement/mixed methods. She was one of the recipients of the 2021 Dissertation in Mixed Methods Award for the American Educational Research Association (AERA) and was recognized for work on policy contributions as a poster winner, to enhance educator retention by The Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD). Additionally, she received an Exchange Leader Award through the Exchange Leadership Initiative in 2021 and has been recognized with multiple teaching recognition awards.

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

Awards and Certificates

2022, 2023, George Mason University; Thank a Teacher Recognition; Stern Center for Teaching and Learning (X3)

202, Early Childhood Leadership Exchange Fellow, Early Childhood Leadership Exchange

2021, Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) Poster Award, dissertation research for contributions to policy.

2021, AERA Mixed Methods Research SIG Outstanding Dissertation Award 2nd Runner Up. American Educational Research Association, Mixed Methods Research SIG

2017, Best Interdisciplinary Approach (GW Student, in partnership with Milken Institute School of Public Health), D. C. Public Health Case Challenge, Washington, D.C. Awarded by Institute of Medicine in partnership with Georgetown University.

2016, Most Influential in Inspiring Future Career Paths, Award of the UMBC Career Services. University of Maryland Baltimore County

2012, Funded Scholar through the LEEAD program at the Graduate School University, Funded through the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), Department of Education

2005, Student Fellow, Jewish National Fund

2004, Henrietta Youth Hall of Fame, Henrietta NY