Overview
Faith Burtamekh is a nationally recognized leader in educational transformation, specializing in family engagement, leadership development, and systems thinking. In her position at WestEd, Burtamekh partners with school and district leaders to implement impactful family engagement initiatives and evidence-based school improvement strategies. Her work reflects a deep commitment to empowering educators and families to cocreate environments where all learners thrive.
In her role, Burtamekh leverages her organizational expertise, leadership experience, and innovative content creation to design and execute initiatives that drive transformational change. Her expertise in family engagement has been instrumental in helping schools foster meaningful connections with families, creating inclusive environments where all interest holders can thrive. Burtamekh’s contributions are vital to her team’s success and WestEd’s broader mission of advancing equity and excellence in education.
Before joining WestEd, Burtamekh served as the principal of a K–8 school in Creighton Elementary School District in Phoenix, Arizona, where she led her school to achieve an “A” rating from the Arizona Department of Education in her 1st year. This accomplishment underscores her ability to lead with vision and achieve excellence through collaboration and innovation.
Burtamekh’s professional journey is fueled by her passion for family engagement, leadership development, and school improvement. Her work reflects a commitment to fostering positive and productive educational environments where every student, educator, and family feels valued and empowered.
Education
- MEd in educational leadership, Northern Arizona University
- BA in liberal studies, San Francisco State University
Select Publications
Burtamekh, F. (2015). Building capacity for effective family engagement focused on student learning. Leadership for Educational Achievement Foundation (LEAF).