Kathryn Fishman-Weaver (“Dr. KFW”) is an educator, author, and advocate for student leadership. She is passionate about community and strengths-based approaches to teaching, learning, and research.
Dr. Fishman-Weaver currently serves as the Executive Director for Mizzou Academy, a global school district with 7,000+ K-12 students from 60+ countries. She oversees a talented team of educators, curriculum developers, business and support specialists, and technologists who support teaching and learning with both compassion and rigor. Additionally, she coordinates professional development opportunities and conferences for educators around the world.
She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis (University of Missouri), an M.Ed. in Special Education (San Francisco State University), and a B.S. in Sociology (University of Missouri).
Dr. Fishman-Weaver writes and publishes frequently on innovative practices in educational leadership and student support. She is the author or co-author of six books:
- Wholehearted Teaching of Gifted Young Women: Cultivating Courage, Connection, and Self-Care in Schools (2018),
- When Your Child Learns Differently: A Family Approach for Navigating Special Education Services with Love and High-Expectations (2019),
- Brain-Based Learning in the Gifted Classroom (Grades 3-6): Neuroscience Lessons for Cultivating Curiosity, Metacognition, Empathy, and Brain Plasticity (2020),
- Connected Classrooms: A People-Centered Approach for Online, Blended, and In-Person Learning (2022), co-authored with Stephanie Walter,
- Teaching Women’s and Gender Studies: Resources for Resistance, Representation, and Radical Hope Grades 6-8 (2023) co-authored with Jill Clingan,
- Teaching Women’s and Gender Studies: Resources for Resistance, Representation, and Radical Hope Grades 9-12 (2023) co-authored with Jill Clingan.
Her titles frequently appear on Amazon’s bestseller lists in education and parenting. Her work has also been featured on Edutopia, Principal Leadership, Teaching for High Potential, and the U.S. Department of Education’s teacher newsletters.
As an Associate Teaching Professor in the department of Learning, Teaching, and Curriculum, Dr. KFW teaches and coordinates courses on culturally responsive teaching, ethics, and community-engaged practices. Additionally, she serves as Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for youth navigating the foster care system.