As Director of Learning, Heather Wendling provides support to NACSA’s constituents in strengthening practices that foster the creation and oversight of high-quality schools. In this role, Heather also creates, implements, and manages processes that result in ongoing learning for NACSA constituents and staff.

Heather comes to NACSA from the SUNY Charter Schools Institute, where she served as the Director of New Charters. At SUNY, Heather led the charter proposal review process and designed systems and strategies to support new schools, as well as participated in the on-going qualitative oversight and evaluation of schools seeking renewal. Prior to becoming an authorizer, Heather taught elementary special education for eight years in both traditional public and charter schools through Teach for America.  Heather earned her BA in Political Science from SUNY Stony Brook University, her MST degree from Pace University, and her JD from the University of Connecticut School of Law.