HILLARY WOEST
National Presenter | Author | Educational Practitioner
Practical. Relatable. Grounded in the work.
Hillary’s approach is practical, collaborative, and rooted in respect for the educators she serves. She listens carefully, helps teams identify what is already working, and narrows the work to the next steps most likely to move the system forward. Participants consistently describe her professional learning as relevant, useful, encouraging, and grounded in the daily realities of schools.
Her work has contributed to multiple schools earning Model PLC at Work® recognition, and her leadership in special education has been recognized by the Texas Education Agency’s Region 4 for exemplary practices. She is a member of the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE), ASCD, and Learning Forward.
Hillary earned a bachelor’s degree in communication disorders from the University of Houston and a master’s degree in counseling from the University of Houston–Clear Lake.
Education is also part of Hillary’s family story. As a third-generation educator, she grew up understanding both the responsibility and the possibility of public education. That legacy continues to shape her commitment to practical support, service, and respect for the people doing the work.
What educators can expect
A partner who listens
Hillary takes time to understand the current reality before recommending the next move.
Clear thinking and practical tools
Complexity is organized into usable structures, decisions, and next steps.
Professional learning with follow-through
Educators have time to process, build, apply, and leave with work they can continue using.
High expectations with high support
The work remains ambitious, but educators are not left to carry it alone.
Recognition and service
· Work contributing to multiple Model PLC at Work® school recognitions.
· Special education leadership recognized by the Texas Education Agency’s Region 4 for exemplary practices.
· Recipient of the Rotary Club’s Distinguished Service Above Self Award in 2017.
· Paul Harris Fellow of The Rotary Foundation.
· Member of ACTE, ASCD, and Learning Forward.
Hillary Woest helps educators make complex work clearer, more connected, and more manageable—without oversimplifying what schools are being asked to accomplish.
Hillary Woest is a national presenter, author, and educational practitioner with more than two decades of experience helping schools and districts design practical instructional systems that strengthen teaching, develop leaders, and improve student learning. Known for bringing clarity to complex educational work, she partners with educators across the country to connect research, best practices, and ambitious goals to systems teachers trust and leaders can sustain.
Her expertise spans professional learning communities, curriculum and assessment, instructional planning, Career and Technical Education (CTE), multi-tiered systems of support, educator development, and the responsible integration of artificial intelligence. Rather than treating these priorities as separate initiatives, Hillary helps schools connect them into coherent practices that support confident implementation and lasting improvement.