OVERLAND PARK, KS, July 17, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Blake C. West has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Dr. West's distinguished career in education spans over 45 years, marked by a steadfast commitment to advancing teacher preparation and transforming school culture. Since 2015, he has served as a senior policy analyst with the National Education Association (NEA), where his expertise in high-quality teacher preparation and organizational transformation has been widely recognized. In this capacity, Dr. West supports the Aspiring Educators Program, advances teacher preparation initiatives, and coordinates apprenticeship and related development programs. He also serves as a liaison with national organizations focused on teacher preparation, including the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, the Association of Teacher Educators and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. His collaborative efforts extend to state organizations within the NEA, colleges and workshops to implement targeted reforms in teacher preparation.

Among Dr. West's most notable accomplishments has been his leadership in facilitating a national committee and authoring the Great Teaching and Learning Report for the NEA. Since 2017, this report has served as a guiding resource for multiple committees of the NEA's board of directors, shaping studies and recommendations on teacher recruitment, effective instructional practices and teacher leadership. Dr. West's work has had a lasting impact on educator professional growth nationwide.

Before his current role, Dr. West contributed to Blue Valley Schools in Overland Park, Kansas, from 2012 to 2015 as a teacher and technology integration specialist. In this position, he played a pivotal role in integrating technology into classroom instruction. Dr. West's earlier tenure with Blue Valley Schools, which spanned more than 15 years, between 1984 and 2001, included service as both technology coordinator and teacher, where he championed innovative instructional strategies and supported faculty in adopting new technologies.

From 2006 to 2012, Dr. West held the office of president of the Kansas National Education Association. During his presidency, he advocated for educators statewide and led initiatives aimed at improving teaching standards and professional development opportunities. Dr. West's leadership extended beyond state borders through his involvement as the chair of the Kansas Learning First Alliance and as the first chairperson of the Accreditation Council for the Board of Directors, Training with P12 Educators at CAEP.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. The suite of Marquis® publications, including Who's Who in America® and Who's Who in the World®, remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the globe. Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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