WESD Interim Superintendent Dr. Lupita Ley Hightower brings 28 years of educational experience, including 14 years of leadership as a superintendent. Early in her career, Dr. Hightower worked as a teacher at Sunnyslope School and later served as an assistant principal at Washington Elementary School—experiences rooted in the very district she now leads.

Dr. Hightower holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education with a Bilingual Endorsement from the University of Arizona, as well as a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration and Supervision from Arizona State University. Dr. Hightower earned her Doctorate in Leadership and Innovation from Arizona State University.

Recognized statewide and nationally for her leadership, Dr. Hightower was named Arizona Superintendent of the Year in 2023. Her accolades also include the 2024 Cesar Chavez Legacy Award, 2023 ACEL Education Leader of the Year, and the 2019 National Latinx Superintendent of the Year, among other distinguished honors.

Dr. Hightower is a member on the Board of Trustees for Grand Canyon University and made history as the first Latina President of the Arizona School Administrators Association. She has also served on the board in various roles including president for the Arizona Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (AzALAS) and as a prior executive committee member for AASA, The School Superintendents Association. Currently, she serves as the AASA’s mentor for the National Superintendent Certification Program West and the Superintendent Collaborative Network.

An immigrant from Mexico who began her U.S. education in seventh grade, Dr. Hightower credits her success to the support of family, educators, and those who believed in her potential. She is deeply committed to expanding access, raising expectations, and uncovering the unique talents and abilities within every student—believing each child holds promise and potential without exception.