Sara Westerlin is an Assistant Professor of Education at Peru State. She was most recently a first grade teacher with Omaha Public Schools. She taught kindergarten, first, and second grades for 12 years prior to coming to Peru State. In addition, for the past 10 years she has served as an adjunct faculty member in Early Childhood Education at Metropolitan Community College. Ms. Westerlin also has prior experience owning and operating a childcare center, as well as working at childcare centers in the Omaha metro area. She received her BA in Elementary Education and Art from Dana College, and a MS in Elementary Education with an Early Childhood Concentration from UNO. Ms. Westerlin graduated from Northcentral University, La Jolla, CA. with her Ed.D in Educational Leadership in 2020. Her certifications include an Elementary K-6 Standard Teaching Certificate, Early Childhood Certificate as well as Safe with You, Safe Sleep for Infants, Never Shake a Baby, and Power to Protect Trainer and Instructor Certification.

Dr.. Westerlin lives in Omaha with her husband Jon and four children: Cole, Avaree, Cooper, and Ryker.