Jolleen Wagner

Jolleen Wagner is the chief mission & advancement officer for the Brilla Schools Network. In her first two years at Seton and Brilla, Jolleen was a 2nd-grade teacher and the visionary leader of Brilla’s Character Initiatives approach. In the years following, she became the chief character initiatives and culture officer and then the chief formation officer. During her time at Seton and Brilla, Jolleen founded, built out, and codified Brilla’s comprehensive approach to character education, which calls all members of the community to prioritize living a life of deep meaning and purpose that is both academically excellent and character rich.

Jolleen began her career in education 20 years ago, serving as a Lasallian Volunteer and teacher at San Miguel School in Chicago. She then served as the associate director and director of the Lasallian Volunteers’, where she was responsible for the vision for the faith-based, long-term, volunteer program that provides education and social services to underserved communities. In addition to her work for Lasallian Volunteers, Jolleen worked with the De La Salle Christian Brothers to: evaluate and develop faith formation programs; design and lead immersion trips; and facilitate faith, service, and community events globally. She was also a member of the International Council of Young Lasallians and the chair of the Regional Young Lasallian Committee, where she supported the future of the mission of the De La Salle Christian Brothers.

Jolleen continues her support and partnership with the Lasallian educational mission serving as a practicum facilitator at The Buttimer Institute of Lasallian Studies, an intensive Lasallian education and formation program that studies the life, work, and spirituality of Saint John Baptist de La Salle and the origins of the Lasallian educational mission. She also serves on the Christian Brothers Academy Board of Trustees in Albany, NY.

With a demonstrated history of working in the non-profit organization management and educational leadership sectors, Jolleen is a driven, seasoned professional with a penchant for education and service. Jolleen has partnered with a number of schools, organizations, and foundations as a facilitator of retreats, convenings, and conference sessions. She is also a Restorative Practices IIRP Trained Trainer.

A native of Green Island, New York, Jolleen graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in English from Siena College in 2004, where she was honored as a distinguished alumnus in 2014 with the Franciscan Spirit Award. In 2022, Jolleen earned a master’s degree in character education through the University of Birmingham, UK, and in 2024, she received the Legacy Luminary Award from the WeINSPIRE Movement. In each professional commitment Jolleen makes, she works to expand the space where education, service, community, and justice overlap.