Rita K. Fuller

Compliance & Monitoring Policy & Technical Writing, Data Analysis & Reporting, Leadership & Program Development, External Partner (Stakeholder) Engagement, Project & Change Management:

Dynamic education leader with extensive experience in special education law, compliance monitoring, program administration, and stakeholder engagement at the school, community, and state levels. Proven record of success in advancing IDEA Part B outcomes, conducting statewide compliance visits, developing corrective action plans, and streamlining accountability processes. As an Education Consultant with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, performed comprehensive district compliance reviews, including pre-visit data analysis, on-site record reviews and interviews, exit meetings, and post-visit corrective action plans to ensure timely and systemic resolution of noncompliance. Achieved measurable results as a Special Education Teacher by leading more than 80% of students in a high-risk urban caseload to high school graduation and post-secondary success. As Executive Director of a grassroots teen center, designed and implemented programming for at-risk youth, reducing dropout vulnerability through targeted interventions. Advanced Indicator 8 outcomes as WSPEI Project Director by modernizing family engagement survey systems, improving participation rates, and delivering more reliable data for state decision-making. Recognized for combining policy expertise, data-driven decision-making, and collaborative leadership to ensure equity, compliance, and improved educational outcomes for students with disabilities.

• Conducted statewide compliance monitoring visits for school districts, including:
  Pre-visit data analysis and preparation
  On-site record reviews, interviews, and observations
  Exit meetings with district leadership
  Post-visit follow-up reports and development of Corrective Action Plans (CAPs)
• Authored detailed Corrective Action Plans including student-level corrections, systemic remedies, timelines, responsible parties, and verification processes.
• Ensured IDEA Part B compliance by monitoring evaluation timelines, discipline data, disproportionality, fiscal accountability, and service delivery.
• Produced technical reports for state and federal review (SPP/APR, monitoring reports, program evaluations).
• Skilled in plain-language communication, translating compliance data into accessible formats for parents, families, and the public.
• Drafted policy manuals, family engagement surveys, and written procedures to align with IDEA requirements.
• Analyzed district- and state-level data to identify trends, progress, and slippage across indicators.
• Utilized multiple levels of data (student records, state data systems, survey data, fiscal data) to inform monitoring and policy decisions.
• Improved application manager and survey processes for Indicator 8 (family engagement), streamlining efficiency and increasing reliability.
• As Executive Director of a grassroots teen center, designed and implemented programming for at-risk youth, improving graduation outcomes for students most vulnerable to dropout.
• As a Special Education Teacher in a large urban community, led more than 80% of caseload to high school graduation and post-secondary education.
• Directed statewide family engagement efforts as WSPEI Project Director, aligning parent involvement strategies with state accountability goals.
• Facilitated collaboration between district leaders, educators, parents, and advocacy groups to address compliance and improvement activities.
• Strengthened family-school partnerships through survey upgrades, technical assistance, and training aligned with Indicator 8 outcomes.
• Skilled in cultural competency and equity-focused engagement, ensuring diverse family voices inform state reporting and planning.
• Led system upgrades to streamline reporting, data collection, and family engagement tools.
• Applied project management skills to coordinate statewide monitoring schedules, staff training, and follow-up verification processes.
• Balanced compliance enforcement and technical assistance to support LEAs in sustainable improvement.

• Recipient of Department of Public Instruction's Discretionary Merit Compensation Award 2019.
• Successfully supervise team of 15 statewide family engagement staff members with unique and uniform projects.
• Collaborated to create a robust software management application platform which advanced R&D efforts and data collection on families, engagement, and Indicator 8.
• Negotiated enhancements with developers for family engagement survey management application, increasing precision for specific data collection requirements and user friendliness.
• Facilitated stakeholder engagement to ensure authentic family voice through public forums, parent panels, and family focus groups.
• Coordinated community outreach, community events, and fundraising.
• Documented and resolved staff performance issues which led to higher staff satisfaction and completion of NOFA activities.
• Collaborated with team of research analysts and family engagement experts in the development of the FEAP family engagement logic model, framework, and rubric.
• Reallocated resources and efforts using an equitable formula to ensure every student has the opportunity to graduate ready for further education and the workforce.
• Overseen development of vigorous training, materials, and resources on family engagement and equity.
• Lead planning for professional learning opportunities, helping grant staff and LEAs to shift from biased mindsets to using cultural sensitivity and equity, putting research into practice.
• Overseen development of new resource for families (by county) to help families find information to support their child's wellbeing and learning.
• Collaborated with family support organizations and grant staff to design a new literacy training to help families implement learning at home.
• Collaborated with team members and facilitated family focus groups to ensure family voice is authentic and heard in our work.
• Put procedures in place expressing commitment to closing opportunity gaps and ensuring high quality education for all disproportionate students, including students with IEPs.
• Coordinated successful school improvement initiative focused on Equity and improving outcomes for marginalized populations.
• Planned Family and Community Engagement Summit
• 98% rate current knowledge level regarding specific terms, frameworks, and resources discussed at the event as ready to implement with some or no supports.
• 97% report content was of high quality.
• 95% report content was highly relevant to my work or need.
• 95% report content equipped me to have a greater impact on students who have traditionally been underserved.
• 87% report better able to support improved outcomes for students with IEPs.
• 86% report content and material will enable me to be more effective in my work or support my child.

• Special Education Law & Compliance (IDEA focus)
• Public Administration or Policy Certificate – targeted training in governance and accountability.
• Data/Program Evaluation Certification
• Project Management Professional (PMP) – for managing large-scale compliance and monitoring projects.
• Technical & Plain Language Writing Certificate for public reporting
• Community Engagement Professional Certification (CEPC) – professional credential in community and stakeholder partnerships.
• Family Engagement in Education Certificate (Harvard Graduate School of Education)
• Equity Training - Beyond Diversity I
• Equity Training - Beyond Diversity II
• Authentically Engaging Stakeholders in Equity-Focused State Planning
• Cross-Categorical Special Education License

• Coordinated community outreach, community events, and fundraising. Facilitated stakeholder to ensure authentic family voice.
• Designed programs ensuring all students receive learning, skills, and knowledge necessary to become contributing members in our communities.
• Realigned resources and efforts to ensure every student graduates ready for further education and the workforce.
• Planned professional learning opportunities to train grant staff and LEAs, shifting from biased mindsets to practicing using culturally sensitive lenses, embracing equity and coaching LEAs to shift.
• Developed resources by county for families to use in navigating information and resources available to support their child's wellbeing and learning.
• Collaborated with family support organizations and state agencies to support families and develop resources.
• Lead and overseen process of grant staff developing new family and community engagement framework from existing research, a rubric, and measurement tool and process to evaluate educator-capacity building statewide.
• Collaborated with team members and facilitated family focus groups to ensure family voice is authentic and heard in our work and framework.
• Put measurements and procedures in place expressing commitment to closing opportunity gaps and ensuring high quality education for all students, including students with IEPs.
• Coordinated successful school improvement initiative focused on Equity and improving outcomes for all students, including students with Individual Education Programs (IEPs) statewide through family and community engagement efforts.
• Collaboratively developed Literacy Training Series for improving student outcomes for children with Individualized Education Plans (w/ Early Childhood and WIFACETS).
• Planned statewide Family and Community Engagement Summit

• Policy & Educational Equity: Strong interest in IDEA law, accountability systems, and ensuring students with disabilities have equal access to high-quality education.
• Technical Writing & Reporting: Enjoy drafting clear, structured reports, Corrective Action Plans, and policy documents that translate data and compliance into actionable steps.
• Data Analysis & Problem Solving: Keen on working with education data to uncover trends, monitor performance, and design solutions that improve outcomes for students.
• Program & System Improvement: Passionate about streamlining processes (e.g., family engagement survey upgrades) to make compliance and reporting more efficient and impactful.
• Family & Community Engagement: Committed to building stronger partnerships between schools, families, and communities, with particular interest in Indicator 8 outcomes.
• Mentorship & Leadership Development: Interested in guiding educators, staff, and future leaders through coaching, training, and capacity building to sustain compliance and improvement.