Glenna Wright-Gallo Email & Phone Number

Henderson, Nv, Us

Washington, District Of Columbia, United States

*Provided strategic vision and executive advisory to U.S. Secretary of Education on all matters related to individuals with disabilities, overseeing the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services and leading overall operations, and engaging with diverse stakeholders on behalf of more than 7 million individuals with disabilities.*Nominated by the U.S. President and confirmed by the Senate with bipartisan support.*Implemented long-term financial planning strategies to effectively manage and optimize a $20+ billion annual budget.*Directed the development of 30+ national policy documents, equipping school district and state education leaders with critical resources to implement systemic improvements.*Slashed waiting lists at 74% of state VR agencies through strategic technical assistance, targeted guidance, and optimized funding allocation.*Doubled state compliance with the 15% mandate for pre-employment transition services, dramatically expanding services.*Championed national policy development initiatives, working with national, state, and local leaders, labor organizations, advocates, educators, and families.*Established a culture of high expectations for all children, youth, and adults with disabilities and personnel, grounded in deep understanding of educational research and emerging best practices.*Led cross-functional team in coordinating intergovernmental diplomatic relations and public-private partnerships, including coordination with the White House Domestic Policy Council, Office of the First Lady, and the U.S. Department of State.*Spearheaded initiatives to address the educator and provider shortage, focusing on recruiting and retaining diverse personnel in special education and related services, including educators of color and those with disabilities.*Facilitated the adoption of innovative and advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI) and assistive technology (AT), to enhance educational and employment outcomes.

Olympia, Washington

*Directed over $250 million in federal funds and $100 million in state funding for services to more than 143,000 children with disabilities ages 3-21 in 295 school districts, charters, and tribal schools.*Spearheaded a $37 million initiative revolutionizing educational practices in Washington, securing the funding and boosting inclusion of students with disabilities in Washington by 12%.*Orchestrated collaborative effort with state legislators, district superintendents, and business managers to overhaul Washington's special education funding, securing an additional $155 million in state funding.*Leveraged stakeholder engagement and coalition-building skills to unite diverse interests.*Significantly improved graduation rates of students with disabilities by 28%, by focusing on research-based instruction, intervention, staffing, while increasing the rigor of graduation requirements in concert with the State Board of Education.*Steered the integration of Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and IDEA state and local improvement plans, leveraging analytical insights that identified shared improvement priorities.*Evidenced crisis management expertise during the pandemic, developing statewide guidance later used as a national model.*Designed and implemented coordinated efforts to recruit and retain diverse, effective personnel, addressing critical shortages through strategic investments and partnerships.*Promoted the use of evidence-based practices and quality, rigorous instruction across state education programs, supported by families, educator preparation programs, and labor organizations.*Developed and implemented transparent communication strategies to share rationales for decisions and policy changes with stakeholders.*Appointed by the newly elected State Superintendent of Public Instruction following a national search and supported by the disability and education community, including families, advocates, and school district leadership.

Utah, United States

*Directed $115 million in federal funds through grant dissemination and strategic funding of priorities for services for over 90,000 children with disabilities ages 3-21 and more than 100 school districts and charters.*Significantly improved graduation rates of students with disabilities by 20%, developing policy and responsive resources with the State School Board, legislators, and district superintendents.*Orchestrated flawless federal monitoring site visit in Utah, achieving zero noncompliance findings and showcasing exceptional mastery of complex regulatory requirements.*Transformed Utah's school-to-post-school transition planning for students with disabilities (i.e., 59% improvement) through comprehensive reforms and professional development.*Supported education programs through strategic budgeting, targeted professional development, and technical expertise, yielding a 12% performance improvement of students with disabilities served in the general education classroom the majority of the day.*Utilized logic model building, data analysis, data-driven decision-making, and program evaluation and optimization for systemwide student improvement, including programs for all students, students receiving assistance from Title I funds, multilingual learners, and students who are gifted and/or twice exceptional.*Appointed by the elected Utah State Board of Education and serving as a cabinet member with four appointed State Superintendents of Public Instruction.

Master Of Business Administration (Mba), Business Administration And Management

Masters Of Science (M.S.), Special Education And Teaching, Education Administration

Bachelor Of Science (B.S.), Special Education And Teaching

Activities and Societies: Zeta Tau Alpha (ZTA)