Aaron Fettgather

Advanced education policy implementation by helping state education agencies turn policy and funding priorities into practical support for schools. Delivered convenings, communications, and continuous improvement to strengthen execution at scale. • Expanded reach 35% in 6 months by growing a weekly education policy and federal updates newsletter, improving format and deliverability, and using performance data to lift engagement across 200 plus SEA practitioners • Drove record attendance, 100% satisfaction, and 54% average annual growth for a national education policy convening by leading planning, outreach, onboarding, speaker coordination, and budget management, connecting SEA leaders with federal partners and national organizations • Improved program measurement by increasing annual survey response rates 30% and sustaining 100% satisfaction for 3 consecutive years, then converting findings into action plans and program improvements • Expanded capacity building through a webinar series and community of practice, using interactive design and participant feedback to shape topics including ESSER sustainability, audit readiness, workforce wellbeing, and state performance dashboards • Strengthened school improvement execution by coordinating the School and District Improvement Collaborative focused on CSI and TSI schools and cross team problem solving across accountability, English learner supports, and school leadership • Advanced the Coalition to Advance Future Student Success by coordinating member engagement, aligning state facing resources, and translating landscape analysis into strategy recommendations • Increased education policy engagement with decision makers 178% over 3 years by improving outreach, participant preparation, and practical advocacy materials for Capitol Hill meetings

Specialized in driving engagement, retention, and growth for the Council of School Attorneys. My role encompassed comprehensive management of member services, strategic planning, and the development of innovative professional development programs. - Worked closely with leadership to determine goals/annual plans, developed programming, educational content. - Managed program and department budgets, including forecasting, revenue targets, new product development, and reporting - Oversaw change management of associational management system/database, e-commerce, auto-fulfillment, and membership renewals - COSA professional development programs (both virtual and in-person), including developing content ideas; research; and identifying, securing, negotiating, and managing speaker/presenter relationships. - Marketing copy and COSA-related communique content, newsletter content, member email blasts, and correspondence. - Research and communications projects that provided distinctive value to COSA, state association members, and others as appropriate, around legal advocacy for public education. - Developed KPIs for the program and department Exceeded product performance of 24% higher than initial target. Reduction of membership "churn". Achieved by increased partnership efforts, operational efficiency, and increasing brand and customer experience.

Developed high-quality K-12 assessments for states, the Bureau of Indian Education, and Department of Defense schools by collaborating with content developers, psychometricians, and contractors. Managed the lifecycle of test item creation, facilitated educator engagement, and ensured successful project execution and stakeholder satisfaction. Engaged educators by organizing working groups, recruiting top-tier professionals, and mediating conflicts to ensure rigorous assessment standards. Provided strategic insights, built strong relationships with colleagues and stakeholders, conducted quality reviews to maintain high standards, and authored briefing points for state education chiefs to communicate project progress. Key successes included working with senior leaders to reduce test time by 20%, the identification of numerous “fatal” flaws of test questions and facilitating a nearly 90% satisfaction level for our educator trainings.

Managed the K-12 portfolio in the US, leading high-level educational exchanges and reform initiatives. Developed impactful policy dialogues with major entities such as the White House Domestic Policy Council and the US Department of Education. Directed the organization and facilitation of international policy-advisor delegations, enhancing global educational strategies. Realigned the British Council's 9/11 Programme, significantly increasing scholarship applications and achieving a 45% reduction in costs, while partnering with key organizations including FDNY, NYPD, Tuesday's Children, Project Common Bond, Families of Freedom, and Scholarships America. Responsible for coordinating several philanthropic programmatic grants. Funded by HSBC, spearheaded the Rivers of the World project connecting classrooms internationally via virtual partnerships and fostering global educational links. Managed the Premier League’s Premier Skills initiative, leveraging soccer for community cohesion and youth development in US urban areas. Project manager for Barrick Corporation’s CSR initiative through the Active Citizens program, enhancing community projects and services with the Western Shoshone through strategic training and partnerships. Supported all donor reporting and stewardship of funds. Successes included engagement with the White House Domestic Policy Council (a first for the program), donor-funded pilot program resulting in >$200k in future sales, and a 45% reduction in programmatic costs by streamlining training.

Led the Teachers International Professional Development (TIPD) program, facilitating global exchanges for 150 UK teachers annually. Managed budgets over $200k and secured annual in-kind funding exceeding $60k. Oversaw logistics for multiple groups, ensuring seamless arrangements and strict contract compliance. Worked closely with state education agencies, school districts, and charter organizations, and charter schools. Successes included 95% participant satisfaction, six media mentions, and recognition from seven elected and appointed policymakers.

Responsible for managing the Attache's external meeting requests, including prepping and vetting. Worked closely with internal teams to facilitate office goals, operating across management levels. Developed B2C engagement resources and expertly managed high-level executive schedules. Organized programs for international dignitaries, conducted market research for educational initiatives, and facilitated effective communication across organizational levels.