Glenna Gallo

Since 2017, Glenna Gallo is the Assistant Superintendent of Special Education in the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) in Washington and the Past-President of the National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE). Prior to that, she spent seven years as the State Director of Special Education for the Utah State Board of Education (USBE), following work as a classroom teacher and administrator. She has over 25 years of public education experience teaching students with disabilities and adults, and 15 years of experience in state-level educational leadership with expertise in the improvement planning, management, and monitoring of public special education programs. Glenna has a B.S and an M.S in Special Education, a special education teacher and administrative license, endorsements as a Program Administrator, Principal, and Superintendent, and an M.B.A.

During her work in Washington state, special education programs were allocated an additional $155 million dollars for state special education programs, $25 million dollars for statewide inclusionary practices, $12 million dollars for paraeducator training, and $60,000 to reduce the use of restraint and isolation, revised the historical funding allocation formula to a two-tier system that considers inclusion, and revised the state high needs risk pool process to alleviate burden on school districts. Collaboration is a priority for her work, and collaborative efforts are infused within all state efforts regarding students with disabilities.

Glenna feels strongly that application of the intent of IDEA requirements results in increased student outcomes for students with disabilities and works with school and district administrators, special education staff, advocates, and parents of students with disabilities at the LEA, State, and national levels to review research, current student achievement, and compliance data to ensure state and local efforts are addressing instructional issues that impact results for students with disabilities.