Renee Fullerton (Olympia School District school board District 3, Washington, candidate 2025)

Renee Fullerton

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Nonpartisan

Candidate, Olympia School District school board District 3

Elections and appointments

Last election

August 5, 2025

Education

Bachelor's

University of Missouri, 2004

Graduate

University of Arizona, 2011

Personal

Profession

Policy analyst

Contact

Campaign website

Renee Fullerton is running for election to the Olympia School District Board of Directors to represent District 3 in Washington. She is on the ballot in the general election on November 4, 2025.^[source] She was on the ballot in the primary on August 5, 2025.^[source]

Fullerton completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Renee Fullerton provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on July 8, 2025:

• High school: Lawrence Free State High School
• Bachelor's: University of Missouri, 2004
• Graduate: University of Arizona, 2011
• Gender: Female
• Profession: Policy Analyst
• Incumbent officeholder: No
• Campaign website
• Campaign endorsements

Elections

General election

General election for Olympia School District school board District 3

Renee Fullerton and Rhyan Smith are running in the general election for Olympia School District school board District 3 on November 4, 2025.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	Renee Fullerton (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Rhyan Smith (Nonpartisan)

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	Incumbency information for this election was not available.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Olympia School District school board District 3

Renee Fullerton, Britney Johnson, and Rhyan Smith ran in the primary for Olympia School District school board District 3 on August 5, 2025.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	Renee Fullerton (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Britney Johnson (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Rhyan Smith (Nonpartisan)

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	Incumbency information for this election was not available.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Endorsements

Fullerton received the following endorsements. To view a full list of Fullerton's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here. To send us additional endorsements, click here.

• State Sen. Jessica Bateman (D)
• State Rep. Beth Doglio (D)
• State Rep. Lisa Parshley (D)
• Thurston County Commissioner Rachel Grant
• Olympia City Council Memb. Dani Madrone (Nonpartisan)
• Frmr. State Sen. Sam Hunt (D)
• Olympia Indivisible

Campaign themes

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Renee Fullerton completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Fullerton's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

A high-quality public education should meet students where they are and build on their unique strengths.This is not just a goal—it is a right. It takes all of us, families, educators, and voters, to make that right to education a reality.

As an Olympia School District parent I’m honored to seek the role of Olympia School Board Director for District 3. My husband and I moved to Olympia in 2012 and have built our family here. Our children attend neighborhood schools. I care deeply about equipping our students with the tools they will need to be successful.

As an experienced leader and public servant with relationships spanning Washington’s educational and workforce systems, I bring creative thinking, a proven track record in policy development, a commitment to transparency, and an ability to navigate complexity. Serving on the board is a tremendous responsibility—our decisions affect students, families, educators, and the broader community. I would be honored to apply my experience, dedication, and heart to support every student in our district, and I would be grateful for your support.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• As part of the board, I will prioritize building more partnerships with local employers to create meaningful career pathways for all students.
• I believe that OSD needs to recommit to students still recovering from pandemic disruptions. District-wide, achievement remains significantly below past levels. We must support our teachers and paraprofessionals so every student has the resources they need to thrive. This will likely involve doing things different than we have in the past.
• The board should lead the way in fostering community conversation and clear OSD policy around AI in education, both its use by students and also our educators. I see this as the start of a larger conversation about how new technologies are rapidly integrated into students’ daily social and educational interactions with little understanding of long-term consequences and the impact on critical thinking.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

As a public health professional I care deeply about the inequalities our students experience. Our schools must offer opportunity to all, and students come with many different experiences. Children cannot learn when they are hungry, unsafe at home, or in pain from dental issues. While schools cannot be all things to our students, I am passionate about ensuring OSD is engaging with the needs of our students and families to help connect with appropriate community support.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job directly relates to my enthusiasm for education that connects to career opportunities. When I was in junior high, the announcements one day let everyone know that the local hospital was accepting students into their summer junior volunteer program. I got an application from the school nurse and was a volunteer, cleaning IV poles, and delivering supplies for three summers. When I turned 16, I applied for a job in the hospital dietary department and worked there every other weekend and summers until I left for college. The hospital even provided a small scholarship for me to to use for college.

I didn't end up going into a clinical profession right after college but the foundation was laid. When I transitioned careers in my late twenties, I went into public health. In a full circle, professionally I now help ensure we have workers for hospitals similar to the one I used to work in. I talk to employers about the importance of giving students early career exposures to healthcare.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

OK GO, Needing/Getting (the video version with the car) has been living rent free in my brain lately. If you haven't seen the music video I encourage you to look it up. It's a delight.

What is the primary job of a school board member in your view?

The overarching responsibility of the board is to set the mission, vision, and goals for the district inline with the desires of the community. The board works to execute this vision by hiring, evaluating and supervising the superintendent. The board approves curriculum, sets policy for the district, brings community connections and perspectives from our constituents, which includes students, and approves the district budget.

While the board is responsible for the oversight, it should not be involved in the micromanagement of the district’s programs and functioning. It is the responsibility of the superintendent to manage the day-to-day operation of the school district.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Jessica Bateman, State Senator, 22nd LD

Beth Doglio, State Representative, 22nd LD
Lisa Parshley, State Representative, 22nd LD
Sam Hunt, Former Senator, 22nd LD
Rachel Grant, Thurston County Commissioner
Dani Madrone, Olympia City Council

Olympia Indivisible

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

I have previously served as the executive director for several health professional licensing boards. These are regulatory entities similar to the school board. There is a budget and staff to be managed, as well as rulemaking and policy development. This all must be conducted in accordance with Washington's Administrative Procedures Act. I’ve operated within the requirements of the Open Public Meetings Act for board members.

I understand and respect the rights of Washingtonians to know the business of their government, which includes both policy and budget decisions.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Other survey responses

Ballotpedia identified the following surveys, interviews, and questionnaires Fullerton completed for other organizations. If you are aware of a link that should be added, email us.

• VoteWA Profile

See also

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Candidate

Olympia School District school board District 3

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