Kalamazoo RESA Superintendent Ron Fuller. Photo by Erik Holladay.

Ron Fuller, a member of The Learning Network of Greater Kalamazoo’s Executive Team, has been Superintendent of Kalamazoo RESA for the past five years, and will retire at the end of this school year after 39 years in public education. Fuller has led Kalamazoo RESA to a new level of cooperation, collaboration and cohesiveness with local and regional districts and educational partners in Southwest Michigan.

From a countywide educational perspective, what does The Learning Network bring to the Prekindergarten-12 landscape that wasn’t already here?

The Learning Network brings an unprecedented level of coordination of services to education and families in Kalamazoo County. This effort helps to focus agencies working on the perimeter of education, family services and youth development into a cohesive structure for youth.

What key thing would you like everyone to know about The Learning Network?

I believe that the Learning Network will finally bring all child-centered organizations together to better serve the interests of our youth.

How long does it take for initiatives like The Learning Network to begin having an impact at the student or family level?

Coordination of services should have an immediate and positive impact for families and students. The impact on the education of our youth will take a longer period of time to show results.

Looking out five or 10 years, how will education in Kalamazoo County look different because of The Learning Network?

I envision a future where an umbrella of all student-centered services are housed under one roof and are readily available to school personnel. This concept originates from a community that cares deeply about its youth.

The Kalamazoo Community Foundation is a funder of The Learning Network of Greater Kalamazoo. This article originally appeared in the Learning Network’s newsletter and on its website.