Dr. Sarena Fuller is the Executive Director of ArtSpace Charter School in Asheville, North Carolina, where she leads a K–8 public charter school recognized twice as a National ESEA Distinguished School by the U.S. Department of Education. With 20 years of experience in North Carolina education, her career has included roles in traditional public schools, charter schools, and state-level education.
Dr. Fuller began her career as a North Carolina Teaching Fellow at East Carolina University. She earned a master’s degree in school administration from Appalachian State University and a doctorate in educational leadership from Western Carolina University, where her research focused on strategic planning for innovative public schools. Her work as an educational leader centers on school culture, innovative approaches to teaching and learning, and the integration of the arts across the curriculum.
Dr. Fuller was named the 2024 North Carolina Wells Fargo Charter School Principal of the Year and previously received the STEM Administrator of the Year award from the SMT Center and Teacher of the Year honors while teaching in Burke County. She is particularly interested in the ways education policy shapes what is possible for schools, educators, and students, and in bringing the perspective of a practicing school leader to those conversations.