Say Yes Cleveland is proud to announce the appointment of Derrick Fulton as its new Executive Director. Fulton begins his tenure on Monday, February 9th, 2026. A seasoned nonprofit leader with a deep commitment to educational equity and community development, Fulton transitions to the role from his current position as Executive Director of Facing History and Ourselves in Cleveland.
“We are excited to welcome Derrick Fulton as the new executive director for Say Yes Cleveland,” said Dr. Warren Morgan, CEO of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and Board President of Say Yes Cleveland’s Board of Trustees. “Derrick will be filling an important position at a pivotal moment, and he brings over two decades of experience in navigating the complexities of urban education and social services. His professional career has given him a unique mix of experiences blending high-level fiscal management and direct community engagement. We look forward to having Derrick lead Say Yes Cleveland into the future.”
Before his time at Facing History and Ourselves, he served as Market President and Regional Vice President at City Year, where he oversaw 10 affiliate sites across the country. His impact in Cleveland is perhaps most visible through his tenure at University Settlement in the Broadway/Slavic Village neighborhood. Under his leadership, the organization saw a 42% budget increase and a 75% reduction in structural debt, all while developing and overseeing programs that helped students improve their attendance and academic achievement. For example, 80 percent of the students served in the literacy program improved their reading scores verified by the NWEA, a K-12 assessment and education research organization, assessment utilized by Cleveland Metropolitan School District.
Fulton’s background also includes serving as a Transformation Specialist at the Ohio Department of Education, where he managed a $20 million School Improvement Grant (SIG) budget and coached principals to ensure 100% of his assigned schools met funding requirements for consecutive years.
“I am deeply honored to join Say Yes Cleveland, an organization that represents a promise to our city’s youth,” said Derrick Fulton. “Throughout my career, whether at the state level or in the heart of Slavic Village, I have seen that our students don’t lack talent – they lack access. My goal is to use my experience in strategic growth and collaborative partnership to ensure that every Cleveland student benefit from our support, from the classroom to their eventual career. We are not just providing scholarships; we are building a sustainable ecosystem of success for our families.”
Fulton holds a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Bluffton University and a Master of Science from Franklin University. He is widely recognized for leading with integrity, authenticity, and a results-driven mindset that prioritizes student achievement above all else.
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About Say Yes Cleveland
Say Yes Cleveland is a local organization dedicated to providing Cleveland students with a clear pathway to success. The organization provides two primary pillars of support: comprehensive services for students in CMSD and partner charter schools from Pre-K through graduation, and tuition scholarships for college or career training for all eligible scholars upon graduation from a CMSD high school.
By prioritizing essential support services throughout a student’s entire primary and secondary education, Say Yes Cleveland aims to help students overcome the barriers often created by poverty. This holistic approach ensures students stay on track to graduate and are fully prepared to take advantage of the Say Yes scholarship waiting for them.
Launched in 2019, Say Yes Cleveland was established through a partnership of local convening organizations, including the City of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD), the Cleveland Foundation, College Now Greater Cleveland, and United Way of Greater Cleveland. For more information, visit SayYesCleveland.org.
