SETDA honors policy makers on both the state and federal level. Awards are given at the annual Leadership Summit Awards Gala in November.
State Level Policy Makers may include any state legislators, state superintendents, state or U.S. territory governors, and state board of education or state department of education representative. Nominees must be considered a “Champion to the Cause” and demonstrate leadership in support of educational technology.
Federal Policy Makers may include United States Representatives or Senators. This person is a "Champion for the Cause" of Education Technology and rallies support from legislators or sponsors bills.
2012 Federal Policy Maker Award
Olympia Snowe, U.S. Senator of Maine
As a member of the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Snowe established the successful E-Rate program with Senator Jay Rockefeller (WV) in 1996 when only 14 percent of schools were connected to the Internet. Snowe and Rockefeller gained the inclusion of their E-Rate provision in the telecommunications reform bill by a single vote in the Senate Commerce Committee; successfully fought back an effort on the Senate floor to remove the provision from the bill; and defended the E-Rate program during the two and one-half year implementation process at the Federal Communications Commission while ensuring it was implemented in a manner consistent with the language of the law and intent of the authors. Her steadfast support for the program and the cause of educational technology in the midst of budget constraints at both the state and federal level since that time reflects her commitment to ensuring access to the Internet and technology for effective teaching and learning.
2011 State Policy Maker Award
Dr. Patricia Wright, Superintendent, Virginia Department of Education
Read more about Dr. Wright >
State Policymaker Award Ceremony
2011 Federal Policy Maker Award
U.S. Senator Patty Murray of Washington
Read more about Senator Murray >
Richard Culatta, accepting on behalf of Senator Murray, pictured with Washington State members, David Walddon, Julia Fallon and Geoff Fletcher
Past Policy Maker Winners
2010 State Policy Maker Award
Dr. June Atkinson, North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction
Pictured: Dr. Atkinson with Neil Kimrey, NC
2010 Federal Policy Maker Award
Senator Jeff Bingaman, NM
Pictured: Doug Levin, SETDA, Peter Zamora, Staffer, and Michelle Lewis, NM
2009 State Policy Maker Award
Ms. Judy Jeffrey, Iowa State Chief
2009 Federal Policy Maker Award
California Representative George Miller
2008 State Policy Maker Award
Dr. Joseph Morton, Alabama State Superintendent
2008 Federal Policy Maker Award
Senator John D. Rockefeller IV
2007 State Policy Maker Award
Michael Flanagan, Michigan State Superintendent
2007 Federal Policy Maker Award
California Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard
Pictured: Barbara Thalacker,California SETDA member, US Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard,
and California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell
2007 Federal Policy Maker Award
North Carolina Senator Richard Burr
Pictured: Frances Bradburn, SETDA member, Senator Burr,
with two students from North Carolina Public Schools.
2006 State Policy Maker Award
Jorea Marple, West Virginia Assistant State Superintendent
2006 Federal Policy Maker Award
Iowa Senator Tom Harkin
Pictured: John O'Connell, Iowa SETDA Member
presenting Senator Harkin with the award.
2005 State Policy Maker Award
John Cradler
2005 Federal Policy Maker Award
Utah Senator Orrin Hatch
Pictured: Rick Gaisford, Utah SETDA member,
presenting Senator Hatch with the award.
2004 Federal Policy Maker Award
Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter
