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State Leader of the Year Award
The State Leader of the Year (SLY) Award recognizes an active SETDA SEA member who has exhibited outstanding leadership by advancing educational technology in their state or collaborating with peers through SETDA initiatives. A SLY nominee creates positive change for SETDA and its members and furthers our mission by engaging with the broader education community at the regional, national, or international levels.
Nomination Process
To be eligible, SLY nominees must work within a state education agency or an affiliated state agency.
State and affiliate members may submit nomination letters before August 31, 2023. The letter should include the name of the person you are nominating and a description of that person’s contributions, accomplishments, and impact. Send nominations to [email protected].
2022 Doug Casey
Connecticut State Commission for Educational Technology
Doug Casey is the Executive Director for the Connecticut State Commission for Educational Technology (CET) where he designs and manages strategic plans that ensure the successful integration of technology in Connecticut’s schools, libraries, universities, and towns. The CET oversees statewide programs such as its flagship research and education broadband network, the Connecticut Education Network.
His prior experience includes managing technology and security for a network of magnet schools that are helping to close the achievement gap between urban and suburban learners. He began his career as a middle school English teacher and brings a diversity of experience to every challenge—from managing online publications for the Smithsonian Institution to systems engineering for the U.S. House of Representatives and national security agencies.
Mr. Casey is an active member of SETDA and currently serves as the Past Chair of the SETDA Board of Directors.
Current and previous SLY award recipients at the 2022 Leadership Summit
SETDA State Leader of the Year Recipients
2021 | Julia Legg | West Virginia Department of Education |
2020 | Sandy O’Neil | New Jersey Department of Education |
2019 | Julia Fallon | Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction |
2018 | Jerome Browning | Utah Education and Telehealth Network |
2017 | Stan Freeda | New Hampshire Department of Education |
2016 | Candice Dodson | Indiana Department of Education |
2015 | Peter Drescher | Vermont Agency of Education |
2014 | Laurence (Larry) Cocco | New Jersey Department of Education |
2013 | Jeff Mao | Maine Department of Education |
2012 | Wayne Hartschuh | Delaware Center of Educational Technology |
2011 | Stephen Sanders | Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction |
2010 | Carla Wade | Oregon Department of Education |
2009 | Rick Gaisford | Utah State Board of Education |
2008 | Jayne Moore | Maryland State Department of Education |
2007 | Lan Neugent | Virginia Department of Education |
2006 | Melinda Maddox | Alabama State Department of Education |
2005 | Michael Golden | Pennsylvania Department of Education |
2004 | Anita Givens | Texas Education Agency |
2003 | Brenda Williams | West Virginia Department of Education |