News
Federal and State Policymaker Awards
The Federal and State Policymaker Awards honor elected and appointed policymakers at both the state and federal levels who have championed equitable access to technology and the effective use of technology in K-12 education.
Federal Policymaker
2023
FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks
Washington
SETDA honors Commissioner Starks for his longtime support of the E-Rate program and as a champion for the Affordable Connectivity Program, which has enrolled more than 20 million households as of August 2023. Commissioner Starks has consistently advocated for broadband deployment in rural areas because he understands that equal access leads to resources and opportunities that the internet provides.
Read the full press release here.
Federal Policymaker Honorees
2022 | Senator Patty Murray Congressman Jerry McNerney |
Washington California (9th District) |
2021 | Senator Gary Peters | Michigan |
2020 | Congresswoman Grace Meng | New York |
2019 | Senator Jacky Rosen | Nevada |
2018 | Senator Ed Markey | Massachusetts |
2016 | Congressman Dave Loebsack | Iowa |
2015 | Senator Tammy Baldwin | Wisconsin |
2014 | Congressman Jared Polis | Colorado |
2013 | Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel | Federal Communications Commmission |
2012 | Senator Olympia Snowe | Maine |
2011 | Senator Patty Murray | Washington |
2010 | Senator Jeff Bingaman | New Mexico |
2009 | Congressman George Miller | California |
2008 | Senator John D. Rockefeller IV | West Virgina |
2007 | Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard Senator Richard Burr |
California North Carolina |
2006 | Senator Tom Harkin | Iowa |
2005 | Senator Orrin Hatch | Utah |
2004 | Senator Arlen Spector | Pennsylvania |
State Policymakers
2023
New Mexico Public Education Secretary Arsenio Romero
Former New Mexico Public Education Secretary Kurt Steinhaus
This year’s award honors Dr. Steinhaus and Dr. Romero for creating an environment in which technology is an integral part of New Mexico’s public education system. In 2022, Dr. Steinhaus began updating the Technology in Education Act. He retired before he could see the updated legislation, now the Digital Equity in Education Act, passed and signed by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham on July 1, 2023. Dr. Romero came to the Department after serving as superintendent of Los Lunas Public Schools. He completed the work started by Dr. Steinhaus to get the Digital Equity in Education Act passed and signed into law.
Read the full press release here.
State Policymaker Honorees
2021 | State Superintendent Dr. Sydnee Dickson | Utah |
2018 | Governor Rick Synder State Superintendent Brian Whiston (posthumous award) |
Michigan |
2017 | State Superintendent Jillian Balow | Wyoming |
2016 | Dale Erquiaga, Office of Governor | Nevada |
2015 | Education Commissioner David C. Hespe Chief Innovation Officer, Assistant Commissioner Evo Popoff |
New Jersey |
2012 | State Superintendent Tom Torlakson | California |
2011 | State Superintendent Dr. Patricia Wright | Virginia |
2010 | State Superintendent Dr. June Atkinson | North Carolina |
2009 | Director Judy Jeffrey | Iowa |
2008 | State Superintendent Dr. Joseph Morton | Alabama |
2007 | State Superintendent Michael Flanagan | Michigan |
2006 | Assistant State Superintendent Dr. Jorea Marple | West Virginia |