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Geoff Fletcher
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Stephen Sanders of the Wisconsin Department of Instruction Honored as SETDA’s 2011 State Leader of the Year

November 21, 2011 (Washington, D.C.) – Stephen Sanders, Director of the Instructional Media and Technology Team at the Wisconsin Department of Instruction, was honored with the State Leader of the Year (SLY) award by the membership of the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) at the 2011 Leadership Summit, “Leveraging Technology for Learning.”  This top award from SETDA goes to an active SETDA member who has exhibited outstanding leadership in integrating technology, collaborating with peers, and engaging within the broad education and education technology communities to ensure the effective integration of technology in learning.

“Stephen has been a leader within SETDA since the beginning of the organization,” said Jeff Mao, Chair of the SETDA Board of Directors.  “He has served on the Data and Policy committees and has long been the ‘go-to’ guy within SETDA on federal issues such as E-rate. He is constantly reaching out to members with suggestions and ideas as well as responding to questions.” Within the Wisconsin Department of Instruction, Stephen not only drives the educational technology initiatives, but he also provides the Department with guidance and direction for across-Department efforts such as the BadgerNet Converged Network and the statewide student information system.  He also staffs the state superintendent’s Digital Advisory Council. Outside the Department and SETDA, Stephen has served on CoSN’s board and worked closely with both CoSN and ISTE on advocacy matters. A nominating letter from Kurt J. Kiefer, Assistant State Superintendent of the Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning noted, “It is truly a pleasure to watch Stephen in action… He has made a difference locally and regionally and nationally…He has contributed to the success of SETDA during its first 10 years.  We cannot think of anyone more deserving of this award.”

About the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA): Founded in 2001, SETDA is the national member association that represents the interests of the educational technology leadership of state and territorial education agencies in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. SETDA members work collectively and in public-private partnerships to ensure that meaningful technology innovations with broad potential for systemic improvements and cost-savings in teaching, learning, and leadership are brought to scale. For more information, please visit www.setda.org.