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Ellen Ullman
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SETDA
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SETDA Honors Melinda (Mindy) Fiscus of Illinois
with the 2023 State Leader of the Year Award

November 13, 2023 (Washington, D.C.) — SETDA, the principal membership association of U.S. state and territorial educational technology leaders, announced Melinda (Mindy) Fiscus as the 2023 recipient of the State Leader of the Year (SLY) award. Last week, Mindy accepted the award during the 2023 Leadership Summit and Ed Forum held in Arlington, VA.

School leaders in Illinois benefit from Mindy’s expert knowledge of the federal E-Rate program to assist districts in maximizing the billions of dollars of funding that help connect schools and libraries, enabling them to leverage the power of technology for personalized learning. Mindy leverages her exceptional skills in fostering collaboration among educators, administrators, and technology experts to develop district/school comprehensive technology plans and brings diverse groups of professionals together with strong communication skills, leadership skills, and organizational skills. Most recently, she helped design a STEAM Expo at the 2022 Illinois State Fair and brought that event to multiple regions in the state this year to provide more students with access to STEAM learning and career paths.

Mindy has been actively involved in SETDA’s work for more than 10 years, leading its E-Rate Collaborative, participating in nearly every SETDA member committee, and serving on the Board of Directors since 2019 and the incoming Board Chair starting in January 2024.

“I’m honored and humbled to have received the SETDA State Leader of the Year Award,” said Mindy Fiscus. “I’m grateful to be a member of an organization that empowers state leaders in the field of educational technology and I continue to be inspired by the work of my colleagues across the country. As someone who strives to be a resource to the schools I serve in Illinois, I’m thrilled to be a part of this community and to work together to make sure all students have equitable access to high-quality technology and learning experiences. I look forward to continuing our work together to unlock the full potential of teaching and learning.”

“Championing equity and access lies at the core of SETDA’s values. Mindy’s exceptional leadership, both within her state and the wider SETDA community, exemplify her outstanding commitment to this cause,” said Julia Fallon, Executive Director of SETDA. “Her unwavering dedication is evident through her pivotal role across various committees and her consistent leadership make it an honor for SETDA to name Mindy Fiscus as the 2023 State Leader of the Year.”

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About SETDA
Founded in 2001, SETDA is the principal association representing U.S. state and territorial educational technology and digital learning leaders. Through a broad array of programs and advocacy, SETDA builds member capacity and engages partners to empower the education community in leveraging technology for learning, teaching, and school operations.