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SETDA Names Charlie Fitzpatrick the Recipient of the
2023 Candice Dodson Influencer Award

November 13, 2023 (Washington, D.C.) — SETDA, the principal membership association of U.S. state and territorial educational technology leaders, announced that Charlie Fitzpatrick, K-12 Education Manager for Esri, was selected as the recipient of the 2023 Candice Dodson Influencer Award. Last week, Charlie accepted the award during the 2023 Leadership Summit and Ed Forum held in Arlington, VA.

The Candice Dodson Influencer Award commemorates the values, professional influence, and personal contributions to the field of educational technology that Dodson championed every day, and recognizes similar qualities in edtech leaders who carry on this important work. Dodson was the Executive Director of SETDA from May 2019 until her death in July 2020. The award is funded annually through donations to the Candice Dodson Memorial Fund.

As a long-time corporate member of SETDA, Charlie is always excited to share his love of the power of mapping to impact learning. He champions innovation and creativity, and when he leads workshops, many attendees stay after the session to continue the conversation. “He … taught us lots of ways to empower educators and students in our states to use the tools not only for learning but to spark social change,” wrote Amanda Nguyen in her nomination.

“It’s a huge honor to be mentioned on the same page as Candice Dodson,” said Charlie Fitzpatrick. “SETDA’s mission—helping educators and students have more powerful and effective learning experiences with technology—is so important. Working for Esri, my mission has been getting geographic information system software into the hands of teachers and kids of all ages. Understanding the variations between states and districts throughout the country has been easier for me, thanks to SETDA.”

“Charlie epitomizes the very essence of this award. For more than 15 years, he has been an integral and cherished part of SETDA and an unforgettable, passionate leader in K-12 education. We are delighted to honor his outstanding contributions with this award,” said Dr. Melissa Greene, Director of Strategic Partnerships for SETDA. 

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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.