CUE names Assemblymember Tom Torlakson 2009 Legislator of the Year
Walnut Creek, CA, March 4, 2009 — Computer Using Educators (CUE, Inc.) announced today they are proud to honor Assemblymember Tom Torlakson (D-Antioch), as the CUE 2009 Legislator of the Year for his work to boost digital literacy in schools and cultivate the scientific and technical talents of our students.
According to John Cradler, CUE’s Legislative Advocacy Committee Co-Chair, “As a former science and math teacher, Assemblymember Torlakson understands the value of technology in the classroom as teachers work to prepare our students for the challenges of today’s increasingly interconnected workforce. He has led the charge by authoring important legislation meant to equip our students with the tools they’ll need to be successful.”
Last year as a Senator, Torlakson authored SB 1637, reauthorizing the regional California Technology Assistance Project (CTAP), which serves as the backbone for education technology and the use of technology in K-12 educational instruction throughout California. Specifically, CTAP is the primary resource for assisting educators in planning, providing professional development, using technology to manage student data, and finding and applying for technology funding. SB 1637 also reauthorizes Statewide Educational Technology Services (SETS) with provides information and support to teachers and administrators that can most cost-effectively be delivered on a statewide basis.
This year, Torlakson is authoring AB 836 which would establish the Education Technology Task Force to create a comprehensive statewide plan on education technology and requires the adoption of California digital literacy standards by July 30, 2010.
Additionally, Torlakson has worked to promote the educational use of technology within the community by hosting a series of hearings of the Senate Select Committee on Schools and Community to discuss the status and future of educational technology in California. He authored SB 1330, which, if passed, would have established a Statewide Education Technology Policy Taskforce to develop a comprehensive statewide plan to increase and to enhance technology in schools.
Upon hearing the news that he was to receive the award, Assemblymember Torlakson remarked, "It is truly an honor to receive the ‘2009 Legislator of the Year’ award from Computer Using Educators. Our economy relies on a well trained workforce that can adapt to rapidly changing technology. CUE is working to make technology, which we know to be a critical instructional resource, available to all students in California.”
Assemblymember Torlakson is the third recipient of the CUE award. The first recipient was the Ed Tech Action Network (ETAN), a collaborative effort of ISTE and CoSN. ETAN was formed to provide a unified voice in Washington, DC, as well as at the state level, in support of educational technology. The second recipient was Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard because of her passionate work on legislation to expand the current “Enhancing Education Through Technology” as well as her support for increasing technology funding in the Federal Stimulus Act of 2009.
In addition to naming the CUE Legislator of the Year, CUE, Inc. has provided leadership in education and technology for over 30 years through high quality professional development, legislative advocacy, publications, professional collaboration, and by producing California's premier educational technology conference. More information on CUE, Inc. is available at www.cue.org# # #
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Computer Using Educators is a 501(c)3 non-profit California corporation.
This page was last updated: Wednesday, March 11, 2009 at 1:11:57 PM
