Last week during the Colorado Association of School Executives convention in Breckenridge, Colorado House District 61 Rep. Millie Hamner, D-Dillon, was honored for her dedication to education when she was presented with the association’s Friend of Technology Award.

The award recognizes Colorado leaders who support the leveraging of technology to provide better educational opportunities to students in the state’s classrooms.

This year the award was presented by representatives of the Colorado Association of Leaders in Educational Technology, which falls under the umbrella of the Colorado Association of School Executives.

A former superintendent of the Summit School District, CALET officials lauded Hamner for passing positive legislation regarding Internet filtering.

“Technology in education is so important as we navigate the best way to teach our kids the skills they need to compete in a high-tech 21st century economy,” Hamner said in a Colorado House of Representatives news release. “I will continue my work on this front and am grateful to CASE and CALET for recognizing the work of anyone who is pushing for these advancements and improvements to our education system.”

Rep. Hamner also played a significant role in this year’s conference, the release stated, and stood with other education leaders from Colorado in supporting the state’s education reform agenda.

“Rep. Hamner has been a great partner in education,” CALET president Steve Clagg said in the release. “The Colorado Association of Leaders in Educational Technology recognizes and appreciates Rep. Hamner’s support and named her Outstanding Friend of Technology for her knowledge and awareness of technology challenges in education.”

In addition to Hamner, CALET officials also bestowed the honor to Colorado District 28 Sen. Nancy Todd, D-Aurora, and Kim McMonagle, Douglas County’s director of educational technology.