“Project 24: Plan for Progress” Encourages Schools, Districts, and States to Make a Plan Before They Make a Technology Purchase
WASHINGTON, DC – The Alliance for Excellent Education announced today that Tom Murray, former director of technology and cyber education for Quakertown Community School District (QCSD) in Pennsylvania, has joined the Alliance as its state and district digital learning policy and advocacy director. In this newly created position, Murray will work alongside state education departments, school districts, and individual schools to plan for the effective use of technology in achieving the goal of college and career readiness for every student, regardless of their geography or demographics.
“As a former classroom teacher, school principal, and director of technology at a school district, Tom has the unique experience to help schools and districts evaluate how they can use technology to support teachers and boost student achievement,” said Bob Wise, president of the Alliance for Excellent Education (the Alliance) and former governor of West Virginia. “Most importantly, he knows that schools and districts must develop a plan for how they will use technology effectively to address their specific challenges and learning goals before they make a purchase.”
Murray’s wealth of experience in K–12 digital leadership includes implementing a one-to-one program, a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program, and overseeing a K–12 cyber school. Murray has also implemented blended learning approaches, which pair a classroom teacher with technology to deliver rigorous and engaging curriculum over the internet. A former school principal, Murray is passionate about proper technology infusion and personalized professional learning.
“It’s an honor to join such a high-quality organization and team at the Alliance,” said Murray. “I’m excited to continue the great work already embedded in Project 24 while guiding states and districts with digital learning implementation. Today, too many districts are spending without a plan and utilizing an outdated ‘sit and get’ methodology for professional learning with little vision or plan for long-term sustainability. I look forward to working with states and districts to help them develop a clear vision and systemic implementation plan for progress to ensure that all children graduate from high school ready for college and a career.”
In his previous roles, Murray served as principal of Neidig Elementary School, assistant principal and athletic director at Strayer Middle School, business education teacher at Strayer Middle School, and fourth-grade teacher at Neidig Elementary School. Murray is a recipient of the Blended Schools Network Leadership Award; was named one of the top 16 “forward-thinking EdTech leaders in the country;” was named one of the “top 100 influential voices in education;” and has been featured in Tech & Learning magazine’s Leadership Profile. Murray’s QCSD cyber and blended learning programs have been highlighted by Forbes.com, T.H.E. Journal, District Administration magazine, Project Red, Tech & Learning magazine, the Innosight Institute, iNACOL, and on Digital Learning Day 2013 and 2014, among others.
Murray is also founder of #edtechchat, a weekly educational technology Twitter forum, through which hundreds of educators from around the world discuss digital learning. As a follow up, his weekly show #edtechchat radio on the BAM Radio Network is available on iTunes and regularly falls as one of the top downloaded education podcasts.
Murray holds a BA degree in psychology from Muhlenberg College and MEd degrees in educational leadership, educational development and strategies, and classroom technology from Wilkes University.
More information on Project 24 is available at http://www.plan4progress.org.
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The Alliance for Excellent Education is a Washington, DC–based national policy and advocacy organization dedicated to ensuring all students, particularly those traditionally underserved, graduate from high school ready for success in college, work, and citizenship. www.all4ed.org.
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