Karen Cator: Transforming American Education: Learning Powered by Technology

Now is the time! Education faces unparalleled opportunities with the advent not only of new technologies, but also of new emerging pedagogies. Join Karen Cator, a top educational technologist at the U.S. Department of Education as she presents the national Education Technology Plan with particular emphasis on the specific goals and recommendations and the "Getting Started Now" section.

Karen Cator is the director of the Office of Educational Technology at the U.S. Department of Education. She has devoted her career to creating the best possible learning environments for this generation of students. Prior to joining the department, Cator directed Apple's leadership and advocacy efforts in education. In this role, she focused on the intersection of education policy and research, emerging technologies, and the reality faced by teachers, students and administrators.

Cator joined Apple in 1997 from the public education sector, most recently leading technology planning and implementation in Juneau, Alaska. She also served as special assistant for telecommunications for the lieutenant governor of Alaska. Cator holds a Masters in school administration from the University of Oregon and Bachelors in early childhood education from Springfield College. She is the past chair of the Partnership for 21st Century Skills and has served on several boards, including the Software & Information Industry Association—Education.