Alabama’s Daniels a finalist for national award for cyber tech school

Alabama House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels’ efforts to prepare a workforce for growing jobs in cyber technology have made him a finalist in the 2019 New Ideas Challenge – a competition among rising and innovative state and local policymakers to propose the most effective solutions on an array of issues. The finalists were announced by The NewDeal, which created the contest.  

Policy experts vote for the proposals that best improve Americans’ economic well-being and overall quality of life, and that make government work more effectively to meet communities’ needs. 

Of 50 proposals evaluated by a panel of judges, Daniels’ idea, the Alabama School of Cyber Technology & Engineering, is a finalist in the education category, which includes ideas aimed at improving access to the resources students need to succeed. 

“I am thrilled to be named a finalist and to be included in this group of talented leaders across the country,” said Daniels. “Americans can’t wait for theoretical debates and political rhetoric to address the challenges they face. This is an important time to share practical ideas that give people, and their communities, a fair shot to reach their full potential.”

The new school of cyber technology and engineering for grades 7-12 will provide students the opportunity to become the next generation of innovators by giving them a jump-start on careers in technology, engineering, and cybersecurity. Daniels was the House sponsor of a bill that passed the Alabama legislature establishing the school. The school, located in Huntsville, is slated to open in the next year.    

“In a world being rapidly transformed by the forces of globalization and technological innovation, and where Americans have lost faith in national government to solve pressing issues, the New Ideas Challenge shows how a group of innovative state and local officials are rising to the occasion of finding solutions,” said NewDeal CEO Debbie Cox Bultan. “Rep. Daniels and his fellow finalists have made proposals that, together, set an important governing agenda for the country to follow and for making the economy and government work better for the American people.”

The Challenge was open to the 166 members of the NewDeal, an organization that supports state and local pro-growth progressive elected officials through the exchange of ideas and engagement with other top public, private, and non-profit sector officials. U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (VA) and former Delaware Gov. Jack Markell serve as Honorary Co-Chairs of the group.

The five winners of the New Ideas Challenge will be announced on Thursday, November 21, at the ninth annual NewDeal Leaders Conference in Washington