I nominate David Kurtz, Department of Treasury, Bureau of the Public Debt, for FISSEA Educator of the Year.

David graduated in 1980 with a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Charleston (WV) and received a fellowship to West Virginia University in Morgantown. He graduated in 1985, having attained both a master's degree in public administration and a doctorate of jurisprudence from WVU. Upon graduation, was selected for the federal government's two-year Presidential Management Internship Program. David worked at NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC from 1985 through 1987 (witnessed the Challenger disaster in 1986) He attended all the special training opportunities provided for the Presidential Interns, including a seminar held at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Transferred at the end of 1987 to the U.S. Department of Treasury's Bureau of the Public Debt in Parkersburg, WV, where he is currently employed in the bureau’s IT security branch as a Management Analyst. Duties include teaching computer security classes; writing and reviewing a variety of computer security documentation; coordination of General Accounting Office and Inspector General audits; contingency planning; review and analysis of proposed administrative regulations and guidelines; strategic planning; budgeting; liaison to Department task force on IT skills enhancement; records management and paperwork reduction initiatives; special project assignments such as TQM; collateral duty EEO counselor and trainer; editorial board member for Bureau-wide quarterly magazine; etc.

In the past year, David has developed and conducted awareness training for multiple agencies in support of the bureau’s franchise security efforts. His training was extremely well received and customer agencies have asked David back to train their employees again in FY 08. David works tirelessly at the Bureau to conduct the security awareness classes as well as the Information System Security Representatives (ISSR) training. David authors the ISSR newsletter and the “Security Corner” of the Frontline Newsletter.He is also responsible for monthly security reminders and is very proactive in providing bureau employees with security items of interest on a regular basis.

Activities outside of work include election to the county school board (1992-2000) where he was elected President of the West Virginia School Boards Association, and frequently provided training at conferences. David was invited to write an article for U.S. Department of Education publication and also had article published in National School Board Association magazine regarding internet homepage. He was invited to serve as a presenter at three NSBA Conferences, receiving high evaluation scores from participants. He was recognized by the George Lucas Educational Foundation’s magazine “Edutopia”for outstanding use of technology.

He is currently serving as an adjunct faculty member, teaching evening classes for West Virginia University-Parkersburg. He originally taught American Government and since the spring semester 2005 has been teaching Constitutional Law. Student evaluation scores have been high.

P.S.
David Kurtz also won the poster contest for 2007 and 2006 in the FISSEA Security, Training, and Education competition, as well as the FISSEA logo redesign contest.

Congratulations David Kurtz!