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Legislative Education Staff Network

2008 LESN Recognition Award

The Legislative Education Staff Network (LESN) is pleased to recognize Kathy Hanlon for excellence in service to the Iowa General Assembly and to the Legislative Education Staff Network.  LESN is honored to present Kathy with the 2008 LESN Recognition Award.

Kathy has served the Iowa General Assembly for 17 years. As the senior nonpartisan education drafter and staffer for the Legislative Services Agency, Kathy is involved in all aspects of pre-kindergarten through postsecondary education legislation, including education appropriations. In addition, Kathy has served as NCSL's America's Back to School Program state coordinator for six years. She also served as a former member of the NCSL Task Force on School Leadership from 2001-2003. She is sought after for her nonpartisan education drafting knowledge and expertise by legislators, partisan and nonpartisan staff, and those stakeholders in the education community.  Throughout her tenure, she has demonstrated the highest level of professionalism, competence and integrity in her service to the Iowa General Assembly and the public.

Kathy is actively involved in NCSL and the Education Commission of the States (ECS) having served as an NCSL and ECS appointed LESN steering committee member for seven years and as an LESN co-chair in 2005-2006. In this capacity, she assisted with LESN goal planning, co-drafted the LESN mission statement, presided over the 2006 LESN summer seminar, participated in LESN working groups to increase network participation, assisted with planning for LESN's 20^th anniversary celebration, and moderated LESN sessions. Kathy continues to share her knowledge and expertise with education staff throughout the country via the LESN listserv by responding to inquiries and posting useful information. 

Dr. Audrey Carr, Committee Staff Administrator, Kentucky Legislative Research Commission and LESN member, states it best:

"Kathy is a role model for other legislative staff for participating in legislative-related professional groups. Her long-term commitment to LESN demonstrates how important it is to collaborate and share with other professionals in the field. Her low-key, but firmly-grounded approach to service is something that has served as a lesson to others."

Thank you, Kathy, for your years of service to the Iowa General Assembly and to the Legislative Education Staff Network!