Jerome Browning

Since 2018, Jerome has been serving as the State E-Rate Coordinator for Utah through the University of Utah’s Utah Education and Telehealth Network (UETN), a nationally recognized statewide network serving over 2000 entities across the state. In this role, he provides support and training for all of Utah’s E-Rate participants, including UETN. His primary responsibilities include providing administrative and application support and ensuring compliancy for the UETN Statewide Consortium, which secures E-Rate discounts in Category 1 for all eligible applicants in Utah.  He also focuses upon the local schools and libraries Category 2 efforts in his training opportunities and day-to-day availability. 

Jerome Browning has been involved with the E-Rate program since its inception and has over 25 years of experience in education and educational technology. He began his career in rural Coosa County, Alabama, at Central High School, where he served as a Math Teacher, Football Coach, and Computer Applications instructor, as well as the district/school technology coordinator. Jerome was thrilled to start his career in education in Goodwater, Alabama, his hometown.

After transitioning to a role focused solely on educational technology and E-Rate in Chambers County, Jerome joined the Alabama Department of Education. There, he expanded his skills in supporting educational technologies across the state, helping schools secure funding through his role as State E-Rate Coordinator and through various federal and state grants. In 2004, he developed and implemented the Alabama Joint Purchasing (ALJP) program, a statewide managed E-Rate enabled State master contract system for the procurement of broadband and network services, as well as other information technologies for public K-12 schools. This system,  has and continues to streamline the E-Rate participation for Alabama applicants.

Before his career in education, Jerome worked in cost accounting, business management, and computer and network systems. He also volunteered as a Fire/Medic Captain for over 12 years in rural Goodwater, Alabama. Interesting note and a shout out to Future Farmers of America (FFA) and “Ag class” at Goodwater High, Jerome learned and honed in his award-winning skills as a welder and musician. These skills became a key element in receiving his Bachelor of Business Administration/Accounting, Bachelor of Science Secondary Mathematics and Master of Education, Instruction Design/Technologies. These diverse experiences have uniquely prepared him for his role in education and the E-Rate program.

During his tenure at the Alabama Department of Education, Jerome was honored with the ISTE “Making IT Happen” award through the Alabama Leaders in Educational Technology (ALET), recognizing his extraordinary commitment, leadership, courage, and persistence in improving digital learning opportunities for students. He was also awarded the State Educational Technology Directors Association’s (SETDA) State Leader of the Year in 2018, acknowledging his active support for districts in improving digital learning opportunities, his collaboration with peers nationally through SETDA (for over 20 years) initiatives and committees, and his engagement with the broader education and policymaking communities to advocate for the role of technology in advancing education.