Changing Role of the District Technology Leader
Increasingly, making strategic educational decisions is part
of the technology world, and being a good technologist is no
longer enough for a district technology leader. Today, it’s
important for our district technology leaders to become knowledgeable
and actively engaged in all facets of the educational environment.
The role now requires leadership and relationship building towards
the district strategic alignment, being a collaborative with
district leaders to include partnering with Curriculum &
Instruction and Assessment, finding ways to harness new and
emerging technologies effectively and efficiently, which ultimately
support student success. To manage the change and understand
the risks associated with those changes, the district leader
must remain conscious of fully understanding the business side
of education by building results-oriented solutions with all
educational stakeholders.
Budget Strategy
District educational leaders are working feverishly to manage
the K–12 budgetary implications of the economic downturn.
The nature of our economic picture in education is providing
district leaders opportunities to drive transformation in teaching
and learning, using cost-effective technology solutions. District
leaders can now consider managed- and shared-services as a viable
solution — a source of substantial savings, innovative
cost restructuring, a catalyst for transformation, and an aid
when designed and used properly. Evolving technology solutions
still provide concerns for district leaders in areas of security,
business process management, quality of service, governance,
emerging technologies, etc.
Cloud Computing
Increasingly, cloud computing has become essential in K–12
education. Budgetary and financial pressures are providing opportunities
to drive the transformation of a more economical approach to
district storage management solutions. Cloud-based applications
and services can be a source of substantial savings, and a utility
for business intelligence when designed and used properly. District
leaders still must address the issues of security, managed/shared
services (private vs. public clouds), compliance, and strategic
alignment for continuous improvement process.
District Mobile Strategy
If a district mobile strategy (DMS) is implemented properly,
it can reduce costs, improve the potential for student access,
and provide opportunities for an increase in efficiencies for
the K–12 educational institution. Just as mobile tools
are increasingly being used globally and nationally by a broad
range of age groups, and based on the growing number of educational
applications and mobile resources that are being accessed by
today’s K–12 generation, the efficient development of
a DMS strategy serve to leverage mobile devices towards student
and organizational success. However, a failed DMS strategy can
create frustration and anxiety among educational stakeholders,
ultimately exposing the district to concerns about financial
implications, adequate professional learning, and ultimately
implications for student success.
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TAC Experts provide the guidance you need to manage the risks
of technology initiatives throughout the process, and the insight
to complete those implementations with the level of success
you demand.
Katie Lovett
Over 33 years service to the education community, from classroom
teacher, to district department leader, cabinet executive, Chief
Information Officer, and education consultant. Throughout her
IT career, she focused on effective use of information and communication
technologies to advance learning. She has a strong background
in data-driven decision making and technologies around successful
data use and implementation. She is experienced in developing
and implementing enterprise strategic technology plans focused
on student learning and aligned to the district vision, mission
and goals.
Steve Muzzy
Over 25 years of leadership and managerial experience in the
areas of information technology, facilities management, operations
management, and project/program management. Steve is experienced
in the private and public sectors, serving the K–12 education
marketplace and other markets, holding positions such as CIO
of the 40th largest school district in the country
and VP of a classroom technology hardware manufacturer. Steve
is passionate about the critical role the CTO/CIO serves in
providing innovative and transformational educational experiences
to students and teachers alike. He is the past president of
the Florida CoSN council and has conducted numerous presentations
and workshops on topics that are critical to success of the
“new” education technology leader.
John Tracy
Over 35 years of experience in software development and quality-assurance,
accounting, and project, program and general management. John’s
private-sector background includes telecommunications and billing,
IT and payroll/tax. His final assignment at Convergys Corporation
was project/program director for software development services
for a Fortune 500 client, where he consistently drove multiple
overlapping 100,000-hour software development projects to successful
completion while reducing the program cost structure via offshoring
program work to India. In the public education sector, as CIO
of Seminole County public schools, John drove virtualization,
thin-client desktop, ERP and network build-out projects. He
also has developed and taught project management courses for
local colleges and the University of Central Florida (UCF).
Ann Ware
Over 30 years service to the K–12 educational community,
including roles as a classroom teacher, school leader, district
technology cabinet administrator, state department of education
cabinet leader and educational consultant. She understands the
value in building solid relationships with education and vendor
stakeholders that ultimately results in enabling student, teacher
and organizational success. Ann has a strong background in the
alignment of appropriate technology solutions with proven research-based
practices in support of continuous improvement. Through service-oriented
leadership, she has encountered success in a wide range of experiences
through a laser-like focus on student and organizational success.
Bev White
Over 35 years experience in education including K–12 classroom
teacher, college professor, college technology administrator,
K–12 cabinet-level Chief Technology Officer (CTO), and
K–12 cabinet-level Chief Information Officer (CIO). Author
of multiple texts and supplements for distance learning, Bev’s
consulting experience encompasses workshops, presentations,
and design and delivery of webinars emphasizing the areas of
educational leadership, team building, management of technology,
stakeholder relationships, and the evolving role of the K–12
district technology leader. Bev’s continuing passion is empowering
practitioners who are working to improve teaching and learning.
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