Group items tagged

The job of overseeing a school district's technology program has grown exponentially in recent years as computers, the Internet, and other technology applications have become essential to the daily operation of schools. What are the essential skills needed to oversee a school district's technology program? The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) has undertaken a project to explore this question. Although actual job titles vary tremendously from one district to another (see By Any Other Name on p. 41), the authors will use Chief Technology Officer or "CTO" generically to refer to the main person or people responsible for technology leadership and decision making in a school system. The authors also refer to the school district as the main organization for which a K-12 CTO works, although technology leaders responsible for a network of independent or parochial schools--or even a large, individual school--are likely to identify with the issues.

For Ed Zaiontz, executive director of information services for the Round Rock Independent School District in Texas, and Leo Brehm, director of technology for the Sharon Public Schools in Sharon, Mass., being an effective school district chief technology officer (CTO) begins first with a passion for the job-and then the adoption of several important habits.
advertisement
eMail this Article
Submit an article
Discuss this article
Reprints and Permissions
More Headlines
Del.icio.us
Digg this Story


"In this job, you have to produce results and create value," said Zaiontz. "Besides providing leadership and vision, a customer-focused business mind, and a knack for planning and budgeting, you have to also take charge of process management."