About Me

I regularly get questions about large data systems; classroom voice amplification systems; interactive whiteboards; every type of computing hardware and operating system; social networking uses and abuses; acceptable-use policies; technology ethics and digital citizenship; applications of hardware and software in every curricular area and grade level; collaborative purchasing programs; state and federal laws surrounding technology data privacy; E-rate eligibility; e-books and digital textbooks; content management programs; security systems; VoIP phone systems; Notification Systems, Technology tools for best practices and … well, you get the drift. It would be impossible for any single individual to master all the areas of hands-on expertise needed to deal with all school technologies and their applications.

Even though I couldn't install a router if my life depended on it, I can describe in plain English things like access points, switches, routers, packet shapers, firewalls, deployment servers, thin clients, Active Directory, LDAP. DaaS, WAPs, and a whole host of TLAsm, SIS, LMS, SCORM and (Three Letter Acronyms)—what they are, what they do, why they are important, and what specs to think about when considering them. I read continually and broadly in many areas of technology. But I depend on my 5 Star Solutions IT staff, especially my mentor/Lead Technician and my patient network manager, to teach me and help me make good collaborative decisions.

I feel the same way about the technology integration specialists in my department—he is my teaching and eLearning, staff-development, to lead and advocate for 21-century data-driven, authentic learning. It's as crucial for the technology director to understand education concepts like differentiation, Response to Intervention, Common Core standards, value-added measurement, and Understanding by Design as it is to understand the technology itself.

Perspective and empathy are as essential to being an effective technology director as hard technology skills or knowledge. The new role of the technology director is to ensure a realistic balance between the concerns of the technology department and the goals of the instructional program. I am proud that everyone in my department of works together as a real team.

In planning, supervising, project management, communicating with staff and administration, policymaking, and budgeting, it's vital that I make informed decisions. Admitting my ignorance about both technology and education—and then figuring out how to alleviate that condition—has proven to be the most successful strategy I have found in my 3 years of doing this work. That's why, most of all, you need an educator in charge of the technology department who is willing to learn continually.

• From configuring networks and local servers to mediating contracts for cloud-based andcontracted services.
• From supervising technicians to evaluating outsourced work and setting up effective help-desk processes.
• From writing technology plans to working interdepartmentally with curriculum, staff-development, public relations, assessment, and strategic-planning leaders.
• From providing technology devices to staff and students to providing access to school network resources accessible with personal devices.
• From writing policies that dictate behaviors and ban activities to writing guidelines and curriculums that encourage safe and responsible use.
• From knowing about the how to understanding the why of a new technology in education.
• From preserving the status quo to implementing new technology applications and best practices
• Seamlessly plan and execute device collection and distribution, rotation of device refresh plans.