Dear Educational Technology Faculty,
Over the course of my career, I have come to view leadership and education as inseparable from technology. My role as founding Head of Georgia School Ningbo has given me the unique opportunity to design, implement, and refine an international school from its earliest days. For more than a decade, I have led the growth of GSN into a PreK–12 American international program, authorized for Advanced Placement courses by the College Board and accredited by WASC. Throughout this journey, I have worked to establish academic excellence together with a culture shaped by responsibility, respect, and the values embedded in our “Five Agreements.”
The work of building and sustaining a school required me to consistently integrate educational technology into our mission. I guided the adoption of systems that supported student learning, faculty collaboration, and data-driven decision making. Our use of learning management platforms, climate and course evaluation surveys, and technology-based professional development strengthened instruction while ensuring that feedback from students, parents, and teachers informed every stage of school improvement. By embedding these processes into weekly meetings and long-term planning, GSN developed a culture of reflection and innovation that continues to define our growth.
My graduate studies in Educational Technology have given structure and vocabulary to practices I had been developing in the field. Courses such as EDTC 6320 and 6321 provided frameworks for needs analysis and instructional design that I could directly apply to school initiatives. The emphasis on research in EDFR 6300 and 6302 enhanced my ability to evaluate programs and understand how students learn in diverse contexts. Projects in courses like EDTC 6332 helped me synthesize these lessons into strategies that bridged leadership, instructional design, and community engagement.
Reflecting on these experiences, I recognize how the Ed-Tech program has complemented my professional work as a school leader. It has allowed me to approach challenges with a clearer process, to value design as much as management, and to see technology as a means of extending both teaching and leadership. As Georgia School Ningbo continues its mission to inspire students to become leaders of thought and global citizens, I remain committed to applying what I have learned to strengthen our school community and contribute to the broader field of international education.
Sincerely,
Cavon Ahangarzadeh