Oct 18, 2006
Technology Leadership Certification
In an article that Peter Reilly wrote, Article: Certification for Technology Directors: in 2002 he outlines a certification process that would accommodate the changing role of the technology director in schools to provide them with the tools and education they need to be successful.
Most administrative positions in school districts require an administrative and teaching degree. With those degrees comes an education in administration, management, budget planning but in a generic sense. When most of us are in administrative programs we sit around the table with those seeking to become building principals, assistant superintendents, department chairs, business managers, etc. It is a generic degree made to prepare us for the roles we seek. The technology director position is a highly specialized position that requires a blend of management skills, systems thinking to improve process, leadership to give direction to appropriate technology acquisition and the leveraging of funding, understanding security issues, responsible for all data that is confidential and critical to the running of an organization, supervisory responsibilities that usually are not certified teachers but technical staff, building quality professional development, just to name a few. Peter continues to say that many tech directors experience burnout because of the diversity of their responsibilties. This position requires an unusual blend of management, technical and instructional responsibilties that most administrative programs do not prepare us for.
In an effort to address the need to provide more support to this evolved role of the technology director Peter Reilly (Lower Hudson Regional Information Center, Carol Troskosky (Western New York Regional Information Center) and I are suggesting to NYSCATE we put together a certication program that will help to provide education and support. Some of the questions we are reviewing are how do we provide this instruction, who should be be involved in planning, writing curriculum and administrating this. Let us know what you think.
The task of a tech director seems overwhelming. As technology advances, so to do the facets of the position. Maybe it’s time for school districts to reevaluate the entire position from the job title through responsibilities. It doesn‚Äôt seem as if one person can effectively ‚Äúdo it all‚Äù. Doesn‚Äôt a superintendent have assistants for curriculum and building principals to pick up the slack? He/she is not expected to ‚Äúdo it all.‚Äù Why not split the position of a tech director into more than one role? Only you, as one in the position would see where a logical line could be drawn.
Never thought of it that way because administrators are really required to wear so many hats. The voters don’t really like to add administrators but something to consider.
It seems to me that all administrative candidates would be much better served by separate, position specific learning experiences. I agree that technological directorship positions are highly specialized. However, I feel that way about all administrative positions. Shouldn’t each degree track require more in-depth training pertaining to the specific roles in the school system?
I am currently going through a program as mentioned above and I am very suprised that there is not more training going on with how to use the technology. We are being taught what we should be doing, but not how to use any of the technolgy. We as teachers need the training on uses for technology.
“This position requires an unusual blend of management, technical and instructional responsibilties that most administrative programs do not prepare us for.”
I wonder if the reason this position seems to require a scatter gun approach to the many faceted demands is the newness of the technology beast itself. technology moves at such a high speed, one just cannot keep up with all the new toys that manufacturers put out.
while it may not seem possible for one individual to keep up, a small group of tech folks could. this would ease the pressure of the job, so it would behoove the person in charge to delegate and draw in much talent from fellow workers.
fellow workers could be in the trenches, reporting back, analyzing, dissecting what works and what doesnt. a true team approach would make these tasks so much easier.
….teacher certification issues are very important to those of us who dont have a permanent ticket ……..while we struggle from day to day…….wishing and hoping and working hard….longing for that day when we finally have a permanent certification…….that will be just as nice as our tenure letter….
I agree that administration and teacher coordinators should have different degrees and experiences. Just in reading the article on the first day of class and observing our tech coordinator I could not imagine doing that job. Tech coordinators have so many responsibilities and they have so many people to answer to. Teachers, administrators, teaching assistants, students, and parents are always questioning tech coordinators. It seems as though they are always under pressure and are expected to have all the answers. I also agree that tech coordinators should be involved in curriculum design and planning. It all seems very overwhelming and I am very happy with my role as just a teacher.
This is a great idea. With the need for school districts to institute an effective and efficient tech plan it is imperative that we qualified personnel developing those plans. Having a formally trained and certified individual that has been properly prepared to deal wiith the many different facets of the job at hand can only help them and in turn the school district and ultimately the students.