CoSNs Framework of Essential Skills of the K-12 CTO

A Career Pathway for the District Technology Leader

Keith Krueger CEO, CoSN

CoSN Mission

Empowering K-12 school district technology leaders to use technology strategically to improve teaching and learning

CoSN Core Belief

The primary challenge we face in using technology effectively is human, not technical
For that reason, CoSN focuses on

Leadership and Policy

Who are CoSN Members?

The CoSN membership includes a unique blend of education and technology leaders, policy makers and influencers from the public and private sectors CoSN core audience: district technology leaders Chief Technology Officers (CTOs) Chief Information Officers (CIOs) Technology Directors

CoSN 2009 - 2012 Goals

1) Increasing the skills and competencies of district technology leaders as defined by CoSNs Framework of Essential Skills for K-12 CTOs 2) Enabling educational leaders to understand the strategic benefit of technology and demonstrate the value of having a CTO at the cabinet level 3) Building capacity of CTO state chapters and providing regional professional development for districts of all sizes 4) Advocating for a vision and necessary resources in support of the role of technology in advancing 21st century learning
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Why the Need for a Framework?

Clear identification of the role of the CTO
position in a districts leadership organization

Professional development opportunities Validation from industry recognized leaders Need for partnership of Teaching and
Learning and Technology Services Focus on broad Body of Knowledge

5 Necessary Areas of Expertise

Leadership and Management Fiscal Management

Organization and Culture Skills

Tech Skills

Business Skills

Changing Role of the CIO

Make managing relationships an essential part of your job.

The New CIO Leader Ten Priorities

1. Lead, dont just manage.

2. Understand the fundamentals of your environment.

3. Create a vision. 4. Shape and inform expectations.

5. Create clear and appropriate IT governance.

6. Weave business and IT strategy together. 7. Build a new IT organization.

8. Build and nurture a high-performing team.

9. Manage the new enterprise and IT risks. 10. Communicate IT performance in business-relevant
language.

3 Overarching Characteristics

Vision

Influence
Execution

My guess is that about one-third of todays CIOs cant meet the business demands and skill set and mental outlook and interpersonal skills demanded by that position in the global, consumer-driven economy at the dawn of 2008.
- Bob Evans, Senior VP/Editorial Director of Information Week

Roles of the K-12 CTO

District Administrator Technology Expert Instructional Leader Business Leader

K-12 CTO Role: District Administrator

Cabinet level position in the school district Conform to state and district polices for
administrators

Interpersonal skills Change agent

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K-12 CTO Role: Technology Expert

Oversee districts networks,
administrative and communication systems

Supervise technical support staff

Develop and enforce IT policies

Make informed IT purchasing
decisions

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K-12 CTO Role: Instructional Leader

Information Technology and

Educational Technology

Good understanding of
Instructional Technology

Able to build a strong team or work closely

with a team in parallel with IT

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K-12 CTO Role: Business Leader

Broad knowledge of how schools and
districts operate
RFP and the purchasing process

Managing budgets

Project management skills

Strategic planning

Project planning

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CoSN's Certification Committee

Chair: Bailey Mitchell, Chief Technology and Information Officer, Forsyth County (GA) School District Co-Chair: Jean Tower, Director of Technology, Public Schools of Northborough and Southborough (MA)

Sheryl Abshire, Ph.D., Chief Technology Officer, Calcasieu Parish (LA) School System Will Blaylock, Director of Instructional Technology, Rockwood (MO) School District Philip Brody, Retired CTO, Clark County (NV) School District Walter L. (Luke) Fox, Executive Director of Information Technology, Richland County (SC) School District One Oswaldo A. (Oz) Galarza, Director, Technology Services, San Juan (CA) Unified School District Harrison Butch Hamer, Jr., Information Technology Director, Clovis (NM) Municipal Schools Mark Hoffman, Director, Instructional Media and Technology, Bucks County (PA) Intermediate Unit #22 Katie Lovett, Education Consultant Dan Maas, Chief Information Officer, Littleton (CO) Public Schools Dr. Bill Morrison, Director of Technology, Rapides Parish (LA) School District Dr. Alice Owen, Executive Director of Technology, Irving (TX) Independent School District Chad Rex, School Improvement Technology Consultant, Lucas County (OH) Educational Service Center Annamaria Schrimpf, Director of Educational Technology, Winchester (MA) Public Schools Ed Zaiontz, Executive Director, Information Services, Round Rock (TX) Independent School District Facilitator: Vicki Bigham, Professional Development, CoSN; President, Bigham Technology Solutions, Inc.

Microsoft's Education Competency Wheel

Source: www.microsoft.com/education/competencies/default.mspx
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ISTE NETS for Administrators

Source: www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForAdministrators/2009Standards/NETS_for_Administrators_2009.htm
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Baldrige Education Criteria: A Systems Perspective

Source: www.quality.nist.gov/Education_Criteria.htm

Maurice W. Green (2003) Research

Current Issues in IT Education

Chapter 27 Information management in public

sector agencies: a context-sensitive, conceptual framework of CIO competence

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CoSNs Refreshed Framework of Essential Skills of the K-12 CTO

Essential Skills: Four Spheres

Leadership & Vision

Leadership & Vision

Strategic Planning

Leadership & Vision

Strategic Planning Ethics & Policies

Understanding the Educational Environment

Instructional Focus

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Understanding the Educational Environment

Instructional Focus Professional Development

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Understanding the Educational Environment

Instructional Focus Professional Development Team Building & Staffing

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Understanding the Educational Environment

Instructional Focus Professional Development Team Building & Staffing Stakeholder Focus

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Managing Technology & Support Resources

Business

Managing Technology & Support Resources

Business Information Technology

Managing Technology & Support Resources

Business Information Technology Communications

Managing Technology & Support Resources

Business Information Technology Communications Data

Core Values & Skills

Communicator Flexible & Adaptable Innovative Results-oriented Exhibits Courage

Body of Knowledge

Contact CoSN

Consortium for School Networking 1025 Vermont Avenue, NW Suite 1010 Washington, DC 20036 866/267-8747

www.cosn.org