Since I was a teenager working in a computer lab, I’ve known that I wanted to work in technology. I progressed from programming to networking, to project management, to systems consulting, to leadership and to educational technology leadership by always pushing myself to learn new things and take on new challenges. I have a saying, “If you are bored at work, you’re not really working.” The tremendous amount of new learning that technology demands, coupled with the excitement of new challenges and opportunities around every corner, keeps me in love with my chosen field.
I see three areas of concentration for me moving forward. The first is the role of Chief Information Officer (CIO) concerned with information flow. This includes understanding how information flows in and out of the school and how it is stored, managed, accessed and secured. Part of this responsibility involves mapping this data flow and choosing and implementing the best tools necessary to enable it. The second is security. Experts frequently warn that the security of student data is the projected next big target for data thieves. Students do not have established credit histories thereby making them potential targets for creating fraudulent credit entities. Consequently, data security in schools will need to evolve. I see myself becoming a security expert that can aid our school in providing top-level information security. The third area of concentration for me is technology integration. Our school no longer has a full-time designated technology integrationist. Therefore, I will need to provide strategic planning and support for in-class technology integration. Sophisticated teaching methodologies coupled with student technology awareness has increased the need for more robust technology integration planning, teacher professional development and mentoring/coaching.
