Leadership in IT and the schools

Walter M. asked me to post the blurb I sent to the Mass Tech Dir discussion group to the MA Tech Dir Blog. I have expanded it here somewhat to give it the context it needed. It is meant to start an IT leadership discussion. -

Besides the ultimate goal as expressed by Mike, and strongly supported by Earle, of surviving your school tech role to retirement, I would like to add the LEADERSHIP goal. Vision, core values, mission, strategic planning, communication, involving all the stakeholders, and making sure all staff and students have the IT resources and support they need are imperative in order for them to add their part to the overall school goal of providing the best education for our students. You can only have the best education for the students possible if the schools have the best prepared and educated teachers and staff. Including teachers and all other stakeholders in the decision-making and professional development planning is critical to ensuring their engagement in the process.

We never make progress without looking at the big picture instead of just handling the minutia of the day-to-day crises that always appear. We are often so busy "putting out fires" that we are not paying attention to the forest we were hired to care for and improve in the first place. We need to take the time to take the leadership role and build it into our schedule. We need to remember during the frenzy of the day, that technology is merely the tool to reach the goad of improved learning. The key to improved learning and a successful school depends on the leadership in the school, a positive school culture, and the engagement of all the stakeholders in deciding where everyone wants to go and how to get there. The IT leader is extremely important to this process.

What is Information Technology Fluency?

To take a look at the link click on the title above. The original thinking was formalized with a National Research Council Study. You can read the book FREE by clicking on the Buy link at the fluency site. There are dozens of other links there for further information.

More information:
Lawrence Snyder is leading the way at U. of Washington.
Click: http://www.cs.washington.edu/homes/snyder/ to view.

There is also a free online course.
Click: http://courses.washington.edu/benefit/fluency/course/ to view.

The Commonwealth IT Initiative's IT Fluency page offers a shorter explanation.
Click: http://www.citi.mass.edu/aboutciti/itfluency.html to view.

and an upcoming conference at the National Academies in Washington, DC on Oct. 23 & 24th is on IT Fluency and HS graduation-
Click: http://www7.nationalacademies.org/bose/IT_Fluency_Home.html to view.