Are You a Tech-Savvy Superintendent?

nylady — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 20:19:05 +0000

eSchool News has just announced its Call for Nominations to its 2009 Tech-Savvy Superintendent Awards.

Here’s the announcement fresh from the eSchool News presses:

Does your superintendent “get it” when it comes to technology? Does he or she demonstrate exemplary vision for the use of technology to improve all facets of education—and show outstanding leadership in working to make this vision a reality?

If so, then help us recognize these accomplishments by nominating your district’s chief executive for eSchool News’ ninth annual Tech-Savvy Superintendent Awards.

Nominees, who must be general superintendents of a K-12 school system, will be judged according to the criteria below. Ten national finalists will be chosen by the editors of eSchool News in consultation with last year’s winners. The 2009 winners will be honored in a ceremony held at the same time as the American Association of School Administrators annual conference in San Francisco and in the February 2009 issue of eSchool News.

Here are the criteria used by the judges:

Ten “Hallmarks of Excellence” for the eSchool News Tech-Savvy Superintendent Awards

1. Must be a general superintendent.

2. Models the effective use of technology in the day-to-day execution of the superintendency.

3. Ensures that technology resources are equitably distributed among students and staff.

4. Insists that adequate professional development is a component of every technology initiative.

5. Demonstrates exceptional vision in leading the development and implementation of a districtwide technology plan.

6. Exhibits a thorough understanding of the role of technology in education and can articulate that understanding to all school district stakeholders.

7. Provides exceptional leadership in supporting the integration of technology into the curriculum.

8. Demonstrates exceptional vision in employing technology to streamline school district business operations.

9. Demonstrates curiosity and open-mindedness in considering emerging technologies and weighing non-traditional solutions to traditional problems.

10. Thinks creatively and strategically about the long-term challenges and opportunities of technology in the school district and in education at large.

Hurry and get those nominations in, because the deadline is Sunday, Nov. 30. Apply at this link.

Palin’s Rocky Record on Educational Technology

nylady — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 03:02:33 +0000

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

PC Magazine last week took a look at the records of the two Vice Presidential candidates, Sen. Joseph Biden and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, on technology. How much expertise do they have and what do they support?

Biden, says the PC Magazine article, “has positioned himself as an advocate for children’s Internet safety and combating Web predators, while also drawing fire for some controversial stances on piracy and copyright issues.” Palin, says the story, “has been at the helm of a state not exactly ripe with technology issues. As governor, and not a member of the legislature, her experience appears to be limited to evaluating tech-related projects included in the state budget, and vetoing or approving tech-related bills. She has signed a few tech measures into law, but her most notable contribution might be the numerous vetoes this year for school technology projects.”

Projects rejected by Palin included:

– $300,000 for the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program, a program designed to increase the number of indigenous Americans who pursue careers in science, technology, engeineering and math.

– a $25,000 food bank computer upgrade and refridgeration improvement and $30,000 for EMS technology equipment in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough.

– of the 360 state budget items Palin vetoed, at least 43 were e-learning initiatives. She opted to cut about $2.2 million in funding at schools for things like LCD projectors, security system upgrades, educational software, software licenses, laptops for teachers, equipment upgrades, computer labs, and smart boards.

– the governor also rejected wireless access projects in five school districts, ranging in price from $10,000 to $32,000.

– Palin cut funding from $5 million to $2.5 million for the Alaska Consortium for Digital Learning, which had planned to use the money for phase two of a student laptop program.

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Are You a Tech-Savvy Superintendent?

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Palin’s Rocky Record on Educational Technology

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