School Administrators – Lost in Space

June 1, 2008 Education, Leadership, MGuhlin.net

Tim Holt (Intended
Consequences, the blog NOT the
book) writes the following comment in response to my tongue in cheek
post about coddling administrators–that Stephen Downes picked up
on–and Scott McLeod ignored:

If you’re waiting for comments from school administrators, we may be
here a while. Those leaders not only don’t write blogs, they don’t read
them either (even Scott’s . For the past year I’ve been trying to
persuade our assistant superintendent for instruction (my boss’, boss’,
boss) to write a blog instead of his weekly email missive to the masses
(one-way, no reply).

He’s acknowledged that the format would
probably be better but won’t take the leap, primarily because he doesn’t
understand the concept but also because his boss is a leader in
discouraging anyone inside the system publishing to the outside without
going through the PR office. I agree that we’ve used the soft
approach to getting our leaders to actually lead in this area for too
long. I wish we could find an effective brick bat.

His point is well-taken. In schools, there is only ONE administrator
that needs to recognize change–the Chief Learner in Charge, as Will
Richardson likes to say…the Superintendent of a school district. That
said, I’m hoping a bunch of administrators–perhaps even the
superintendent–in my district will take advantage of the opportunity.
I’m grateful to the Deputy Superintendent for steppng up and making
federal funds available. If all goes well, 80 campus
administrators/APs/AAs/CICs will be in attendance at NECC 2008 from my
district.

Should you happen into run into someone from my district, be sure to
share your story of how technology can make a difference. Then, link
back here when you blog about it, ok?

TO:
Principals
Assistant Principals
Administrative
Assistants
Campus Instructional Coordinators (CICs)

Subject:
NECC 2008 Attendance Opportunity
ACTION
REQUIRED
TIME SENSITIVE

Recognizing that campus administrators play a pivotal role in
determining how well technology is used in our schools, the San Antonio
ISD is funding attendance at the NECC 2008 Conference taking place June
29-July 2 in San Antonio, Texas for 80 principals, assistant principals,
administrative assistants and/or campus instructional coordinators.
Enabling administrators to attend NECC 2008 enables SAISD to define what
administrators need to know and be able to do in order to discharge
their responsibility as leaders in the effective use of technology in
our schools.

"Integrating technology throughout a school system is, in itself,
significant systemic reform. We have a wealth of evidence attesting to
the importance of leadership in implementing and sustaining systemic
reform in schools. It is critical, therefore, that we attend seriously
to leadership for technology in schools."
— Don Knezek,
ISTE CEO

GIVE BACK
Before
applying to attend NECC 2008, please be aware that there is an
expectation of "give back." Participants at NECC 2008 will be expected
to deliver 2, two-hour presentations about what they learned at NECC
2008 and submit a short form sharing how they are going to implement
that learning at their campus for the 2008-2009 school year. Give back
completion must be recorded by December, 2008. More information will be
shared prior to NECC 2008.

HOW TO REGISTER

To register campus leaders for the NECC 2008 Conference, the Office of
Instructional Technology Services will take the following steps: 1.
There are 80 slots available on a first-come, first-served for NECC 2008
registration. Participants are expected to apply via the Office of
Instructional Technology Services and submit critical information needed
by no later than 8:00 AM, Tuesday, June 3, 2008. Please indicate your
commitment to attend NECC 2008 online at [link removed]

2. The Office of Instructional Technology Services will notify all
potential NECC 2008 participants by Wednesday, June 4th to notify you of
whether you were among the first 80 to apply for registration.

3) The Office of Instructional Technology Services will take the
approved list of participants and register them for NECC 2008.

4) A confirmation email will be sent to those officially registered for
the NECC 2008 Conference.

QUESTIONS?
Should you have any questions, please do not
hesitate to contact the Office of Instructional Technology and Learning
Services (ITLS) at either 210-527-1400 or via email at
"mguhlin@saisd.net". Thank you for taking the time to review this
information and consider this opportunity for enhancing your technology
literacy by attendance at the NECC 2008 Conference.

The email went out from the Deputy Superintendent on Friday afternoon…results
refresh every 5 minutes here.