Professional Learning | News

CoSN and AASA Launch Tech Toolkit for Superintendents

• By Christopher Piehler
• 10/08/14

The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) and the School Superintendents Association today released a new toolkit designed to help current and aspiring superintendents build their knowledge, skills and confidence as technology leaders for their schools.

Titled “The Empowered Superintendent: Professional Learning Module 1: Five Imperatives for Technology Leadership,” the toolkit covers key themes of sustainable technology leadership. Two related tools, “Self-Assessment for Superintendents” and the “District Leadership Team Assessment,” are aimed at helping district leaders evaluate their progress toward becoming effective technology leaders.

Development of the new toolkit was part of CoSN’s The Empowered Superintendent initiative, and was overseen by a Superintendents Advisory Panel. The panel, co-chaired by Mark Edwards (Mooresville Graded School District, NC) and Terry Grier (Houston ISD), included nearly 20 superintendents from around the country.

Keith Krueger, CEO of CoSN (pictured), said, "With these critical, timely updates, we wanted to give superintendents an actionable framework that matches today’s education and technology priorities and helps them make decisions that strategically support the district’s vision and student outcomes."

The toolkit explores the following five themes, or “imperatives,” of technology leadership:

1. Strengthen district leadership and communications; 
2. raise the bar with rigorous, transformative and innovative learning and skills; 
3. transform pedagogy with compelling learning environments; 
4. support professional development and communities of practice; and 
5. create balanced assessments. 

The toolkit extends the guidance beyond the individual superintendent, offering key action steps for building a technology leadership team as well as references and resources for professional development.