2007 Board Elections - Corporate Candidates

	Elections Information Chuck Amos Peter Kaplan Lillian Kellogg

Peter Kaplan

Personal Information

Director, Regulatory Affairs, Funds For Learning
pkaplan@fundsforlearning.com

Experience and Educational Background

I am the Director, Regulatory Affairs, for Funds For Learning which is an education technology consulting firm. I monitor Congress and other federal agencies such as the Federal Communications Commission and Department of Education involved in making public policy for the E-rate or NCLB. I work with others in the education industry for NCLB reform, more funding and a streamlined E-rate application process. I also track other funding streams such as the Department of Justice or United States Department of Agriculture grants where schools can use those dollars to purchase technology related items. My responsibilities include marketing and forging strategic business relationships. I have a M.A. in Telecommunications from George Washington University which enables me to understand not only the political and regulatory landscape, but also the technological environment we are currently in.

As a prospective member of the CoSN Board of Directors, what do you view as the top three priorities for improving K-12 information technology?

Priority One:

Educate corporate membership of regulatory environment in order for them to create and develop products that will enable school administrators and teachers achieve high academic student learning.

Priority Two:

A priority in improving K-12 information technology is to have policy makers better understand the implications of their decisions. Policy makers can steer technology by setting clear goals and objectives and letting innovative companies create the products in order to help students learn. The E-rate is an example of how a bureaucratic, but well meaning program can make it difficult for companies to continue to participate because rules, procedures, guidance and forms change every year. There are companies that are choosing not to participate because it is too difficult to understand. NCLB has some strict requirements as well that often time make it difficult for companies to create affordable solutions for school districts.

Priority Three:

A top priority for improving K-12 information technology is for CIO’s and technology directors to better understand the technology they are purchasing. In order for K-12 IT to continue to improve these individuals need to have continuing education on emerging technologies and how technology can affect student achievement.

I wish become a member of the CoSN Board of Directors because:

I have been working with the education community for the past ten years and have a deep respect for everyone involved in the profession. I want to become a member of the CoSN Board of Directors because I know I can help CoSN broaden its membership both institutional and corporate. I believe strongly in CoSN’s core mission. Schools and companies that sell into the K-12 space share many of the same goals and objectives to help increase academic achievement and assist teachers with their professional development. CoSN has many high profile large school districts and national technology companies, but there are literally thousands of school districts and many other companies that can benefit from joining the CoSN family.

If elected, I bring the following skills to the CoSN Board of Directors:

If I received the honor of becoming a 2007 CoSN Board Member I have several important skills that would benefit CoSN. For starters, I know the value and have the skills to build coalitions and work with many different organizations that have common interests. Partnering with similar groups with common objectives is critical to helping your membership achieve their goals. Companies and schools need to have CoSN understand current political and regulatory environments. I have the background, experience and the skills to understand how to best create positive public policy to affect outcomes to help students reach their potential. For example, I know that this Administration and Congress, in particular, listens more to the business community than the education community which is unfortunate. However, because CoSN also has corporate members they should be more empowered and should have a louder voice than they currently do. My skills include understanding advocacy and coalition building and I have a M.A. in Telecommunications which enables me to understand the political, regulatory and technical landscape we are currently in.

I believe the most important goals for CoSN to achieve as a leading K-12 technology organization are:

1. Advocate positive public policy, legislative, regulatory outcomes
2. Educate School CIOs, technology personnel on the importance and how to’s of technology planning
3. Educate School CIOs, technology personnel on new and emerging technologies that benefit students instruction
4. Educate School CIOs, technology personnel on funding sources for technology
5. Educate School personnel on how to use technology for teacher training and integration of technology into an academic environment

Candidate Statement

It would be an honor to serve on the CoSN Board as your corporate representative. I know by working together we can achieve CoSN’s mission and uphold their core values to increase academic achievement. We all have a role to play in order to meet that objective and the role of technology, in its many forms, can not go understated.

My background and experience are in government relations and public policy and I have worked in the education industry for over ten years. My skills include understanding advocacy and coalition building. I have a M.A. in Telecommunications which enables me to understand the political, regulatory and technical landscape we are currently in.

CoSN does a great job of educating the institutional members on trends, emerging technologies, advocating positive public policy outcomes and providing all sorts of resources to help the CTO’s and technology directors. However, I believe CoSN needs to do a better job educating and providing resources to their corporate members on what the institutional members needs may be. In order for the corporate membership to partner with their customers they need to better understand the budgetary, regulatory pressures and environment that their customers face and CoSN could provide that leadership. CoSN should develop web resources geared specifically for their corporate members and provide networking opportunities beyond just at the annual conference.

I strongly believe in CoSN and want to take a leadership role within the organization to help both the corporate and the institutional members attain their goals.