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CoSN CTO Academy Project Director: Donna Williamson, donna.davis.williamson@gmail.com

CoSN staff contact: Jill Brown, MA, Ph.d., Director of Professional Learning, jbrown@cosn.org

The CTO Academy For K-12 Early Career and Aspiring CTOs is a program to address the needs of education technology leaders who are new (less than four full years) to their CTO or Technology Leadership position or aspiring CTOs and EdTech leaders currently working in a technology department. Participants will have the opportunity to develop edtech leadership skills including; managing diverse teams, leading a variety of projects simultaneously, and collaborating with a variety of stakeholders. Academy participants make a positive impact on student-centered and digital learning in their school district and enhance their career trajectory.

Scholarships may be available for EdTech Leaders from underrepresented populations in the education technology community. Please indicate in the application if you are interested. 

This program was developed through public and private sector leaders, district CTOs and edtech leaders to address current professional development needs and thought partner support for aspiring and early-career CTO and EdTech leaders.


Questions?

Email Jill Brown, jbrown@cosn.org CoSN Director of Professional Learning, or Donna Williamson, donna.davis.williamson@gmail.com, Project Facilitator.


Note, the application uses a Google Form. If your school blocks access, please use a personal account or email us for other options.

 

Applications for the National Cohort are DUE September 1st Each Year

If you have questions about NY or GA cohorts, email jbrown@cosn.org.

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CoSN’s Early Career K-12 CTO Academy for Today's EdTech Leaders

Do you have - or know of - an early career CTO with less than 4 full years of experience? CoSN has a unique professional development opportunity for new technology directors - the Early Career K-12 CTO Academy. The year-long program builds a support system where new CTOs have access to resources and support that meet their unique needs. We also accept aspiring EdTech CTOs.  Email Donna Williamson or Jill Brown for more information.

This blended learning model consists of:

  • Mentorship – a thought partner/mentor to match your specific needs
  • Two virtual events per month beginning in October  that include deep dive discussions and practical activities
  • Capstone project (select projects may be featured at the CoSN  Conference)
  • Private online community consisting of past and current cohort members and mentors
  • Event at the CoSN Conference that will acknowledge participants' completion of the program

The  content is aligned with CoSN's Framework of Essential Skills and to the immediate needs of an early career K-12 CTO.  Topics includes but is not limited to the following:

  • Leadership and Vision
  • Finance and Budgeting
  • Communications with an emphasis on soft skills
  • Partnering with Curriculum and Learning
  • Infrastructure
  • Data Privacy and Security

The Deep Dive Discussions include but are not limited to the topics below:

  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in EdTech
  • Data Privacy Follow-up and AUP Policies and Enforcement
  • Managing People: IT and HR (Motivation, Vision & Buy-in)
  • Finance and ERATE
  • Project Management
  • Emerging Technologies
  • Long Range Planning
  • Technology Plans
  • Cyber Security

CoSN’s Early Career K-12 CTO Academy prepares new technology directors with fewer than four full years of experience to:

 

  • Lead the creation of a culture of innovation in their school district
  • Build a Professional Learning Network (PLN) of edtech experts and other new CTOs through face-to-face and virtual meetings
  • Understand best practices to build diverse teams that include under-represented populations in the edtech industry including African Americans, Latin, and Native Americans, Pacific-Islanders, and females
  • Benefit from the experience of veteran tech and curriculum leaders in the areas of supporting student-centered learning, technology budgeting, technical support strategies, infrastructure, effective strategies for communications, and more
  • Be part of discussions centered around new strategies for meeting the needs of diverse learners
  • Improve the soft skills necessary to work effectively with others in the culture-specific to their school district
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CoSN would like to welcome the 2023-2024 Cohort:

National Cohort
Damien Akelman Rowan-Salisbury Schools NC
Ben Allred Cabarrus County Schools NC
Eric Benedict Madison Metropolitan School District WI
Rich Chiuppi East Prairie School District 73 IL
Leevell Dansby III Vestavia Hills City Schools AL
Maria Dickerson El Paso Independent School District TX
Emily Dillard Alexandria City Public Schools VA
Malik Dulaney Uplift Education TX
Carl Eller Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools GA
Ana Estrada Township High School District 214 IL
Charles Franklin I work in a K-12 school system TX
Shon Goode Chesterfield County Public Schools VA
Megan Gretzinger Clinton School District MO
Kelly Grigg Deer Park ISD TX
Shane Grim Spring Grove Area School District PA
Taneeka Henderson Harris County Department of Education TX
Josh Hough Broome-Tioga BOCES (South Central Regional Information Center) NY
Amy Jackson Arlington Public Schools VA
Bonnie Johnson K-12 AZ
Matthew Kopishke Maine Regional School Unit 40 ME
Brooke Kopitzke Madison Consolidated School Coorperation IN
Joslyn Lear Baltimore County Public Schools MD
Kiesha LeRoux Mountain Brook City Schools AL
Emily Marshall Vail School District AZ
Ashley May Spring Branch Independent School District TX
David Ornelas Northside ISD TX
Lauren Owens Agua Fria High School District (K-12 HS District in AZ) AZ
Taishan Paschall Bloom Education Abu Dhabi
Brian Paulhamus Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit (CSIU #16) PA
Kimberly Rhodes Savannah-Chatham Public Schools GA
Kimberly Roberson Prince George's County Public Schools MD
Julian Robinson Hickman Mills C-1 School District MO
Jahan Rodriguez Community Unit School District 300 IL
Kelly Sain Thompson School District CO
Trent Schalk Lisle CUSD 202 IL
Monica Shrew Public K-12 TX
Robin Stout Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD TX
Librado Tena K12 TX
Amy Troutt Washington Elementary School District AZ
Angel Vales Austin ISD TX
Sean Walsh Bremen SD228 IL
Seth Wilkerson Consolidated High School District 230 IL
Georgia Cohort
Kevin Adams Bibb GA
Richard Arenal-Mullen Taliaferro GA
Starla Barker Tattnall GA
Tonya Barrett RESA Chattahoochee-Flint GA
Drake Benton Georgia Connections Academy GA
Jarrod Brogdon Colquitt GA
Tonja Brunn Savannah-Chatham GA
Lashawna Colbert Valdosta GA
Ana Daughtry Treutlen GA
Craig Dinn Newton GA
Lena Dowdy Mountain High School GA
Dustan Fennell Dublin GA
Terrence Fields Dougherty GA
Billy Goodwin Montgomery County GA
Dennis Howell Laurens GA
Andrea Ingram Sumter GA
Kristy Johnson Seminole GA
Jason Malick Effingham GA
Lindsey Martin Lowndes GA
Josh Mattos Bulloch GA
Carolyn McCord Richmond GA
Nathan Medley Polk GA
Jessica Miller Marion GA
Bruce Montgomery Gainesville GA
Jason Morris Berrien GA
Will Nagaj Butts GA
Donovan Pagel Northwest GA
Becky Purcell Catoosa GA
Leo Satara Foothills Schools Central Office Athens GA
Thomas Schie Rockdale GA
Connor Stanley Toombs GA
Leeza Streetman Dooly GA
Lorenzo Watts Washington GA
Carmen Wilson Crawford GA
Clint Winter Elbert GA
Amy Zock Decatur County Schools GA
New York Cohort
Kari Auer NYC Department of Education NY
Mike Barbieri GST BOCES NY
Melissa Boucher MADISON-ONEIDA BOCES NY
Heather Buff SKANEATELES CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT NY
Diane Bush Altmar-Parish-Williamstown CSD NY
Catherine Cahill LYNCOURT UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT NY
Tara Carrozza NYC Public Schools, Digital Learning and Innovation (DLI), Division of Teaching and Learning NY
Reasat Chowdhury New York City Public Schools - Central Division NY
Jason Clark NORTH SYRACUSE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT NY
Candace Fitzgerald Mexico Academy & CSD NY
Avery Forcier-Rodabaugh GST BOCES RIC NY
Eric Hubbard Marcellus Central School District NY
Dani Kennis Clarkstown Central School District NY
Dr. Lisa Mars NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 1 NY
Jazlyn Mena New York City Public Schools - Central Division NY
Mike Olson Chatham CSD NY
Jacob Resnick BT BOCES NY
Adam Schoenbart CHAPPAQUA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT NY
Andrea Tamarazio LACKAWANNA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT NY
Heidi Van Woert GST BOCES RIC NY
Alana Winnick POCANTICO HILLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT NY

 

Congratulations to CoSN's 2022-2023 Past Cohort! 

Kevin Adams Chief Information Officer Bibb County School District Macon GA
Pedro Agosto CIO Baltimore County Public Schools Towson MD
Emmanuel Ajanma Director of Technology Barre Unified Union School District Barre Vermont
Alex Anstine Assistant Director of Technology Raytown Quality Schools Raytown Missouri
Chuck Broyles  I.T. Operations Administrator Greeneville City Schools Greeneville TN
Andrew Click Technology Director Lee County Schools, AL Opelika AL
Austin Contreras Director of Technology Infrastructure Corsicana ISD Corsicana Texas
Colleen Davoren Network Infrastructure Manager Community High School District 99 Downers Grove IL
Anthony Dotts Network Systems Administrator Community High School District 99 Downers Grove IL
Giumarra Duhart Coordinator of Instructional Technology Metro. Nashville Public Schools Nashville TN
Andrew Fekete Instructional Technology Specialist Indian Prairie School District #204 Aurora Illinois
Gregory Gillette Director of Technology Rockingham County Public Schools Rockingham VA
Hope Gould Technology Director MSAD 58 PHILLIPS Maine
Jarod Lambert Director, Technology - Information Systems Conroe Independent School District Conroe Texas
Martin Medrano System and Device Engineer Indian Prairie School District 204 Aurora IL
Matthew Melton Director of Technology Portage Township Schools Portage Indiana
Evangelina Mendoza Interim Chief Information Technology Officer San Antonio Independent School District San Antonio Texas
Brian Miles Instructional Technology Coordinator Middleton Cross Plains Area School District Middleton WI
Jaclyn Patanio Director of Citywide Ed Tech New York City Dept. of Education New York City New York
Lars Porter Technology Coordinator Mountain Brook Schools Mountain Brook AL
Philip Price Chief Technology Officer School District of Oconee County (SC) Walhalla South Carolina
Allison Reid Senior Director, Digital Learning & Libraries Wake County Public School System Cary North Carolina
Erin Rennick White Instructional Technology Facilitator Mid-Del Public Schools Midwest City OK
Oscar Rodriguez Chief Technology Officer Austin ISD Austin TX
Kathy Ross Network Specialist Hardeman County Schools Bolivar TN
Chris Rowbotham Director of Technology Siuslaw School District 97 Florence Oregon
Shanna Schlitz Director of Technology Riverdale School District Portland Oregon
David Stovenour Director Baltimore County Public Schools Baltimore Maryland
Jim Struck Information Systems Manager Community High School District 99 Downers Grove IL
Alicia Taylor Director of Data and Technology LEAD Public Schools Nashville Tennessee
Matt Tombs Director of Innovation and Technology River Trails School District 26 Mount Prospect Illinois

DEI Scholarship Opportunity

The CTO Academy tries to secure five Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Academy Scholarships every year for CTOs from underrepresented populations in the education technology community. As part of the application process, you may request to be considered for one of these scholarships, if they are available.

"The work of a District Technology Leader can be lonely at times. The Early Career K-12 CTO Academy brings value and partnership to the daily work of a CTO. With a focus on leadership and vision, finance and budgeting, communications, infrastructure, and data privacy and security, this unique learning opportunity provides timely support both in resources and thought partners to those new to technology leadership."

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Amy Sterckx
Sturgeon Bay School District
Wisconsin

"The CTO Academy is absolutely the most valuable resource I have available to me!  The modules are relevant and the learning coincides with what is current in my work life.  Despite the variety of skill sets, the academy design supports all new CTO’s, and the course facilitator was very conscious of meeting me at my level, which ensured a quality experience."

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Tony Alvarez
Governor Mifflin School District
Pennsylvania

Eligibility and Timeline

New career K-12 chief technology officers (CTOs) with fewer than 4 full years of experience or aspiring EdTech leaders currently working in a technology department are invited to apply. Applications for the 2023-2024 cohort are open. The program will run from October 2023- June 2024.