In the midst of important discussions on data privacy and security taking place across the nation, school leaders can easily forget how and why we adopted the array of applications that support learning and school operations. These systems did not arrive overnight. Rather, over the course of years, school leaders began to leverage software that helps scale personalized learning, provide engaging learning experiences, and run the “business” side of districts (e.g., scheduling, transportation, etc.).

 

The 2018-2019 school CTO hiring season is upon us. Until recently, next year’s jobs often didn’t post until spring. Now, greater expectations of the CTO role and competition for candidates have triggered earlier and longer hiring processes. This is good news for selective and experienced candidates.

 

But the flip side is that applicants are under greater scrutiny. Traditional hardware and software administration experience, though still relevant, are sometimes secondary to broader leadership skills.