CoSN today announced that 500 school leaders worldwide have earned the organization’s Certified Education Technology Leader (CETL®) credential. The 500th recipient is Steve Ouellette, Director of Technology, Learning & Innovation for Westwood Public Schools in Massachusetts.
 
Developed in 2012, the CETL® certification recognizes K-12 educators who have demonstrated mastery of the knowledge, skills and abilities needed to excel as school technology leaders. The 500 CETL® recipients are a diverse group of educators helping to lead districts of all sizes in rural, suburban and urban communities across 37 U.S. states, as well as in Australia and Belgium.  
 
 
“The CETL® credential is uniquely designed for school technology leaders. It goes beyond technical requirements, and that’s what makes it unlike other professional certifications,” said Keith Krueger, CEO of CoSN. “The incredible reach of the CETL® shows how committed education technology leaders are to advancing modern learning environments. We are excited for the program’s continued growth and impact.”
 
The CETL® exam is open to educators who have a bachelor’s degree, as well as four years of education technology experience. This experience is defined as covering the three overarching skill areas of CoSN’s Framework of Essential Skills of the K-12 CTO:
 
  • Leadership and Vision
  • Understanding the Educational Environment
  • Managing Technology and Support Resources
 
Recipients of the CETL are required to re-certify every three years based on continuing education development, presentations, publications, professional
volunteer service, among other accomplishments.
 
 
“As an aspiring leader, seeking and achieving the CETL® was one of my professional goals. This process strengthened my ability to lead and work effectively with stakeholders in and outside of school walls,” said Ouellette.
 
Additional facts about CETL® recipients:
 
  • They are highly educated. Nearly 70 percent have a master’s degree, 23 percent have a bachelor’s degree and 8 percent have a doctorate.
 
  • Majority are in leadership roles. Approximately 44 percent are Chief CIO/CTO level and 30 percent are Department Director level. In addition, one superintendent and one state legislator have earned the CETL.
 
  • It pays to have experience and earn the CETL®. On average, recipients of the CETL have 13 years of experience, and those with more than 10 years of experience make 14 percent more than their non-certified counterparts.
 
The CETL® program is generously supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, FileWave and the Morgridge Family Foundation.
 
To learn more, please visit: cosn.org/certification.
 
CONTACT
Michael Kaplun, The Fratelli Group for CoSN, 202-822-9491, mkaplun@fratelli.com
 
About CoSN
CoSN (the Consortium for School Networking) is the premier professional association for school system technology leaders. CoSN provides thought leadership resources, community best practices and advocacy tools to help leaders succeed in the digital transformation. CoSN represents over 13 million students in school districts nationwide and continues to grow as a powerful and influential voice in K-12 education. www.cosn.org