The Member Spotlight is a new way for CoSN members get to know each other and improve networking. Each month, CoSN will select a member who has volunteered to answer various questions about themselves, personal and professional, and then share their responses with our entire CoSN community.
February 2024 Member Spotlight
Chris Rowbotham
Chris Rowbotham serves as the Director of Technology at Siuslaw School District 97J in Florence, Oregon. The district consists of three schools with a student population just over 1,000. Chris is a graduate of CoSN’s Early Career K-12 CTO Academy program.
1. How long have you been a member of CoSN? Why did you join CoSN?
“I have been a member since June of 2023.”
2. Why did you join CoSN? What do you enjoy about being a member?
“I joined CoSN shortly after graduating from the 2022-2023 Early Career K-12 CTO Academy. I enjoy the CoSN community for discussing the current K12 technology topic and have found the community to be invaluable when I am searching for ideas and solutions."
3. What does your daily work entail?
"I work for a small school district with approximately 1200 students K-12. As the Director of Technology, I am tasked with many operations during the day ranging from managing Google, Windows, SIS and many Educational applications to also the physical network and Cyber-Security infrastructures."
4. How did you get into the field of educational technology?
"As the Director of Bands, I was always helping teachers out around the district with their technology needs and because of that, I was asked by my superintendent during the summer of the pandemic to move from the Director of Bands to Educational Technologist to help bridge the relationship between Education and Technology during remote learning."
5. What’s one thing - either industry-related or not - you learned recently?
"I am currently working on my Google Cybersecurity credential and about to finish course 4 where I learned a lot about SQL queries and how to apply them when investigating incidents."
6. What advice would you give to someone just starting our in the field?
“I recommend joining as many educational technology organizations as possible. The knowledge you gain from learning what other directors are currently doing is invaluable. In addition, I would also say to not be afraid to ask questions. There is no way to know everything about this field and having colleagues to bounce ideas off of is a great way to save time and get real-world examples of strategies that are working.”
7. What are three words to describe yourself?
“Determined, Problem Solver, and Resourceful."
8. What is your favorite movie or T.V. show?
"City on Fire by Don Winslow."
9. What is your favorite weekend activity or hobby?
"I enjoy going on long trail runs with my wife and taking our German Shorthaired Pointers out to run in the dunes."
Nominate yourself or another member by filling out the questionnaire.
If you missed any of the monthly member spotlights, click below to hear what our past spotlights had to say.
