FRIT 7739: Technology Program Administrator

Ashley Lee

Clayton County Public Schools

Technology Department
Part A: Program Evaluation

Executive Summary

Clayton County Public Schools have been on a journey for the past few years connecting

and aligning work with key stakeholders to create a shared vision that will project students to the

next level of academic experiences and achievement. With the input of community members,

staff, educators and students, the Clayton County Public Schools Technology Department has

created a shared vision that keeps learning at the forefront. The department of technology

consists of three strategic units: Instructional technology, technical operations, and information

systems. Each unit has a unique responsibility, but works together to provide an interconnected

support system to all stakeholders to make a positive impact on student academic achievement.

The Director of Instructional Technology, Mrs. Mayo is the head of technology integration to

enhance teaching and learning. She identifies participants that decides on technology needs

throughout the county, manage budgets and funding, conduct proposals, and a contributor of

upcoming technology integrations.

Organizational Chart

Director of Instructional
Technology:Technology integration
to enhance teaching and learning

Director of Technical
Operations:Maintenance of district
network infrastructure, computers and
technology systems

Curriculum & Instruction: implements

curriculum, provides instructional
resources, manages instructional programs,
and collaborates with stakeholders.
Director of Information Systems:Student
information systems and the business
services applications that support the day-to-
day operations of the district

Media Specialist: participating in the

Coordinator of Instructional Technology: curriculum development process at
provides leadership, training and support to building and district level to ensure that
teachers in the integration of technology the curricula include the full range of
literacy skills (media, visual, digital)

Technology Liaison:
Assist teachers with
technology and update
staff with new
developments
Methods

To complete this program evaluation, the methods I used were interviews, attending
professional development classes and participating in technology department meetings. For the
interview, I asked the director of instructional technology for the school district a series of
questions that applied to her job. See Appendix A for details about the interview. For
professional development, I contacted the Coordinator of Instructional Technology to get
background information about the process of choosing what professional developments are
needed within the county for teachers. The class I attended was titled Digital Classroom, which
was an overview on how to utilize tools in your classroom to its full potential. Every year, each
classroom teacher is given a technology box with different equipment. I was shocked to discover
the amount of teachers that were having trouble with using the material. I was able to assist the
coordinator with demonstrating different tools. Finally, I was invited to attend several technology
department meeting, in which they discussed varies upcoming technology integration throughout
the county. I had to sign a disclosure stating not to share information, however I can give a
general overview. The meeting discussed funding, budgets, and adopting new resources. The
attendees consisted of directors, chiefs, and secretaries.

Appendix A

The protocol for conducting the interview was to privately ask to the Director of Instructional
Technology. The italic text are the answers to the questions.

Interview Questions

1. What are your duties as the Director of Instructional Technology?

 Instruct teachers to follow the county strategic plan to provide students with the
ultimate academic success.
 Ensure digital resources are used at an operational level.
 Connect technology and curriculum instruction to enhance learning experience to
make sure all needs are met.
 Make sure new technologies integrated are able to assist teachers with timely
feedback, promote collaboration, maximize instructional time, and most
importantly engage students.
 Apart of District Leadership team
2. How do you determine what new technology integrations are needed within the
county?
 Connecting with other school districts to see what they are doing to make a
change in teaching.
 Attending state, local and international professional developments and seminars.
 Emailing needs improvement surveys to all stakeholders in the county, including
teachers.
3. What is the key to developing a good team to carry out the mission and vision of the
technology department?

Having a group of people that are good at communicating on every level and
build positive relationships.
 A good team consists of those with leadership skills
 People who take initiative without being told to do so.
4. Where does funding come from to support the technology department?

 Local taxes: SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) is a one-cent tax
on consumer goods for a term no longer than five years. The revenues of this
sales tax are distributed to the local school district in which the tax is collected.
In 1996, Georgia voters passed a state constitutional amendment, authorizing
local school boards to put sales tax referendums on ballots. In 1997, the great
citizens of Clayton County passed their first SPLOST referendum. In accordance
with Georgia Law, these tax dollars are specifically earmarked only for Capital
Improvements projects for educational purposes.
5. What is the most challenging aspect of your job?

 Communication- Teachers and other faculty not going through the chain of
command for simple questions. Each school has a media specialist and
technology liaison, therefore simple questions about technology should be
directed towards them. Also, we provide professional development to assist with
technology but instead, I get tons of emails every day.

Center Context and Goals

Mission: It is the mission of the Clayton County Public Schools' Department of

Technology to provide flexible and responsive direction for access to information
systems, instructional technology, and technology services to enhance student
achievement for all students. With a strong belief that technology enhances the
pedagogical practices of instruction, the district is committed to providing adequate
hardware and software, quality data, and apposite technology skill development.
Vision: The vision of Clayton County Public Schools' Department of Technology is to
become a recognized model school district both in the state of Georgia and nationally for
the access and utilization of innovative technology and cutting edge strategies to ensure
that students are prepared to compete globally in an ever-changing society.

The Clayton County Public Schools Department of Technology consists of three strategic
units: Instructional Technology, Technical Operations, and Information Systems.
Interconnected support system includes and key personnel:
 Technology integration to enhance teaching and learning - Director of
Instructional Technology
 Maintenance of district network infrastructure, computers and technology
systems - Director of Technical Operations
 Student information systems and the business services applications that support
the day-to-day operations of the district - Director of Information Systems
Goals and duties
 Integrate Literacy across the curriculum
 Integrate technology to enhance critical thinking skills
 The team will address the integration of instructional technology into the daily
lessons and routines of the classroom teacher.
 This team is specifically trained to understand the technology that has been
procured by the district and insures that these resources are actually used wisely
and effectively.
 Clayton County Public Schools has already provided many technological
resources for the classroom use, but the challenge is that many teachers do not
how to use these resources and many do not even know that these resources exist.
 The department of Digital Learning will raise awareness of the resources, train
teachers on the usage, and finally guide teachers in strategies to put this
technology in the hands of the students.

Center Activities

Daily: review requests to add or remove websites within schools

Weekly: Directors and Chiefs of the technology department discuss funding, expanding
leadership, and possible technology integrations or current status of new technology
Monthly: Directors, Chiefs, and key Stakeholders discuss needs and upcoming events to
support the technology department. This includes the Superintendent.

Evaluation

The mission of Clayton County technology department states that it will provide
flexible and responsive direction for access to information systems, instructional
technology, and technology services to enhance student achievement for all students. I
believe the district has satisfied this statement. Since I am a teacher, I know first-hand
that we are given all the tools needed to enhance our students learning experience. In this
case, the improvement needs to come from teachers. The technology department provide
several ways for teachers to learn how to incorporate instructional tools to change the
dynamics of learning, but there are many teachers who do not take advantage of these
opportunities. Teachers can attend professional development sessions, ask the media
specialist, or the technology liaison. In order to get all teachers involved in the new
developments, I recommend the technology department to hold us accountable and make
integrating technology a requirement at least twice a week. There is no point in
purchasing more equipment or new technology, if it is not being used.
Another recommendation would be to ensure all stakeholders, including parents
and students are aware of digital citizenship. This will protect the students and school
district from damaging property, maintaining a positive school culture, and making sure
the web is used appropriately. The Clayton County Public Schools website has a link that
explains and demonstrate the importance of digital citizenship, however the resource is
not being utilized. It should be a requirement each term to review the rules of using
technology. After seating in meetings to see what upcoming integrations are being made,
understanding digital citizenship should definitely be a number one rule on the list.
The vision of Clayton County technology department states becoming a
recognized model school district both in the state of Georgia and nationally for the access
and utilization of innovative technology and cutting edge strategies to ensure that
students are prepared to compete globally in an ever-changing society. I support and
believe in this statement, because I see the future plans of technology that will unfold
overtime. A recommendation would be to create more jobs that support the integration of
technology, such as Digital Learning Specialist. Adding this position will strengthen
instruction and increase the capacity of teachers and students to use technology in the
teaching/learning process. They will be able to identify ways that technology integration
can be used to support the District mission and vision through coaching, support, and
training that strengthens communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity.