Strategic Technology Planning and Investment

Presented by Ann Linson, Superintendent, East Noble School Corporation, IN; Randy Squier, Superintendent, Coxsackie-Athens Central School District, NY; and Dr. Gabe Soumakian, CEO and Founder, Sup Du Jour Consulting Group, CA
Program Host and Moderator: Ann McMullan, Project Director, CoSN Empowered Superintendents Initiative

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This edWebinar series is co-hosted by CoSN and edWeb.net

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Technology investments can be complicated, and more often than not the challenges begin almost from the moment a district begins to consider next steps in an overarching technology plan. With tight budgets and multiple stakeholders involved, each with valid concerns, a framework for evaluating technology initiatives and tools for arriving at well-supported decisions is more important than ever before.

In this edWebinar, learn from two current superintendents and one superintendent consultant how they lead district efforts to align priorities, and balance choice, cost and outcomes. Each shares their strategies and expertise on: total cost of ownership, student outcomes and budget management, and the value of investment. Tools and resources to evaluate, rethink and strengthen technology decision-making will be shared.

This recorded session is of special value for school superintendents, K-12 school and district leaders, and aspiring leaders.

About the Presenters

Ann Linson is in her ninth year as Superintendent of East Noble School Corporation serving 3,600 students in rural northeast Indiana. Her previous experiences include being a classroom business teacher at the high school and post-secondary levels, assistant director of a vocational cooperative, principal at East Noble High School, and assistant superintendent at East Noble School Corporation. Ann earned her bachelors, masters, and Ed.S. degrees from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. She was selected to participate in the Future Ready Superintendent Briefing with the U.S. Department of Education Secretary in October 2016. Ann also attended the 2014 White House Connected Superintendents Summit and was named a 2012-2013 NSBA Technology Leadership Network 20 to Watch Educator. During Ann’s leadership at East Noble School Corporation, the district received the Indiana Chapter of CoSN’s Excellence in Vision Team Award, was selected as a Project Red Signature District and selected to the Digital Promise League of Innovative Schools.

Randall Squier is currently the superintendent of schools for Coxsackie-Athens Central Schools, NY, which are located 20 miles south of Albany on the Hudson River. Randy is in his eighth year at Coxsackie-Athens Central Schools and 14th as a superintendent, previously serving Oxford Central Schools for six years. He has presented regionally, statewide and nationally on topics that have a foundation in professional learning communities and innovative schools. Coxsackie-Athens Central Schools is currently ranked first in the nation by the National School Boards Association for its digital conversion that includes providing a mobile device for every student in K-12 as well as shifting most back-office storage functions to the cloud. For the last seven years, Coxsackie-Athens’ graduation rate is 16% higher than the previous eight years. The district was one of three schools recognized nationally by ISTE for its digital badge program. Randy was a Tech & Learning Magazine runner-up for 2017 digital leaders.

Dr. Gabe Soumakian is the retired superintendent of Oxnard Union High School District in Oxnard, CA. He is the founder and CEO of Sup Du Jour Consulting Group in Ventura, CA. He has been actively involved and presented at numerous leadership state and national organizations on topics of human resources, 21st century learning, personalized learning, CTE and Linked Learning Convening. Dr. Soumakian is also supporting school districts in addressing fiscal challenges due to the increase cost of pension and medical premiums by examining operations efficiency. As the founder of Sup Du Jour Consulting Group, he works to assist districts on innovative cost reduction strategies. Dr. Soumakian has over 35 years of education experience, including eighteen years of high school teaching.

About the Host

Ann McMullan is a 34-year veteran educator who served as the executive director for educational technology in the Klein Independent School District, located just outside Houston, Texas until September 2013, when she and her family moved to Los Angeles, California. For 16 years Ann led the team in Klein ISD that provided professional development on technology and 21st century instructional strategies to over 4,000 professional educators serving over 50,000 students. During that time Ann also co-chaired the Texas Education Technology Advisory Committee which developed the Texas Education Agency’s Long Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020.

Today, Ann is based in Los Angeles, California, working as a public speaker, writer, and independent education consultant focused on supporting leadership, visioning and planning to meet the needs of today’s students. She is a frequent presenter at state, national and international education conferences. Ann serves on the Advisory Council of Project Tomorrow and is a leadership consultant with Executive Service Corps of Southern California, serving non-profit associations. In the fall of 2016 Ann co-authored and published Life Lessons in Leadership.

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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.