Title: Chief Technology Officer

Assignment: 12-month

Location: District-wide responsibilities, based at the Winnetka campus

Reports to: Deputy Superintendent

Supervises: Director of Technology Systems, Network and Operations Manager, Instructional Technology Manager, Enterprise Applications Manager, Media Specialist, User Support Supervisor, Administrative Assistant

Salary Range: $180,000 - $200,000

Position Overview:

The Chief Technology Officer provides strategic and innovative leadership in shaping and advancing the district’s vision for education and operational technology, identifying, assessing, and managing technology needs for the school system; leading the district’s efforts to leverage emerging technology and set future-ready priorities, directs, coordinates, supervises, facilitates and performs all tasks and elements needed to effect comprehensive integration of appropriate technology into every facet of operations (i.e.: reliability of technology systems, robust performance and security of the network, etc.); contributes to the district’s infusion of educational technology into classrooms and offices by providing visionary, professional leadership in all areas of technology planning and strategic resource management; and serves as an integral member of the school district's senior leadership team.

Leaders at New Trier possess the skills and dispositions described in the New Trier Candidate Profile.

Qualifications:

Valid Illinois Professional Educator License with a General administrative or principal endorsement and Illinois Qualified Evaluator certification.
Master's Degree in relevant field preferred
Demonstrated professional experience in a technology leadership role
Extensive understanding of technology infrastructure, school software applications, telecommunications, and business contracts to improve efficiency within an organization
Managerial experience including team leadership, staff evaluation, long-range planning, budget development and assessment of operational effectiveness and workflow efficiency
Knowledge of student data systems (i.e.: PowerSchool)
Minimum of four years’ experience in K - 12 education preferred
Demonstrated written and verbal communication skills, as well as speaking and presentation skills
Proven leadership ability with strong capacity to build and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
Able to make independent decisions aligned with district policies, handle difficult situations tactfully, and perform all duties and responsibilities of the position.

Responsibilities:

Visionary Leadership:

Works closely with the leadership team and stakeholders to develop a shared vision with long-term, big-picture perspectives on district goals to plan for meaningful and effective uses of technology; provides leadership when creating a vision of how technology will help meet district goals
Actively participates with members of the Superintendent's cabinet (e.g., district senior management) to create a vision for how technology will support the district’s strategic and operational goals
Facilitates the process of priority setting and decision making for meaningful and effective uses of technology in support of the district's strategic goals
Develops and maintains a systemic understanding of the core business and culture of the school organization Employs technology within the interdependent environment of assessment, curriculum, and instruction
Collaborates with other cabinet members (CHRO, CCO, CSBO) to identify operational needs and facilitates/leads vendor identification, contract negotiation, and project implementation.

Strategic Planning:

Has a high-level view across the school system and works with instructional and technical teams to identify steps needed to transform the technology vision into a long-range plan, complete with specific goals, objectives, and action plans
Works with key system leaders, people networks and/or learning communities (e.g., math teachers) and departments to identify steps and budgetary resources needed to meet strategic goals
Provides leadership in strategic alignment of technology with all district systems (e.g., instruction, assessment, finance, facilities, transportation, security, food service)
Integrates technology with curriculum and instruction to provide an appropriate teaching and learning environment
Monitors, evaluates, and reports on district’s educational technology plan
Plans and implements the district’s goals and objectives by leading innovation and strategy

Digital Age Learning Culture:

Creates, promotes, and sustains a dynamic, digital-age learning culture that provides a rigorous, relevant, and engaging education for all students
Leads infusion of innovative technologies into all aspects of the organization
Identifies and promote how technology can support educational best practices through communication and collaboration with the district instructional leadership
Promotes standards for innovative teaching and learning that are aligned with the Characteristics of a New Trier Graduate
Stays abreast of state and national standards, benchmarks, and frameworks for technology literacy
Ensures equitable access to appropriate digital tools and resources to meet the needs of all learners

Ethics and Policies:

Manages the creation, implementation, and enforcement of policies and educational programs relating to the social, legal, and ethical issues related to technology use throughout the district and modeling responsible decision-making.
Demonstrates high standards of integrity and professional conduct with consideration for fairness and honesty
Communicates to stakeholders the appropriate ethical and professional behavior for technology use in the district
Models and ensures awareness about pertinent laws and legal issues related to implementation and use of technology in a district (e.g., copyright, privacy, and compliance)
Collaborates with others in the policy development process by ensuring that policies support a high- performing learning environment
Facilitates equitable access to technology resources for all stakeholders

Team Building and Staffing:

Plays an integral role in the district’s strategic planning process; creates and supports cross-functional teams for decision-making, technology support, professional development, and other aspects of the district’s technology program
Manages diverse, cross-functional teams that work and perform well
Mentors and empowers others to assume leadership roles; set clear objectives and measures; monitor process, progress, and results
Builds an environment that encourages team member communication
Analyzes and identifies on an ongoing basis individual and team strengths, required areas of growth, and how teams and their members are being deployed and redeployed
Provides feedback to individuals and teams on a regular basis regarding areas of strength and required growth
Deploys staff to best address the district strategic plan and meet its goals

Building Relationships with Stakeholders:

Builds relationships with all stakeholders, taking a close look at how the district determines requirements, expectations, and preferences
Understands the key factors that lead to stakeholder satisfaction, focusing on how the district seeks knowledge, satisfaction, and loyalty of students and other stakeholders.
Builds buy-in for the vision for the district’s technology program
Collaborates with stakeholders to create a vision for how technology will support the district’s strategic goals
Builds and leverages effective partnerships with organizations that benefit district stakeholders
Effectively communicates using emerging technologies to reach stakeholders

Budgeting and Financial Planning:

Understands and applies various approaches to school budgeting
Identifies funding sources available to the district and leverage them to meet district and programmatic goals
Develops and manages budgets, both annually and long-range
Forecasts and tracks anticipated expenditures for print services, audio-visual systems, technology services
Directs, manages, and negotiates with vendors and business partners
Budgets for ongoing, purposeful professional development for all staff using new technologies
Communicates budgetary forecasts and needs with the district’s leadership team

Systemic Improvement:

Provides digital-age leadership and management to continuously improve the organization through the effective use of information and technology resources
Directs, coordinates, and ensures implementation of all tasks related to technical, infrastructure, standards, and integration of technology into every facet of district operations
Develops, collects, interprets, and reports metrics for all aspects of the IT system
Develops and implements disaster recovery and business continuity plans that are an integral part of the district’s technology program
Uses technology to improve communication, directing and coordinating the use of e-mail, district websites, web tools, voice mail systems, and other forms of communication to facilitate decision- making and to enhance effective communication with key stakeholders
Manages the establishment and maintenance of systems and tools for gathering, mining, integrating, and reporting data in usable and meaningful ways to produce an information culture in which data management is critical to strategic planning
Coordinate activities related to construction projects, physical security processes and procedures, ongoing cybersecurity evaluation and staff preparedness, and the annual capital expenditures process

Work Environment:

The work environment combines a standard office setting including standard office equipment (copier, phone, computer, etc....) with the standard school event setting.
The noise level in the work environment may be moderate to high depending upon student population and activities.

Other:

Assumes responsibility for their own professional growth and development through membership and participation in professional organizations, attendance at regional, state and nation meetings, and enrollment in advanced coursework
Management of the bookstore relationship in collaboration with the Director of C & I.
Performs all other duties as assigned.

FLSA: Exempt

Link to Admin Benefits