Melissa McCalla - Pasadena ISD
Stephen Barnwell - Schertz -Cibolo-Universal City ISD
Dwight Goodwin - Coppell ISD
In the fast-paced arena of Texas K-12 education, technology leaders must act as both head coaches and general managers. To "win" for our students, IT departments must move beyond simple troubleshooting and toward strategic leadership.
This panel brings together three veteran leaders from diverse Texas districts to share their championship playbooks. We will dive into the "triple threat" of modern IT leadership.
Additional Information
"Triple Threat" of modern IT leadership:
- The Defensive Line: Implementing best practices for secure, scalable, and resilient IT infrastructure.
- The Scouting Report: Strategies for identifying and mentoring the next generation of EdTech leaders within your own team.
- The Unified Field: The technical and political maneuvers required to move a district toward a single, cohesive platform that reduces "app fatigue" and maximizes data integrity.
Learning ObjectivesBy the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Identify three high-impact IT best practices that can be implemented immediately to improve district stability.
- Apply a framework for leadership development that helps technical staff transition into strategic management roles.
- Evaluate the pros and cons of platform unification and develop a roadmap for vendor consolidation in their own districts.
Essential Skill
Strategic Planning; Leadership & Vision; Information Technology; Data Management
