CTOsRole
Five Tips for CTOs at the Start of School
As I look back on my years as a technology director, and director of instructional technology, several points come to mind. In the rush at the start of a school year, it's easy to
Thirteen Insights for CTOs
Ok, I'm sure you are just dying to know what I've written about that Chief Technology Officers (CTOs), Technology Directors/Coordinators need to know about. I'm particularly please
AL DíA: Hot in the Server Kitchen
Ok, lest you think this blog entry is about cooking, heat in the kitchen affecting wait staff, let me set you straight. In school districts, relying on storage closets as homes for
AL DíA: Disaster Recovery
Awhile back, I had the chance to facilitate a technology leadership summit at TCEA. This resulted in a brace of blog entries I wrote for TCEA. You
Disaster Recovery Rears Its Head Again #cto #tecsig
Earlier this month, I shared part 1 of When Disaster Strikes , which is part one of a 2 part series on Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity in K 12 school districts and organ
CTO's Role - Sharing Silent Successes
" As an IT leader, your successes are silent and your failures are publicized. " A few weeks ago, Eric Scheninger posted a quote I immediately shared with folks at home and wor
5 Key Areas for CTOs
While sitting at home, waiting for the cramps around my mid section to pass today, I paged through an old notebook, stumbling across notes from a conversation with a friend. I reca
Leasing Private Fiber - What Process Do You Follow? (Updated)
Fiber is generally regarded as the fas
Missing Roads: Students Stranded without Internet
When a hurricane, typhoon strikes a remote area, as a citizen of the U.S. where every surface appears paved, every destination has an asphalt road leading to it, I am always amazed
Time to Stand Out
On my work commute,
Protecting Against a Data Breach
Every time I check my Twitter feed, I get a notice of a data breach occurring at a business or school district. That's why it's critical school leaders come up with a Safeguarding
Identity Crisis: Managing the Tx Digital Textbook Nightmare (Updated)
Are you the database administrator, technology specialist for your school district? As school districts move from paper textbooks (remember those book closets filled with textbooks
Take the First Step #edtech
"What will you do first?" It's a question that's on the tip of everyone's tongue, even if they don't ask it (and they often do, whether during an interview or two seconds after you
"Keep My Job Safe List" for CTOs #txcto #edtech
Have you asked your supervisor, "What am I not doing that will get me fired because I missed it?" Put another way, what should you do to ensure you keep the stakeholders happy?
Smorgasbord - Social Justice at the School Leader's Table #edtech #txcto
My sixteen year old son loves steak. I've tried to caution him against eating too much red meat, but he inhales steak and macaroni like a machine. I console myself, "He's a growin
12 Step Process: Coaching the Novice CTO #edtech #txcto
Some time ago, I asked a Technology Director in Texas the following: If you had to give advice to a novice technology director, what advice would that be? I've reflected on [so
7 tips for avoiding tech-implementation failure #edtech
Team leaders, I'm told, take responsibility for their team's failures. You know, when the Titanic hit the iceberg, and it sank, the Captain went down with the ship. I recently fo
CTO: 7 tips for doing first things first @tx_cto_council
Originally published at SchoolCIO : Over the yea
Claim Your Virtual Space
In a series of tweets in response to my
Not Alone: Inflexible CIOs = Failure
Over at [Assorted Stuff](
MyNotes: APQC - Process, Process, Process #txctoclinic15
A great presentation on the importance of process from Fred Bentsen (APQC Education), Mark Gabehart (CTO, RoundRock ISD), and Frankie Jackson (CTO, Cypress Fairbanks ISD). These ar
MyNotes: Salary Reboot for K-12 Tech Jobs Panel at #TxCTOClinic15 #tecsig #edtech
This session, Salary Rebo
MyNotes: CTO Boot Camp #txcto15 @cosn @tx_cto_council #txctoclinic15
Left to Right: M
#ETDrive - Yet Another Conversation about Leadership, Technology, Support, and Learning in K-16
Please allow me to announce etdrive , yet another conversation at the intersection of leadership, technology, technical support, and learning in K 16 education. As I've lurked
Transitioning from What to Why #iPad #Chromebook #edtech #simonsinek
"No matter how visionary or how brilliant," shares Simon Sinek in his book, Start with Why , " a great idea or a great product isn't worth much if no one buys
Tracking #EdTech Trends
Source: While re read
Be the CTO They Need
When I saw this earlier this week, it immediately reminded me of a Twitter exchange I had with the incomparable Alice Keeler ([Teacher Tech blog](
CTO Wannabee Questions - 5 Unexpected Additions @blueskunkblog @ndmielke
Image Source: A few
Podcast: Mobile Data Solutions for Texas Districts @k12dynamics
You may recall I discussed this topic Data Warehouses (a.k.a. business intelligence) in a widely read blog entry, [ Data Driven Districts Face Growing Pains ](
#TCEA15 What Keeps CTOs Up at Night? Audio Recording
Why don't you share your favorite question and response in the comments of this blog entry? [Listen to audio of Panel](
CTOs Role: The Power of the Same #edchat
The power to make things the same is dangerous, and the most often used tool in a manager's toolbox. "If the power to make things the same is dangerous, then empowering others to b
CTOs Role: 5 Tips +1 to Grow On--If You Survive #sony #hacked CTO
At the risk of incurring the ire of the hackers and vandals who took down [Sony, allegedly over Rogen and Franco's The Interview ](
CTOsRole: District Technology Report Card
After reviewing this excellent post by Lisa Nielsen, [Considerations for EdTech Purchases](
TechInsights Series - Asset Management #CTO #edtech
Note: In the continuing series on Technology Planning Insights, please find another contribution. Patti Holub, a beloved s
TechInsight Series Feedback - Engaged and Motivated
Source: Joel VerDuin
Be Heat Sensitive: Stop Your Server/Network Room from Turning into an Oven
Alternate Title: Be Heat Sensitive: 5 Criteria for Choosing a Temperature Gauge for Your Server Room Problem: Do any of you use any inexpensive room temperature monitors that can
CTOsRole - Technology Planning Insights #2 - BYOT Planning
Note: In the continuing series on Technology Planning Insights, please find another contribution. [
CTOsRole: TechnologyPlanning Insights #1 - Environmental Scan (Updated)
Note: In the continuing series on Technology Planning Insights, please find another contribution. [
CTOs Role: Technology Planning Insights - Introduction
Note: In the continuing series on Technology Planning Insights, please find another contribution. [
SchoolCIO - The Crucial Difference
Thanks to SchoolCIO's Ellen Ullman for posting this version of [The Crucial Difference](
CTO's Role - 3 Rewards to Being Transparent
The more transparent the CIO can be about their deliverables the less chance they will be a scapegoat if it fails. Source: via Tweet How do you get more transparent? In
Quotes for CTOs #MACTOClinic14
These quotes came across from a Twitter search on the hashtag MACTOClinic14 . I wish I could attend Texas CTO meetings but...[fill in an excuse that doesn't work here]. Some of
SchoolCIO - Settling for Nothing
Thanks to the [SchoolCIO](http:/
Building the New
"My principal would like to have YouTube unblocked for teachers so they can access educational videos," shared a teacher colleague. "That way, they can at least show them to studen
What Happened to Your Technology in Education Efforts?
"They are investing in the wrong devices," a friend said to me the other day, "And they're going to ask me to show them how to make it work in their classroom. The problem is, th
SchoolCIO - 7 tips for avoiding tech-implementation failure
[Read the article online](
7 Tips for Surviving Leadership in Transition (Edited)
"Miguel," a dear friend and colleague asked me, "have you read the new superintendent's book?" At my blank stare, she pointed to the purple book in her hand entitled, [5 Temptatio
DO AND/OR DELEGATE - CTOs Role
This is an [interesting article about how the role of the Technology Director is evolving in District Administrator (November 2013) magazine](
Do Something Risky
"Do something risky today, something that makes you sweat a little." I so wish I remembered where I read the quote that paraphrase is adapted from, but I don't. Instead, I'm
SchoolCIO Daily Insight - Creating, not criticizing, together
Thanks to SchoolCIO for sharing an article I wrote on Creating, not criticizing, together . [
CTOs Role - Repairing Bridges, not Tech
“It is not what we learn in conversation that enriches us. It is the elation that comes of swift contact with tingling currents of thought.” Agnes Repplier [
SchoolCIO - What CTOs Should Get Fired For
Thanks to [SchoolCIO's Ellen Ullman
CTO Wannabe - Sample Interview Questions
A friend recently went on a CTO interview and asked me to
SchoolCIO Daily Insight - 7 Tips for Doing First Things First
Thanks to [Ellen Ullman](h
CTO's Role: Solving Problems Together - School District Cafeteria Software
Can anyone tell me what software they are using for their cafeteria? We are looking into this at the moment. Any CTO will tell you it's important to have handy answers when
CTO Feature - Mark Gabehart
Source: [ReporterNews Abilene](http:
CTOs Role - Switches, WAPS, MDM, and Flying Monkies!
Source: I'm not su
CTOs Role - "It's the Leadership, Stupid!"
Note: This is one in a series of blog entries exploring the role of the Chief Technology Officer (CT
CTOs Role - What CTOs SHOULD Get Fired For
Although technology directors, or CTOs, seldom get fired usually, they are encouraged to leave due to personality conflicts with the Superintendent (yes, I've actually heard that!
CTOsRole - Top 5 Tips for Overcoming Network Challenges
A few months ago, I asked colleagues in Texas what their top 5 network challenges and tips to overcome those might be. Invariably, the responses came back containing one word ba
CTOs Role - Advice for Newbie CTOs
Note: Welcome to the CTO's Role Blog Series! This blog entry continues my [series on what CTOs need to know and do](
CTOs Role - 7 Tips for Doing First Things First #edtech #edchat
Note: This is one in a series of blog entries exploring the role of the Chief Technology Officer (CT
CTOs Role - Building a Technology-Supported Learning Ecology
Note: Welcome to the CTO's Role Blog Series! This blog entry continues my [series on what CTOs need to know and do](
Short-handed and Resource Rich
Note: This
Slash and Burn - Leadership in the Field
Image adapted from source: Not
Opening Gambit - Creating, not Criticizing, Together
" The greatest compliment that was ever paid me was when someone asked me what I thought, and attended to my answer. " Henry David Thoreau [
Relationships...MATTER. #edchat #cbchat #edtech
Note: This is one in a series of blog entries exploring the role of the Chief Technology Officer (CT
MyNotes Don't Be the Fun Police - Reviewing an M86 WhitePaper
Over the last few months, I've started to take a keener interest in white papers produced by vendors. I'm not sure why that's the case, but one can learn something from reading any
Just Jump In - Exploring Options for Netbooks, iPads and More
Note: This is a continuation of the blog entry, The CTO's Role Involving Stakeholders . [
Digital Signage Solutions
When I first read the phrase "digital signage" I didn't have a clue what it meant. Are you talking about electronic signatures? But no, that's not what those two words mean when th