Leading School Improvement with Technology

To meet the needs of the 21st century learner, Texas has created a plan for integrating technology in schools. The plan includes the vision and mission of 21st century education, a timeline of events, and the key areas that must be addressed for improvement plans to be implemented. The Texas Teacher STaR Chart has been developed around the four key areas of the Long-Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020: Teaching and Learning; Educator Preparation and Development; Leadership, Administration and Instructional Support; and Infrastructure for Technology. The Texas Teacher STaR Chart is designed to help teachers, campuses, and districts determine their progress toward meeting the goals of the Long-Range Plan for Technology, as well as meeting the goals of their district.

As an inspiring school administrator, I feel that the area of Leadership, Administration, and Instructional Support is instrumental in paving the way for school improvement to take place. Vision building, administrator commitment, and skilled leadership play pivotal roles in successful implementation of the plan. Campus leaders must model the effective use of technology, articulate clear expectations for their staff, provide time for professional development, and make budgetary decisions that support campus technology needs.







Based on a report created by TEA, the following key findings were noted.

• Analyses of the relationships between average student and school characteristics and average Scale Scores show that the percentages of limited English proficient, economically disadvantaged, and Hispanic students at a campus were negatively associated with the TechLiteracy Scale score at a statistically significant level.
• In contrast, the percentage of White students at a campus was significantly and positively associated with eighth graders Scale Score. Findings for African American students were neutral.
• Results suggest that many disadvantaged students need stronger school supports for their mastery of technology knowledge and skills. The technology-related experiences of White students and more economically advantaged students outside of school may help to explain differences in performance.

It is important that campus and district leaders analyze these trends to respond to the specific needs of student groups.

In the area of Leadership, Administration, and Instructional Support, my campus and district are trending with the state. While I have been unable to locate specific data on national trends in this area, there is evidence that supports that administrators and educational leaders across the nation are being trained to use and support technology in education, both in higher education programs and through state and district initiatives.

What are your thoughts on the roles and responsibilities of the 21st Century school leader?

Resources:
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?id=5082&menu_id=2147483665, Long-Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020 (Adopted by the State Board of Education November 2006)
http://starchart.esc12.net/default.html
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?id=5082&menu_id=2147483665, 2010 Progress on the Long Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020