(Editor’s Note: This speech was given to the 10 winners of the eSchool News 2005 Tech-Savvy Superintendent Awards at an awards ceremony in San Antonio Feb. 19.)
Good afternoon. On behalf of the entire staff at eSchool News, I’d like to salute you all for the job you do every day to manage the operation of your districts, and especially your judicious and effective use of technology to improve school efficiencies and raise student achievement.
You do all this despite tremendous budget pressures and federal mandates that discourage innovation–mandates that would rather have you testing students than new or experimental programs. I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that it’s never been so hard to be a school district leader than it is today, and that’s especially true when it comes to shepherding in new technology initiatives. For the pitfalls are many–and the critics are just waiting to pounce.…Read More