Chief Officer for Technology and Innovation (2027-2028)

Chief Officer for Technology and Innovation

The Chief Officer for Technology and Innovation is accountable for defining and delivering Information Technology strategy and capabilities across the District; providing leadership and coordination in the use of technology, including instructional, operations, data, support services, print services, digital innovation, and cyber security, under delegated authority from the Superintendent. The Chief Officer ensures that students and staff have equitable access to technology resources that provide for an efficient, creative, and innovative working and learning environment.

Reports To: The Superintendent

Essential Functions: In relationship to the District's strategic plan, goals, and objectives, the Chief Officer:

• Consults with leadership regarding technological resource needs to ensure that the mission and vision of the district are successfully supported.
• Ensures that all District technology systems are functional and responsive and plans, implements, and monitors a customer-centered support program.
• Ensures that technological resources are compliant with state and federal guidelines and that staff receives professional development and training on resources.
• Develops and communicates data privacy guidelines, practices, and compliance measures.
• 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.
• Leads, supervises, and facilitates department teams and groups to identify goals and objectives, and determine action items and timelines within a continuous improvement model to ensure that they are achieved on time and within budget.
• Works closely with all stakeholders to develop a shared vision and communication plan of the long-term goals of Technology and how it can be utilized to meet the district's strategic plan related to infrastructure, instructional practices, and policies in the area of technology.
• Ensures equitable access to technology resources to promote the effective use of technology in an effective learning environment.
• Participates in grant writing, completing needs assessments, preparing evaluative documents, and contributing to District publications.
• Creates and manages the annual technology budget and provides input into the long term financial plans for technology in the district, including use of external funding sources.
• Guides purchasing decisions, determines the return on investment for all technology implementations, and fosters good relationships with vendors, potential funders, and other key groups.
• Ensures that the District's needs and support of technological resources, infrastructure, hardware, software, and applications are met in an efficient and timely fashion.
• Coordinates the previewing/demonstration, vetting, approving, and acquisition of technology equipment, hardware, software, and other digital resources for the District.
• Provides a visionary and leadership role in developing and implementing cyber information system security culture where the confidentiality of students, staff, and district data and systems are protected.
• Promotes and ensures best practice methodologies and industry standards relating to security, device and system implementation and cost analysis.
• Manages the creation, implementation, and enforcement of policies and educational programs relating to the social, legal, and ethical issues of technology use.
• Provides guidance and professional development opportunities that support educational best practices.
• Assesses, plans, coordinates, implements and maintains all systems, services and devices related to the district's technical, data and communication networks.
• Ensures compliance with all regulatory processes and guidelines. Develops internal IT policies and procedures to improve compliance, efficiency, collaboration, and services.
• Ensures an accurate inventory of all technology hardware and software in the district.
• Manages the functions of District printing services.
• Provides leadership and supervision for all areas of the technology department, including hiring, professional development, performance evaluations, and initiating corrective and/or disciplinary actions.
• Performs other job-related duties as may be assigned by the Superintendent.

Qualifications:

Education

• Bachelor's in Education, Computer Science, or a Technology-related field preferred
• Master's Degree in Education Administration or Computer Science Equivalent

Experience

• Minimum of 7 years' successful experience with technology programming, management, and leadership in an educational environment.

Licensure

• Valid Illinois Professional Educator License with appropriate supervisory administrative endorsement preferred (ie: General Administrative, Principal, etc.)
• Approval to evaluate licensed instructional staff per Illinois School Code preferred

Other Credentials:

• CETL Certification preferred at hire, required within three years
• Advanced coursework or certification in Project Management preferred
• Administrative experience at either the school or District level preferred

Knowledge and Skills:

• Experience in managing and supporting a Wide Area Network (WAN) and a Local Area Network (LAN)
• Highly Knowledgeable in the use of various technologies, including software applications and internet resources
• Knowledge of State and National technology initiatives and compliance measures
• Proven record of successful Information Technology Project Management

Other Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely in both oral and written form using a variety of communication techniques and tools to ensure the appropriate flow of information, collaborative efforts, and feedback.
• Ability to evaluate, interpret, and problem solve end-user needs and to develop/recommend appropriate solutions
• Strong analytical skills
• Foster a collaborative, solutions orientated positive working and learning environment
• Experience directing and evaluating a large staff across multiple sites
• Maintains appropriate confidentiality and leads in accordance with District policies and procedures
• Extensive knowledge of and ability to perform duties in compliance with all district, Board, state and federal laws, methods, requirements, policies, procedures, and activities pertinent to the duties of this position.
• Ability to work independently with minimum supervision.
• Ability to prepare and maintain accurate files and records.
• Ability to meet strict deadlines.

Physical Activity and Work Environment:

Work is performed within the school/ district environment where unusual temperature, noise, and hazards are relatively nonexistent, with a noise level generally quiet to moderate. Duties are performed primarily indoors. In-district and out-of-town travel required as necessary for training and/or to carry out duties and responsibilities, including responsibilities after regular business hours. Work requires the employee to perform the following critical physical demands of the job in the school or district office setting as applicable:

• Ability to meet strict deadlines.
• Ability to regularly talk, see, and hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Ability to ambulate, stand, sit, and use hands for fine manipulation during the normal performance of tasks and responsibilities.
• Ability to occasionally push, pull, stoop, kneel, crouch, and lift or move up to twenty-five (25) pounds.
• Ability to travel from building to building as needed.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Terms of Employment:

The work year for this position is 12 months. The minimum base salary for this position is $170,000 based on commensurate experience and credentials as determined by the Superintendent or their designee. In addition to the base salary, the Board of Inspectors provides a generous benefit package including the employee's IMRF/TRS/THIS contribution, health, dental, vision, and life insurance, as well as tuition reimbursement, vacation time, sick and personal leave days. This is a FLSA Exempt, non-bargaining position.

Evaluation:

Performance of this job will be evaluated in accordance with provisions of the Board's policy on evaluation of professional personnel.