Reflection of presentation by Gary Spence, IT Director/Associate Superintendent of Wolf Creek Schools

There seems to be a common theme among the guest speakers we have listened to over the past week - each demonstrates effective leadership and vision. For today's reflection I thought I would use a jot note format rather than a more narrative approach.
Gary Spence’s presentation seemed to speak to several main ideas as addressed by the readings:
- Technology is pervasive
- Decisions are evaluated based on how they support the vision and if they are technologically relevant and feasible
- Technology is an accelerator (Fullan)
- Basic literacy – meaning is shaped, purposeful, dynamic, flexible, involves interaction

To help meet the goals or outcomes of the division, Mr. Spence has created a team of professionals.
- Assistant Superintendent (oversees ever thing!) = Mr. Spence
- Tech integration director (keeps an eyes on the pedagogy)
- Network admin
- Admin assistant (paid same as tech)
- Network systems analyst (technical work)

Spence’s hierarchy of effective tech integration
- Reliable connectivity
- Reliable hardware and software
- Operational skills
- Integration skills (pedagogy)
- Desired outcome

Mr. Spence highlighted the need for balance between educational needs and technical requirements. Technical staff cannot work in isolation of educational staff. Ex: fantastic learning, but unreliable infrastructure. Focus groups bring people from different sectors together to discuss realities, needs, and how to improve student learning.

Through his presentation, several leadership characteristics became evident. Mr. Spence also explicitly addressed the components of an effective leader from his point of view.
- “reasonable people given all the information will come to the same conclusion.” (DEMOCRATIC PROCESS)
- Keeps the big picture in mind (finances, technical aspects, etc), must promote student learning
- Forethought about where to go in 5 years
- Communicating effectively – every voice is important
- Knowledge of the technology
- "The more efficient I can make people for the administrative tasks, that is money well spent"
- Delegating responsibility = delegating authority (may not happen the way you want them to)
- Commitment – to kids, staff, integrity, hard on ideas, soft on people
- Visionary – know where you are going and why
- Be humble – recognize your success is the result of many others, you can’t know it all, give others credit (often!), rely on your peers
- Technical savvy – keeps you from being mislead, learn what you don’t know (or find out who does)
- Pedagogy – up to date on research, keep teaching in perspective
- Be practical, technology can be good or bad, be transparent (document!), be collaborative, sometimes you need to make the tough decisions, strong negotiator, highly organized, good manager (finances, etc).

It is clear that technology permeates everything that Wolf Creek believes in. They plan to integrate several new technologies over the next year or within the past year.
- VOIP: increases school to home comm., increase prof collaboration, increased emergency response, ease of use (dial by name with QWERTY keyboard – great way for people to keep in touch)
- Define problems that you want to address and look for ways to solve using technology. (prob: mobile teachers use virtual extensions – you keep until you move boards or retire)
- Rapid Web Designer: consistent look and feel to all WCPS websites
- Automated major formatting components (keeps a consistent look)
- Content is easily updated with basic document skills
- Putting content posting ability in many hands
- Videoconferencing: Highschool instruction – enhancing program offering in our small schools, the ABE Alliance (utilize the strengths of each school to develop a common schedule)
- Teachers do some face to face with the children, provide sub time and transportation
- Mentorship for teachers (3 years)
- Classroom enhancement opp (NASA, Alaska Marine Station)
- Professional learning and collaboration
- Access to specialists (multi-point conference unit to allow more than one location)
- The EXfiles: - data warehouse, any artefact that it is integral to the function of the board
- Why? information is secure, contains special ed data, accessible to anyone with clearance, supports collaboration, captures and archives all of the knowledge resources, way to share knowledge, all transactions are monitored, only one person can modify at the same time
- 1 to 1 mobile computing:
- 24-7 access to computers for all jr highs in 2 schools, filtering by going through our proxy server.
- SaaS (Software as a service): allows students to access school software at home
- NAC (Network Access Control): using private devices to access board network.

When I asked Mr. Spence to speak specifically about his experiences in leadership, he explained that he was extremely lucky in his career and was fortunate to work with great people.