Preparing to Lead a Technology-Rich Environment

Dr. Wendy Metcalf, Director of School TechnologyGwinnett County Public Schools, GA

Dr. Jason LaFrance, Asst. Professor of Ed. LeadershipGeorgia Southern University

Gwinnett County Public Schools

• Metro Atlanta, GA• 12th largest district

in the nation, largest in GA

• 165,000+ students– 52.8% FRL

• 137 schools• 20,000 employees

Our Core business….

…..is teaching and learning, with an emphasis on learning.

Our need to prepare leaders

• QPLA• Instruction provided by

division leaders and staff• Recognized by the

George W. Bush Institute• Awarded Wallace

Foundation recognition and funding

• GCPS opened 35 schools between 2006-2011

Our need to prepare leaders• In 2011, GCPS launched the eCLASS

initiative

Technology Leadership Preparedness

• 2009 NETS-A– Visionary Leader– Digital Age Culture– Excellence in

Professional Practice– Systemic Improvement– Digital Citizenship

• Principals Technology Leadership Assessment– Developed by

CASTLE– Revised for ‘09

standards– QPLA demographic

Responses

• 102 out of 135 Principals (76%)– QPLA (n= 57), non-QPLA (n= 45)

• PTLA Survey question choices1- not at all prepared2- minimally prepared3- somewhat prepared4- significantly prepared5- fully prepared

Subscale Rankings

• digital citizenship (.837)• excellence in professional practice (.833)• digital age learning culture (.801)• systemic improvement (.799)• visionary leadership (.771)

Perceptions of Leader preparedness

• High• promote, model, and establish

policies for safe, legal, and ethical use of digital information and technology (m=4.38)

• promote and model responsible social interactions related to the use of technology and information (m-4.3)

• Low (m=3.85)• facilitate a change that

maximizes learning goals using digital resources

• promote programs and funding to support implementation of technology –infused plans

• establish and leverage strategic partnerships to support systemic improvement

QPLA participation

Multivariate Analysis of VarianceEffect Λ F df1 df2 p n2

Group .84 3.33* 5 85 .01 .16*p<.05

Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 Q6 Q7 Q8 Q9Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 Q19 Q20 Q21

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

QPLAnonQPLA

CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATIONS