When technology initiatives are viewed as investments rather than simply costs, school leaders have the opportunity to apply decision-making strategies that are meaningful and relevant to an educational environment. Planning for and implementing district technology investments in any school system is a complex process involving multiple stakeholders, each with their own valid concerns and requests.

In this edLeader Panel, three experienced superintendents reveal the strategies they lead to evaluate, rethink, and strengthen district technology decision-making. The superintendents will reveal how they work with their district teams to assure that priorities are aligned when evaluating the requisite data around total cost of ownership, student outcomes, budget management, and the true value of any technology expenditure. Current opportunities and challenges around leveraging new funding resources while also finding ways to sustain innovations when specific initial funding resources are no longer available will also be discussed.

This edLeader Panel is of particular value to superintendents, K-12 school and district leaders, and aspiring school leaders. Attendees will have the opportunity to submit questions to the panelists during the live broadcast.

About the Presenters

Dr. Chris Gaines is the Superintendent of Mehlville School District in suburban St. Louis, Missouri. Dr. Gaines previously served as Superintendent of Missouri’s Crawford County R-I and Wright City R-II school districts. Under Dr. Gaines’ leadership, Mehlville is expanding opportunities for students. In 2017, the district opened MOSAIC, a personalized learning elementary school, and created the MyPath program, which allows high school students to create their own classes. The AASA Digital Consortium visited these programs in the spring of 2018 to gain insight into emerging models of best practices using digital media to support engaging learning experiences. In 2019, Mehlville opened academies at each middle school to expand personalized learning experiences at the middle school level. Dr. Gaines holds degrees from Southeast Missouri State University and earned his doctorate at St. Louis University. He is a member of numerous professional associations and served as the 2018-2019 President of AASA, The School Superintendents Association.

Dr. Kelly May-Vollmar began serving as Desert Sands USD Superintendent on July 1, 2022. Dr. May-Vollmar has served as Assistant Superintendent of Educational and Technology Devices in Desert Sands since 2019. Over the past 18 years, she has served in various roles, including the elementary school principal, academic coach and IB coordinator, and classroom teacher. Dr. May-Vollmar was recognized as the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) Technology Administrator of the Year in 2019 and was instrumental in the district’s innovative LTE network build project, which provided equitable broadband connectivity to students throughout the district’s 752 square mile attendance zone. She is actively involved in several professional organizations including serving on the board of directors for the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN). She received her doctorate in organizational leadership from the University of LaVerne. Her master’s degree in teaching is from Chapman University where she also earned her undergraduate degree.

A passionate and visionary leader in public education for 28 years, Dr. Aaron Spence is committed to ensuring that all students have access to the rigorous coursework, innovative learning opportunities, and resources they need to prepare them for success in college or the workforce. Dr. Spence has served as Superintendent of Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) since June 2014. As Superintendent, he is responsible for the instructional leadership and administrative operation of 86 schools and centers serving more than 67,000 students. The more than 10,000 employees of Virginia Beach schools credit Dr. Spence for creating and fostering a culture where input is welcomed, opinions are valued, and differences are celebrated.

About the Host

Ann McMullan is Project Director for CoSN’s EmpowerED Superintendents Initiative. Ann served as Executive Director for Educational Technology in Klein ISD near Houston, Texas until September 2013, when she and her family moved to Los Angeles, California. For 16 years Ann led the district team that provided professional development on technology and 21st-century instructional strategies to 4,000 educators serving 50,000 students. She was co-chair of the Texas Education Technology Advisory Committee which developed the Texas Long Range Plan for Technology.

Today, Ann works as a public speaker, writer, and consultant focused on leadership to meet the needs of today’s students. Ann serves on the edWeb.net Advisory Board, ClassLink’s Senior Advisors Group, and is a founding member of ERDI’s EdLeader Alliance. She also volunteers as a leadership consultant with Executive Service Corps of Southern California, serving non-profit associations. Ann is the co-author of Life Lessons in Leadership, available on Amazon.com.

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Time: 5:00 pm — 6:00 pm EST

Free!

Registration