Anyone who plays the lottery wonders what it would be like to hit the jackpot. Questions arise from these daydreams such as, What would I do first? What would I buy that I have always wanted? and How fast can I tell my boss that I quit?

Imagining what life in the schools would be like with the ideal technology staffing solution sometimes seems like the same type of opportunistic daydream. If funding were not a roadblock and attracting and retaining the best candidates was a given, what might an ideal technology staff in a typical school district look like?

Positions, Positions, Positions

Now that you have won the staffing lottery, what positions would you like to have? A quick laundry list would include the usual suspects with the added benefit of competitive salaries, industry certifications and multiple positions in roles, such as:

• Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
• WAN and LAN Engineers
• Webmaster
• Media Coordinator
• Database and Student Information Systems Managers
• Data Warehouse Manager
• Technicians
• District-based Instructional Technology Specialists
• School-based Technology Support Specialists

• Security Officer: Responsible for internal and external security measures, ranging from intrusion-detection and virus prevention to security audits and policy development and compliance
• Email Engineers: Responsible for the design, implementation and maintenance of the district email system and users, including the archival and retrieval system
• Web Developers/Programmers: To develop and maintain internal and external applications in a variety of relevant programming language
• Business Intelligence Specialist: Chief activities would focus on the creation and reporting of strategic knowledge from existing data to aid in district decision-making and instructional planning and monitorin
• Storage Area Network Manager: Responsible for the development, implementation and managing of all related hardware and software including district backups as well as ongoing archival and retrieval of electronic records
• Enterprise Resource Planning Coordinator: Chief responsibilities include oversight of the ERP project, related hardware and software and ongoing professional development
• Distance Education/Virtual Learning Coordinator: Direct and oversee the development, implementation and maintenance of all distance/virtual learning environments and related software and hardware
• VoIP Manager: Provides direct oversight and support for all aspects of phone, intercom, bells/schedules, and related systems including convergence of all messaging systems and devices
• 1-to-1 Coordinator: Responsible for all 1-to-1 technology initiatives from handhelds to laptops
• E-Rate Manager: Ensure timely and accurate completion of required paperwork, RFPs and timelines to obtain all available funding and compliance with regulations
• Grants Coordinator: Seek, write and obtain any and all grant funds to support instructional initiatives with technology and oversee grant programs and ensure compliance with requirements, timelines and evaluations
• Contractual Employees: You just never know when you might want some additional help on a project.

Staffing Slush Fund

Since this is an ideal, and a crucial position might have been overlooked or another need arises that requires a new position, the vision of the ideal staffing solution would also include additional monies set aside for new positions available for hiring and placement throughout the year.

Keep Dreaming

While none of us expect to actually win the lottery, we all seem to keep playing. The same can be said for staffing our technology programs. Knowing that we may never be funded at the level to provide for each and every one of our ideal staffing needs, district leaders nevertheless continue to build their staffs to support the myriad technology needs crucial to helping students succeed. Though wouldn’t it be nice, for a change, to try for the ideal?

Lane B. Mills, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Educational Leadership program at East Carolina University. A former Assistant Superintendent for Accountability and Technology for a North Carolina school system, Dr. Mills was a 2004 Technology and Learning Ed Tech Leader of the Year finalist.

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