Experts agree that the average U.S. school district does not utilize technology in a systemic way to meet the new demands for teaching and learning in the 21st century literacy. This assumption is validated in the information Education Week makes public in its annual “Technology Counts” series. The 2007 issue tracked three major areas of state technology policy and practice: access to technology, use of technology and capacity to use technology. The bottom line is that most states continue to receive average marks for performance in technology on all three major areas and, for the most part, progress has stalled.
The reasons for this are complex. But as with many complex problems, the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) has recognized that, as many complex problems, solutions often must begin at the top. That is why CoSN is focusing its newest initiative on empowering superintendents so that they can create a sustained vision for their school districts to imbue technology systemically throughout its curriculum and administrative processes. CoSN has launched the “Empowering the 21st Century Superintendent” initiative for helping superintendents, aspiring superintendents and district leadership teams build their knowledge, skills and confidence as effective technology leaders.
The initiative’s report highlights five themes and action steps for technology leadership, which emerged from CoSN’s extensive conversations with superintendents and from topics that are gaining national—and international—interest among educators, parents, policymakers and the business community:
Five Themes for Technology Leadership
1. Strengthen District Leadership and Communications
2. Raise the Bar with 21st Century Skills
3. Transform Pedagogy with Compelling Learning Environments
4. Support Professional Development and Communities of Practice
5. Create Balanced Assessments
To download the complete “Empowering the 21st Century Superintendent report in PDF form, click the icon below.
For more information, please visit CoSN’s Web site dedicated to this initiative, www.superintendentempower.org, where you will find additional opportunities to learn and collaborate with your peers. At the site, you can view a video that includes TN and IN superintendents and see a list of sponsors—including ENA—that are backing this critical initiative.
teaching and learning in the 21st century literacy. This assumption is validated in the information Education Week makes public in its annual “Technology Counts” series. The 2007 issue tracked three major areas of state technology policy and practice: access to technology, use of technology and capacity to use technology. The bottom line is that most states continue to receive average marks for performance in technology on all three major areas and, for the most part, progress has stalled. 
recognized that, as many complex problems, solutions often must begin at the top. That is why CoSN is focusing its newest initiative on empowering superintendents so that they can create a sustained vision for their school districts to imbue technology systemically throughout its curriculum and administrative processes. CoSN has launched the “Empowering the 21st Century Superintendent” initiative for helping superintendents, aspiring superintendents and district leadership teams build their knowledge, skills and confidence as effective technology leaders. 
