Position-Leadership+Goal

The educational technology leadership program has given me a good background in many things that I will need in order to pursue my career goals in this field, as well as to implement the things that I would like to do. My original interest in this program was based on my experience in working with special education children. I would like to see the creation of a position in my district that combines my two greatest educational passions—special education and technology. In between where I am now and then, I will probably look at positions such as Campus Technology Facilitator, Special Education Consultant, Elementary Special Education Coordinator, and District Special Education Director. I would like to create a position over time that is a hybrid of these so that I can us technology in schools to help all students to reach an even playing field in education. I would like to see all students have equal access, and I believe technology is the key in order to make this happen. I want to lead in this area because I am passionate about it. I love working with special education children, and I love being able to see them achieve success. The biggest tool that I have seen work to that end has been the integration of technology into the curriculum. Students are more motivated and can side step some of their differing abilities when technology is introduced into their instructional day. Some students are deterred by the “pen and paper only” model that has existed in education for too long. In working with my students on a self-contained behaviorally and emotionally disturbed campus, I see this daily. Being a part of this program and working to learn more about tools that exist and how to implement them effectively will help me to improve my campus in the short run. Over the long term, my vision is to see all of my district go to a model that actively seeks to improve educational opportunity for special education children through the use of technology in the classroom. As a result, I believe other districts will want to observe and eventually use the same concept in their own classrooms.