Each week technology leaders from around the globe gather to discuss issues and concerns related to the challenges of the day. In this edition, we discussed ways schools are supporting parents who are working from home and helping their children attend school virtually. We also discussed how tech teams need the support of their leadership and schools to maintain self-care during this crisis. Other issues, such as repair and breakage policies, filled out the hour's discussion. -- SD

[10-minute read; 1-hour video]

During a recent ATLIS Virtual Town Hall, technology leaders discussed ways their schools are supporting distance learning for their students, in particular, by reaching out to parents. This post shares some of the insights from that gathering, along with some resources for the parent (and grand-parent or other caregiver) partners at home. -- SD

[10-minute read]

Bigenho, Kallmeyer, White recognized with association’s top honor

March 30, 2020—The Association of Technology Leaders in Independent Schools (ATLIS), the only professional association for independent school technology directors, announced today the recognition of three highly accomplished professionals as 2020 ATLIS Pillar Award winners:

Things are changing quickly for independent schools, so we are gathering technology leaders every Wednesday at 1pm EST for a virtual town hall discussion. We’ll address your challenges and share lessons learned. Here we share our video archive from the ATLIS Town Hall on March 18, 2020. -- AC

General

ATLIS partnered with ISTE's IISN to launch a live chat of technology leaders from around the world to tell their stories and discuss strategies for school continuity in response to COVID-19. Among the many lessons learned was the need to create spaces for this group of forward-thinking technology educators, which is isolated from peers and colleagues even under "normal" circumstances, to create a space for connecting over the course of the coming weeks. To that end, ATLIS has created a weekly Virtual Town Hall tor the community to come together until further notice. Below we share the video from our first gathering, questions raised, and resources shared. -- SD

We are pleased to present the final post in our series of interviews with our Spotlight Speakers for the ATLIS Annual Conference 2020. Here we share insights from George Aye, Co-Founder and Director of Innovation, Greater Good Studio; Full Professor, Adj., The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Aye co-founded Greater Good Studio with the belief that design can elevate the voices of people with the least power. Previously, he spent seven years at global innovation firm IDEO before being hired as the first human-centered designer at the Chicago Transit Authority. Since founding Greater Good, he has worked across complex social issues such as criminal justice, civic engagement, public education, public health, and youth development. He speaks frequently across the US and internationally.  For Monday's Spotlight Speaker format at the Annual Conference, we ask the same question of three experts for them to address from different perspectives. This post provides a glimpse of Aye's response to "How would you design the future for independent schools?" -- SD

 Jennifer Carey, Director of Technology and Innovation at the Temple Beth Am Day School, FL, is among the many leaders in independent schools who are considering next steps for their communities should the coronavirus require school closure. In this post, she shares her thinking about the steps technology leaders can take now to prepare for the possibility for emergency procedures. Jennifer also serves on the ATLIS Board. -- SD

[15-minute read]

How would you design the future for independent schools?

[10-minute read]

As schools begin to address possible concerns of undertaking their mission to teach even in the midst of a possible shut-down due to health concerns, Susan Davis, Professional Development Director for ATLIS and an educator who has been comfortable in online or blended learning environments for decades, offers some basic advice drawing upon her experiences. Her message to independent schools: You can do this. 

[10-minute read]

In this post, Vinnie Vrotny, Director of Technology at the Kinkaid School, TX, and a 2019 ATLIS Pillar Award honoree, wraps up our year of inquiry into the the leadership literacies needed for effective technology programs and teams at independent schools. Join us for the final book discussion of the year on February 26 at 1 pm Eastern, as well as for a culminating conversation about our initial book series at a special "Think Tank: ATLIS Reads Redux" at the ATLIS Annual Conference in Chicago, April 5-8. -- SD

[10-minute read]

ATLIS research on the Role of Technology Leaders in Educational Capital Improvement Projects demonstrates that technology leaders can make a positive impact on school construction projects. A new report and an upcoming webinar make the case for positioning tech leaders to make the best use of their skills and expertise as schools take on the kinds of projects that can define a school’s future. -- SD

[10-minute read]

Coaching is an essential skill in almost any aspect of technology education, whether you are working with your IT team, moving other administrators towards innovation, or reaching out to a classroom teacher. Here Connie White, Director of  Learning and Innovation at Woodward Academy, GA, previews The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More and Change the Way You Lead Forever by Michael Bungay Stanier for our ATLIS Reads: A Book Seminar for Technology Thought Leaders. Register  for our two remaining webinar conversations, both centered around the theme of leadership literacies. You can catch up with our seminar archive of previous conversations in our micro-course (ATLIS members: no charge; non-members, $129). Learn more about the seminar here. -- SD

[5-minute] read

In this post, we continue our practice of providing curated resources from the ATLIS Think Tank, an advisory group for ATLIS publications and professional development programming. Larry Kahn, Chief Technology Officer at Trinity Valley School in Fort Worth, Texas, shares his go-to resources on the topic of leadership. -- SD

[10-minute read]

Opening summary

Hubert introduced the idea of using e-Sports as a framework for the curriculum.

How to navigate the various conversations internally within your school and externally with your SIS vendor when your school wants to do something within the SIS that is risky or may introduce too much complexity. Conversation leaders Anne Sena, of St. David’s School in Raleigh, NC and Bill Stites, of Montclair Kimberley Academy in Montclair, NJ, will share details of how they navigated the political, technical and human aspects of these type of discussions in a way that preserved, if not strengthened, their relationships with everyone involved while reducing risk, maintaining a supportable architecture and working to enable the ideas their schools had to differentiate and evolve.

Laurel School, ATLIS members since 2016