Superintendents
As a superintendent, you drive change within your district. Your ability to lead your team effectively depends upon the quality and design of the programs and the data on which you rely. You want the best.
Over $100 billion has been invested in technology for US schools, with few measurable outcomes. Now, Project RED gives you the ability to change that statistic.
Project RED conducted the first and only national research study to focus on academic results and the financial benefits of educational technology. Our research of 1,000 schools revealed key findings for the effective integration of technology in schools-- findings that show a replicable design for reducing costs and increasing student achievement. Let us show you how technology-empowered learning can be done.
Leadership is critical for success
One finding of our research relates directly to leadership. In order to see student achievement increase and to realize cost benefits from technology, all district leaders must be engaged in and committed to technology. Districts must make professional learning and the effective use of technology high priorities—for not just teachers, but administrators as well. And it starts at the very top, with the superintendent. Your role is a big one, and you are involved in a number of distinct phases along the way. Project RED is for thought-leaders focused on students and their connection to the future.
Practical, research-based method
Are you ready to inspire your district leaders to get started? Project RED can introduce your district leaders to a practical, research-based method to effectively integrate technology into the classroom. Project RED will provide visionary superintendents and their teams with the tools and knowledge to ensure that technology integration raises student achievement, while having a positive fiscal impact on tight budgets.
Join the Project RED Community
The Project RED Community is a professional learning community where like-minded leaders get access to resources and tools for success via mentors, regional institutes, webinars, and more. Through the community, your district leaders will receive step-by-step planning tools to implement technology in a way that will transform student learning.
The Project RED Community supports superintendents with:
- An exclusive peer support group to seek advice and share best practices with other superintendents administrators.
- Webinars to get phase-by-phase information on successful technology implementations.
- A Readiness Tool to gauge your district’s readinessfooting for an implementation.
- An ROI Calculator to help your district determine potential savings.
- Comprehensive project-plan templates for 1:1 implementation.
- A model of issues to address for professional development/professional learning for your district.
- The opportunity to be a Signature District and receive publicity, access to exclusive resources, and the opportunity for up to 5 hours of consulting time from 1:1 experts to review your plans, policies and materials.
You have a vision for your district. You are a forward-thinking leader. Let the Project RED Community be your resource for district transformation.
Join today
Phases: The Role of the Superintendent
The Superintendent is perhaps the most critical member of the Project RED process. He must provide leadership, vision, financial support and management to the process. Without strong leadership technology–based transformations will fail.
The superintendent is involved in a number of distinct phases.
- Exploratory – The superintendent frequently leads the way in exploring new avenues for school improvement.
- Marketing – For an idea to catch hold, no matter how good, the superintendent will need to market this concept to the school board, the press, parents, teachers and other stakeholders.
- Financing – A critical component of the project is financing. The superintendent must take the lead, working closely with the CFO, to build a funding plan. This may include grant money, budget reallocations and capturing savings resulting from the initiative. It is particularly important that the budget plan address sustainability. Otherwise the initiative will collapse when the hardware gets old, or new priorities emerge.
- Planning – A successful initiative could take a year or more to plan, depending on the size of the district and the staffing levels committed to planning. The superintendent must frequently exercise leadership and ensure that the district staff produces a viable plan. District staff confidence must match reality. Experience has shown that unless the leadership team has successfully implemented a large scale 1:1 program more than once, they will need outside help from someone who has.
- Going live – At long last the boxes arrive. Parent nights are conducted. Students start using the new equipment. Teachers put in place the training they have received over the last year. The superintendent must continue to lead, using an online dashboard with up to the minute data, and observation by walking around. Is the plan being followed? If not, corrective action is required.
- Evaluation – A rigorous evaluation program is a must for a well run initiative. This starts in the planning stages. Baseline data must be gathered. Data gathering continues throughout the year. An annual report and analysis is produced each summer for three or more years.
- Exploratory – Once things are running well, the superintendent must start the exploratory process for the next major initiative. Time waits for no school district.
Let Project RED help you through these phases. Join the Project RED Community for access to helpful tools and guides today.