Director of Innovation and Technology

The Illinois Association of School Administrators; Mount Prospect (IL); On-site; USD 102,000 - 138,000; Full time

Job summary

River Trails School District 26 seeks a Chief Technology Officer to develop, implement, and monitor a comprehensive technology plan. The role focuses on infusing technology into the curriculum, ensuring a stable, safe network, and guiding district-wide technology initiatives.

The position requires state board certification, strong knowledge of instructional practices, and leadership in managing budgets, vendors, and privacy/compliance policies to support innovative teaching and learning.

Qualifications

• Certification/Qualification as set by the State Board of Education and the School Code.
• Additional role-specific certifications preferred (Tech Specialist Endorsement, CETL, CISSP, Google Workspace Admin, etc.)
• Knowledge of instructional practices, technology, and computer network systems.
• Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Board may find appropriate.

Responsibilities

• Develop a shared long-term technology plan aligned to the district vision.
• Oversee incident response, disaster recovery, data breach, and communications planning.
• Lead and coordinate Technology Department staff with a customer-service mindset.
• Manage policies on copyright, acceptable use, and privacy (COPPA/SOPPA/FERPA).
• Budget, negotiate vendors, and pursue funding (E-Rate, grants) for tech initiatives.
• Provide data-driven insights to inform district decision-making.

Skills

Tech leadership

Curriculum integration

Disaster recovery

Data governance

Vendor management

Staff development

Policy enforcement

Job description

District: River Trails School District 26

Reports To: Assistant Superintendent for Teaching & Learning

Objective

To develop, implement, and monitor a comprehensive technology plan for District 26, infusing technology into the curriculum and providing for a stable, safe, and reliable network infrastructure.

Qualifications

• Certification/Qualification as set by the State Board of Education and the School Code.
• Additional role-specific certifications preferred (Tech Specialist Endorsement, CETL, CISSP, Google Workspace Admin, etc.)
• Knowledge of instructional practices, technology, and computer network systems.
• Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Board may find appropriate.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership & Vision

• Work closely with the administrative team and stakeholders to develop a shared vision and long-term plan for meaningful and effective uses of technology.
• Advise on innovative, technologically rich practices by demonstrating an understanding of assessment, curriculum, and instruction, and their interdependent relationship.
• Oversee and update an incident response plan for cohesive operations, including detailed, written disaster recovery, business continuity, data breach, and communication plans.
• Promote ethical conduct and facilitate equitable access to technology resources for all stakeholders.
• Manage the enforcement of policies related to copyright laws, acceptable use standards, and applicable privacy laws including COPPA, SOPPA, and FERPA.
• Lead and coordinate the Technology Department staff, ensuring that daily technical operations, support services, and long-term projects directly align with the district's vision for innovative teaching and learning while carrying a customer service mindset.

Understanding the Educational Environment

• Budget, plan, and coordinate ongoing professional development to empower staff and develop student technological proficiency.
• Create, support and lead cross-functional teams involving stakeholders for decision-making, technology support, and professional development.
• Assist administrators in assessing building instructional needs to promote the application of technology to address the diverse needs of students and maximize learning and growth.
• Participate in staff recruitment and make effective hiring decisions.
• Provide feedback to individuals and teams on a regular basis using quantitative and qualitative data to identify strengths and required growth.
• Build positive relationships and effectively communicate a vision for how technology will support the district's strategic goals to all stakeholders.

Managing Technology and Operations

• Direct, coordinate, and ensure the implementation of all tasks related to technical systems, network infrastructure, and computing device management to ensure proactive and reliable operations.
• Oversee management of software licensing, data backup, content filtering, firewall protection, and virus protection.
• Direct and coordinate the use of email, district websites, web tools, and other communication systems to enhance effective communication with key stakeholders.
• Manage the technology budgets annually and long-range, serving as a business leader who applies principles of Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and Value of Investment (VOI) to technology initiatives.
• Direct, manage, and negotiate with vendors and business partners regarding selection and purchasing guidelines.
• Pursue technology-related funding resources, including the Federal E-Rate Technology Reimbursement Program, grants, and low-interest funding opportunities to meet district goals.
• Establish and maintain systems and tools for gathering, warehousing, mining, and reporting data to produce an information culture centered on data-driven decision-making.
• Provide assistance to the Director of Buildings and Grounds related to the networking and operation of Building HVAC and Security Systems.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Assistant Superintendent Teaching & Learning.

Terms of Employment: Salary and 12-month work year

Starting Salary: $120,000. Salary based on experience.

Evaluation:Performance of this job will be evaluated in accordance with provisions established by the policies of the Board of Education.

Link to District/Third Party Online Application Web Page

District Name River Trails #26 Building Name Address 1900 E Kensington
Mount Prospect, IL 60056 Phone [phone] Fax [phone] IASA Region Cook North County Cook (North) County Employment Type Job Category Other Administrative Grade Level Elementary