1. What superintendents and trustees
really think about IT
Jurisdiction Technology Contacts Event – May 3, 2012

2. This won’t hurt a bit…

3. Maybe there’s a less…intense…way.
Role Participants
 Alberta Education
Information Sessions Superintendent 28
 March-April 2012 Trustee 104
IT Leader 3
 Five meetings
Secretary-Treasurer 5
 174 Participants
Other Leader 34

4. This won’t hurt a bit…
1. Collect your responses
2. Share findings from the information sessions
3. Identify and analyze compelling findings
4. Gather your feedback

5. This session sounds…
A. AWESOME!
B. I’ll let you know when it’s over.
C. This isn’t the SuperNet session?
D. Huh? Sorry! I was playing Angry Birds.

6. Tell us who you are…
A. IT Leader
B. ET Leader
C. Other Educational Leader
D. Other

7. You tell us…
How important do you think technology is or will be to enabling
change in your jurisdiction?
A. We cannot enable change without it
B. Enabling change without it would be very difficult
C. Enabling change without it is possible, but would take
longer
D. Except for very specific things, it is not necessary
E. It is not at all necessary to enable change

8. They said…
How important do you think technology is or will be to enabling
change in your jurisdiction?
Other Leader 35% 38% 15% 12%
Secretary-Treasurer 75% 25%
Trustee 36% 41% 20% 3%
Superintendent 39% 39% 14% 7%
We cannot enable change without it
Enabling change without it would be very difficult
Enabling change without it is possible, but would take longer
Except for very specific things, it is not necessary

9. You tell us…
How involved are you in making strategic technology decisions
in your jurisdiction?
A. Very involved in all decisions
B. Involved in many but not all decisions
C. Sometimes consulted or included in technology
decisions
D. Advised or informed, but not involved in technology
decisions
E. I am not involved in any strategic technology
decisions

10. They said…
How involved are you in making strategic technology decisions
in your jurisdiction?
Other Leader 21% 25% 14% 32% 7%
Secretary-Treasurer 25% 50% 25%
Trustee 7% 20% 39% 34%
Superintendent 56% 28% 16%
Very involved in all decisions
Involved in many, but not all decisions
Sometimes consulted or included in technology decisions
Advised or informed, but not involved in technology decisions
Not involved in any strategic technology decisions

11. You tell us…
Considering cost, risks, and benefits, how confident do you feel
in your knowledge of technology to make technology decisions
for your jurisdiction?
A. Very comfortable making technology decisions
B. I consult with others before making technology
decisions
C. I let others take the lead in technology decisions if
possible
D. I avoid making technology decisions
E. I am not included in making technology decisions

12. They said…
Considering cost, risks, and benefits, how confident do you feel
in your knowledge of technology to make technology decisions
for your jurisdiction?
Other Leader 9% 65% 26%
Secretary-Treasurer 100%
Trustee 11% 39% 40% 10%
Superintendent 12% 68% 20%
Very comfortable when making technology decisions
I consult with others before making technology decisions
I let others take the lead in technology decisions if possible
I am not included in making technology decisions

13. You tell us…
How is technology included in strategic decisions and budget
planning by the leaders in your school jurisdiction?
A. Essential part of planning for operational and
capital funding allocations
B. Considered after all other program and
administrative planning is identified
C. New project requests are reviewed if required
D. Discussed as a cost centre/expense
E. Not considered in strategic planning and
budgeting, just a budget line item

14. They said…
How is technology included in strategic decisions and budget
planning by the leaders in your school jurisdiction?
Other Leader 82% 18%
Secretary-Treasurer 100%
Trustee 82% 10% 6% 1%
Superintendent 90% 0% 5%
5%
Essential part of planning for operational and capital funding allocations
New project requests are reviewed if required
Discussed as a cost centre/expense
Not considered in strategic planning and budgeting - just a budget line item

15. You tell us…
How reliable are critical IT services to meet the needs of your
jurisdiction?
A. Regularly meet expectations
B. Usually meet expectations
C. Sometimes miss expectations
D. Often miss expectations
E. Have not set expectations for them to meet or miss

16. They said…
How reliable are critical IT services to meet the needs of your
jurisdiction?
Other Leader 47% 27% 17% 7% 3%
Secretary-Treasurer 40% 40% 20%
2%
Trustee 45% 28% 21% 4%
Superintendent 54% 27% 15% 4%
Regularly meet expectations
Usually meet expectations
Sometimes miss expectations
Often miss expectations
Have not set expectations for them to meet or miss

17. You tell us…
The IT department in my jurisdiction should be…
A. A cost centre
B. A service provider
C. An education partner
D. Leading significant educational innovation

18. They said…
The IT department in my jurisdiction should be…
Other Leader 4% 85% 12%
Secretary-Treasurer 20% 60% 20%
Trustee 7% 55% 38%
Superintendent 4% 4% 64% 28%
A cost centre
A service provider
An education partner
Leading significant educational innovation

19. You tell us…
Where was the biggest gap between your
response and the responses provided by
other leaders?

20. You tell us…
What result surprised you?

21. You tell us…
For the result with the biggest gap:
What does this mean?
For the most surprising result:
What does this mean?

22. You tell us…
For the result with the biggest gap:
What action could be taken?
For the most surprising result:
What action could be taken?

23. Now what?
 Synthesis and analysis
 Planning next steps
 Communication

24. Questions? Comments?

25. We’re in IT together.
Angie Tarasoff
Senior Manager, Technology Planning &
Management
Alberta Education, School Technology Branch
angie.tarasoff@gov.ab.ca
Erwin Loewen
Advisor, Emerging Technologies
Alberta Education, School Technology Branch
erwin.loewen@gov.ab.ca