Wednesday, April 1, 2009

The Innovative Educator Begins New Role as Technology Innovation Manager

This is my first post written in my new role of Technology Innovation Manager at the New York City Department of Education. In this position I am responsible for overseeing the work of educators using innovative technology to enhance teaching, learning, and leading in Manhattan. I will have a team of Technology Integration Specialists who will work directly with educators to integrate technology into instruction to improve student outcomes. I will also oversee the management for the evaluation of the efficacy of instructional technology programs and will help to implement promising practices in Manhattan that if successful will be put into practice across NYC and beyond.

Specifically I will be working to improve students’ academic performance in the core subject areas of English language arts, mathematics, science and technology literacy through effective use of technology in the process of teaching and learning in these three categories:

  1. Leadership and System Change through Technology Innovation;
    1. Educational Leadership in Technology Infusion
    2. System Change of Teaching and Learning through Technology
    3. Innovative Approach to Technology Literacy and 21st Century Skills Acquisition and Assessment
  1. Technology Infusion into Instruction through Professional Development;
    1. Embedded and Personalized Professional Development on Technology Infusion
    2. Pairing and Mentoring Professional Development on Technology Infusion Expanding Professional
    3. Development Opportunities through Online Technology
  1. Data-driven Differentiated Instruction and Learning;
    1. Data-driven Personalized Instruction
    2. Formative Assessment and Adaptive Learning
    3. Performance-based and Innovative Assessment


In addition to the opportunity to bring new and innovative ideas to the NYC DOE, what also excites me is the new structure in which this work will occur. In New York City each school is aligned with one of eleven school support organizations (SSOs). Our work will be developed and implemented in direct partnership with these SSOs based on the needs of their schools in direct alignment with priorities of the Chancellor. This means the work we are doing will be on the radar and directly supported by the city’s Chancellor-a great way to ensure success of this exciting work.


This position will enable me to be involved in many exciting and innovative projects with a true opportunity to systemically transform education in positive ways. I look forward to sharing the possibilities, transformations, and realizations here on The Innovative Educator.

9 comments:

  1. Congratulations on your new position, Lisa. I can't wait to see what kind of educational magic you and your team produce!

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  2. Congratulations and great luck to you, Lisa. I agree with Shea -- NYC may be one of those places to keep an eye on now.

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  3. Congrats! Great News for us!

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  4. Congratulations Lisa. I know you will do great things. Aunt Annie

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  5. Lots of hard work but not unachievable by you and your colleagues. Why no mention of alignment with Social Studies regarding Core Curriculum?

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  6. Congrats on the job. Do you have schools with a 1 to 1 at all? My district does and we're even going into our 3rd set of laptops. Despite having laptops for 8 years, I feel like our teachers still know very little about how to use technology. They just aren't as willing to change how they teach as I would have guessed. Don't get me wrong, there are some who do, but a majority still don't know what we would consider to be the basics.

    I don't mean that as a downer or anything, I'm looking forward to seeing what you do because I'm sure your ideas would be fresh here.

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  7. Congratulations Lisa. I think the New York City Department of Education is very lucky to have someone like you working for them. I believe you will accomplish great things in your new job capacity. Joyce Nielsen (your mother)

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  8. Congratulations on your new position! I cannot think of anyone more suited to be a Technology Innovation Manger! NYC is very lucky to have you.

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  9. Thanks Shea, anonymous, Aunt Annie and Mom…Hope you’re right!
    David, always been a fan of yours. I hope we are one one of the places to keep an eye on.
    Mike, I work with a couple dozen 1:1 schools and have found it really has to come from the top to be infused to the teachers and students. It has to be the way they do business. I write about some of these schools in my blog…339, iSchool, SLA. I’ve found, if it’s not part of the way the principal runs things, it won’t take hold.

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