Director of Educational Technology & Chair of the Computer Science Department

THE ROLE OF THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY & CHAIR OF

COMPUTER SCIENCE

The Director will promote a culture of digital innovation across RE and will stay abreast of national and international trends and key issues, ensuring that RE continues to be a leading voice in the independent school landscape. They will report to the Director of Teaching and Learning. They will serve on the Artificial Intelligence Ransom Everglades (AIRE) Task Force and the upcoming Data Governance Committee, expected to launch next year.

KEY OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

The inaugural Director will tackle the following opportunities and challenges:

Define strategic priorities for educational technology at RE

In close consultation with department chairs, the computer science faculty, and other key academic leaders, the Director will think strategically about the future of educational technology at RE, ensuring that the school pursues a mission-aligned, cohesive action plan across the Middle and Upper Schools. The Director will assess the current ed tech landscape at RE, considering successful initiatives at prominent schools across the country and ways in which RE might take inspiration from those peers—and inspire them in turn. By surveying the landscape internally and externally, they will collaborate with faculty and school leadership to define strategic priorities for the short and long term and build out RE’s capacity to deliver on those initiatives. This work will build on RE’s current tech audit, which will enter its second phase in Spring 2026. The tech audit is focusing on existing—and needed—systems and procedures across RE, the need to robustly support faculty and staff in current and new technologies, and the future of data governance.

Engage with the school community to advance digital literacy

RE has championed experiential, hands-on learning since its founding. In the ensuing years, the academic program has evolved to increasingly integrate interdisciplinary collaborations and real-world applications. The Director will partner with faculty to provide professional development and ongoing support related to educational technology, with particular focus on curriculum design, assessment, and differentiated instruction. They will educate faculty and students on the benefits and risks of emerging technologies, advising them on available tools and their ethical implications. Notably, the Director will be open to community viewpoints, questions, and concerns and will be transparent and inclusive in sharing feedback as RE refines its approach.

Serve as a partner on AI in the classroom

The incoming Director will embrace AI as a feature, not a bug. They will serve on the Artificial Intelligence Ransom Everglades Task Force (AIRE), formed in Spring 2023. Led by the Chair of the HumanitiesDepartment, AIRE includes faculty and staff members from the Humanities, STEM, World Languages, and Technology Services. Following AIRE’s faculty-wide presentation at the end of Spring 2023, the initiative is now entering its second phase: widespread, bottom-up, course-by-course change. Faculty in every discipline are adapting their curricula to a new reality in which AI tools are not just ubiquitous but embedded into nearly every piece of software that students use. RE believes that students should possess a sense of agency over their learning, and that includes effective use of AI when tempered by academic integrity. In the 2026-2028 school year, RE will offer several new, AI-related courses, on the cutting edge of independent schools, and must consider the continued evolution of the curriculum as it pertains to AI. The new Director will be a critical voice in these ongoing efforts, leading with practicality, grit, strategy, and optimism.

Collaborate with Technology Services to ensure cohesion between ed tech and general technology tools

The Director will collaborate extensively with the six-person Technology Services team, understanding the overlap between ed tech and the school’s general technology infrastructure. The Director will consider technology upgrades related to infrastructure, network, and hardware that impact the use of educational technology in classrooms. They will ensure a consistent cadence for evaluating emerging and existing tools, taking into account cost, efficacy, student safety, and privacy protection, and will sunset tools as they become outdated or obsolete. They will understand that the quality of RE's ed tech offerings directly impacts the quality of its academic program and will thus continue to champion a best-in-class ecosystem.

Teach students and lead faculty as Inaugural Chair of the Computer Science Department

RE is creating the school’s first-ever, stand-alone Computer Science Department, which this person will chair. The Computer Science Department is currently combined with the Mathematics Department. By breaking away Computer Science, the Director will lead and teach in a trend-setting department, maintaining a presence in the classroom and building credibility with the faculty as they champion new technology. The Director will harness the highly applicable knowledge of the Computer Science faculty, leveraging expertise relevant to educational technology and recognizing that their work must fundamentally serve student learning and success. The successful hire will want to be a true member of the RE community, maintaining high visibility and presence with faculty and staff and participating in the general life of the school.

QUALIFICATIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS

While no candidate will embody every quality, ideal candidates will bring many of the following professional skillsets and attributes:

• Sophisticated understanding of educational technology trends;

• A track record of assessing and improving existing technology, as informed by best practices at peer institutions;

• Knowledge of best-in-class pedagogy and understanding of the key issues facing faculty in the realm of ed tech;

• Familiarity with the requirements and processes related to vetting new technology and

introducing it to a school community;

• A sense of gravitas and excellent interpersonal, analytical, and presentation skills;

• Ability to work effectively in an organization with diverse stakeholders and perspectives;

• Demonstrated commitment to diversity and fostering an equitable environment;

• Ethical understanding;

• Ability to lead with core values and The RE Way;

• Knowledge of Blackbaud;

• An enthusiasm for charting the course of a new, evolving role in a complex and ever-changing niche;

• A Master’s degree in a related field or significant on-the-ground experience in ed tech.