The light at the end of the tunnel.......

When I began my EdS journey, it seemed like it was a goal that was far, far away.  Now that I am at the end of the journey, I see that it passed so fast and that I have learned so much. I was initially nervous about starting a program online but excited about starting a journey focused on technology.  I have learned about blogs, websites, podcasts, online learning management systems and so much more.  I feel much more comfortable with forums like twitter, etc.  I have attached a document that lists many of the technology standards I covered during my EdS journey. I was fortunate during my journey to move into an assistant principal job that stretched my growth even further.  I was given the opportunity to lead professional development with my own faculty in professional development and use the projects I was working on in my program to assist my own teachers in their classrooms.  I went through a professional coaching cycle with a teacher and enjoyed learning about who I was as a cultural being and how I can help my school move forward and celebrate all students in my care.  At the end of this journey, I can look back and say it has passed very quickly, it has certainly been challenging and trying at times, but it is something I am certainly glad I have done. Technology is a constantly changing world and education must move forward with it.  As an educational leader I feel more prepared now to assist with leading my faculty forward with the technology we are integrating and we can continue to add more technology and I can continue to grow with my faculty.
The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) has outlined the Framework of Essential Skills of the K-12 CTO.  The framework is comprised of three primary categories.  These categories are Leadership & Vision, Understanding the Educational Environment, and Managing Technology & Support Resources.  Each category includes 10 essential skill areas that describe the responsibilities and knowledge necessary to become an educational technology leader.  Over the course of my EdS journey I have created a log to document my participation within these categories and will highlight three of them.
Last year, I worked as my building technology rep to write our school's 2015-2016 technology plan which enabled me to be an observer and participant for 2A and 2B under Strategic Planning. As I moved into the assistant principal role, I not only had a role in writing the plan and assessing the needs, but I was able to have a part in deciding how the money would be spent on technology which was 4C under support, management and operations.
I was also able to lead item 4A under instructional focus and professional development when I lead professional development for my teachers on technology for Google Apps for Education. This was also an opportunity for me as a new assistant principal to be able to practice leadership with my family.
I was also able to implement leadership skills with item 3A under productivity and professional practice as a new assistant principal with using the routine and intentional use of technology by using Google forms and other things with my faculty.