Chief Technology and Innovation Officer

Chief Technology And Innovation Officer

The Chief Technology And Innovation Officer (CTIO) is a senior executive leader responsible for the strategic integration, alignment, and advancement of all technology services across the school district. This role ensures that technology infrastructure, enterprise systems, devices, and innovative initiatives are seamlessly coordinated and effectively implemented to support instructional excellence, operational efficiency, and organizational effectiveness. Working in close partnership with departmental leaders, including Academics, Operations, Human Resources, Legal Services, and Finance, the CTIO leads a collaborative, system-wide approach to digital transformation, ensuring technology solutions are cohesive, secure, scalable, and aligned with district priorities. Reports to the Deputy Superintendent.

Essential Functions:

• Lead the integration of technology systems, platforms, and services across all departments to ensure alignment with district goals.
• Partner with leadership in Academics, Operations, Human Resources, Legal Services, and Finance to co-develop and implement technology-supported strategies.
• Serve as a key advisor to the Deputy Superintendent of Finance and Operations and executive leadership on technology planning, innovation, and risk management.
• Establish governance structures to ensure cross-functional coordination and prioritization of technology initiatives.
• Oversee all district technology infrastructure, including networks, cloud environments, enterprise systems (ERP, SIS, HRIS), and telecommunications.
• Ensure interoperability and integration between platforms used across departments.
• Lead lifecycle management of all student and staff devices with an emphasis on equity, reliability, and sustainability.
• Maintain high levels of system performance, uptime, and customer service delivery.
• Drive district-wide innovation initiatives that enhance teaching, learning, and business operations.
• Collaborate with instructional leadership to support transformative uses of technology in classrooms.
• Identify, pilot, and scale emerging technologies (e.g., AI, automation, advanced analytics) to improve outcomes and efficiency.
• Promote a culture of innovation, continuous improvement, and agile problem-solving across the organization.
• Lead the district's cybersecurity program, including risk assessment, threat mitigation, and incident response.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local data privacy regulations (e.g., FERPA, COPPA).
• Establish and maintain data governance frameworks to support secure, ethical, and effective use of information.
• Collaborate with Legal Services on compliance, contracts, and risk management related to technology systems and data.
• Work closely with Finance to lead, develop, monitor, and manage the district's technology budget, ensuring responsible stewardship of resources.
• Integrate technology investments with operational priorities and long-term capital planning.
• Oversee procurement, vendor management, and contract negotiations in collaboration with Finance and Legal Services.
• Support Human Resources in the integration and optimization of HR systems and workforce technologies.
• Lead and coordinate district-wide technology projects, ensuring alignment, transparency, and timely delivery.
• Implement project governance processes and performance metrics to track success and impact.
• Ensure consistent service delivery standards across all schools and departments.
• Utilize data and analytics to guide continuous improvement efforts.
• Lead, develop, and evaluate the Technology Services department, including infrastructure, support services, and innovation teams.
• Foster a collaborative, service-oriented culture focused on responsiveness and continuous improvement.
• Build capacity among district staff through professional development and technology training initiatives.
• Communicate technology strategies, progress, and impacts to district leadership, staff, and community stakeholders.
• Build strong partnerships with external organizations, vendors, and agencies.
• Advocate for equitable access to technology across all schools and student populations.

Minimum Education and Training:

Requires a master's degree in information technology, Educational Technology, Computer Science, Public Administration, or related field required from an accredited college or university supplemented by at least 7-10 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in technology services or related field, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities. Strong background in literacy required. An earned doctorate degree or its equivalent is preferred. Must possess certification to meet State and Southern Association standards. Must possess or be eligible for S.C. Superintendent Certification.

Minimum Qualifications and Standards:

Requires the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work, which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of light weight (up to 10 pounds). Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or workstation.

Data Conception:

Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable functional, structural or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.

Interpersonal Communications:

Requires the ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes giving assignments and/or directions to subordinates and receiving assignments and/or direction from supervisor.

Language Ability:

Requires the ability to read a variety of technical reports and documentation, financial documents, codes, regulations, etc. Requires the ability to prepare technical and general reports, presentation materials, correspondence, etc., with proper format, punctuation, spelling and grammar, using all parts of speech. Requires the ability to speak with and before others with poise, voice control and confidence.

Intelligence:

Requires the ability to apply principles of logical thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions; to deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

Requires the ability to apply influence systems in managing a supervisory/management staff; to learn and understand relatively complex principles and techniques; to make independent judgments in absence of supervision; to acquire knowledge of topics related to primary occupation. Must have the ability to comprehend and interpret received information.

Verbal Aptitude:

Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow and give verbal and written instructions; to counsel and teach employees. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently with persons of varying educational/cultural backgrounds and in a variety of technical and/or professional languages including education, budgeting, risk management, personnel, etc.

Numerical Aptitude:

Requires the ability to add and subtract totals, to multiply and divide, to utilize mathematical formulas, to determine percentages and decimals and to determine time. Must be able to use advanced applications of statistics.

Form/Spatial Aptitude:

Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape, and visually read various information.

Motor Coordination:

Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes using office machinery.

Manual Dexterity:

Requires the ability to handle a variety of items, keyboards, office equipment, control knobs, buttons, switches, catches, etc.

Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.

Color Discrimination:

Does not require the ability to differentiate colors and shades of color.

Interpersonal Temperament:

Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress when confronted with emergency situations or tight deadlines. The worker may be subject to tension as a regular, consistent part of the job.

Physical Communications:

Requires the ability to talk and hear: (talking: expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words; hearing: perceiving nature of sounds by ear).