Technology has become such a regular part of our lives that sometimes it’s noticed most when something goes wrong. But things going wrong cannot afford to happen in an organization like Des Moines Public Schools, where 34,000 computers, 3,000 smart projectors and countless other devices function to support work in the classroom and throughout the district.
Keeping everything functioning and connected is a team of IT professionals in the district’s Technology department, people like Dan Sloan, who recently earned the Certified Education Technology Leader (CETL) designation by passing a rigorous certification exam.
The CETL certification, awarded by the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN), signifies that Sloan has mastered the knowledge and skills needed to bring 21st century technology to K-12 school systems. Sloan is only the second person in Iowa to earn this high-level certification, and one of only about 400 across the nation.
“Earning the Certified Education Technology Leader certification demonstrates a commitment to bringing 21st century learning to our nation’s schools. Because of the CETL recertification requirements, certified leaders pledge to stay current in this ever-changing field of education technology,” said Keith Krueger, CAE, Chief Executive Officer of CoSN.
“This is a momentous endeavor on Dan’s part that demonstrates he has mastered the knowledge and skills needed to build 21st century learning environments at DMPS,” added Dan Warren, director of technology operations at Des Moines Public Schools. “It promotes our organizational mission and goals, and sets us up to better achieve them.”
Sloan joined DMPS as the district’s Technical Services Manager last August. In that role he’s responsible for the purchasing, inventory, installation, service, and support of computers and other technology devices throughout the school district. This summer he will also supervise the district’s Technology Customer Service Desk.
Before joining DMPS, Sloan was the Technology Supervisor at Newton Community Schools and spent a decade as the Systems Administrator for Drake University’s College of Business and Public Administration, where he also earned his Master’s degree.
To become certified, a candidate must demonstrate experience in the education technology field and pass a comprehensive two-part examination based on the 10 skill areas in CoSN’s Framework of Essential Skills of the K-12 CTO. Once the CETL certification is earned, the ed tech professional must complete 60 hours of professional development activities every three years to maintain the designation.
The CETL certification is awarded by the Consortium for School Networking. Founded in 1992, CoSN is the premier professional association for school system technology leaders and its mission is to empower educational leaders to leverage technology to realize engaging learning environments. CoSN is committed to providing the leadership, community, and advocacy tools essential for the success of these leaders.