Director of Educational Technology and Innovation

Director of Educational Technology and Innovation

Vision, faculty learning, AI leadership, and innovation in teaching and learning

DEPARTMENT:            Information Technology

REPORTS TO:             Chief Information Officer

FLSA:                             Exempt

TERM:                            Full-time, 12 months

SUPERVISES:              Educational Technologists (Lower, Middle, and Upper School)

PRIMARY SCOPE:     JK–12 educational technology strategy, AI in teaching and learning, innovation, faculty
professional learning, and academic technology systems

Mission Statement

Through excellence in education, Charlotte Country Day School develops the potential of each student by fostering intellectual curiosity, principled character, ethical leadership, and a responsibility to serve.

Overview

Charlotte Country Day School (Country Day) is one of the largest independent, co-educational schools in the Charlotte area and one of the 15 largest in the continental United States. Enrollment is very strong, and the school is well resourced and thriving. Highly regarded for the rigor of its academic program and the breadth of its offerings in the arts, athletics, community service, and leadership, Country Day is noteworthy for a long tradition as a college preparatory day school (JK-12) that builds strong community.

Country Day offers every child a chance to shine. The school is an inclusive community with strong academic and co-curricular programs designed for students to learn to think critically, act respectfully, and show sensitivity to the feelings and needs of others. The unique curriculum offered by Country Day prepares and strengthens students for participation in their local and global contexts. With its focus on belonging, service, global study, and technology, Country Day positions students for future success in an ever-changing world. Country Day is committed to living as an authentic, inclusive community, recognizing and affirming the richness brought by difference and discovered through commonality.

Position Purpose

The Director of Educational Technology and Innovation leads how technology, artificial intelligence, and innovative practice deepen teaching and learning across Charlotte Country Day School, JK–12. As a key member of the Technology Department’s leadership team, the Director works closely with the Chief Information Officer and Assistant Head of School to shape the school’s vision for innovative learning experiences, aligned with the school’s mission.

The Director partners with division heads, department chairs, and other academic leaders to align technology and innovation with the school’s short- and long-term curricular goals. The successful candidate is an educator first, with the vision to lead a JK–12 program and the practical skill to help every teacher use technology with purpose.

Essential Responsibilities

Strategic Vision and Planning

• With the CIO and Assistant Head of School, develop and execute a three- to five-year educational technology and innovation plan that is mission-aligned, deepens teaching and learning JK–12, and complements broader school-wide strategic initiatives.
• Serve on the Technology Department leadership team and represent educational technology on the school’s academic committee.
• Partner with division heads and department chairs to align technology and innovation initiatives with curricular goals.
• Evaluate the current one-to-one technology program and other major initiatives on a regular cycle and collaborate with school leadership in continuous improvement.
• Connect with, and get regular feedback from faculty, students, and families to guide planning.

 

Artificial Intelligence Leadership

• Lead the school’s AI work in teaching, learning, and assessment, including pilots and evaluation of AI platforms.
• Serve as a lead facilitator of the AI working group, and draft and maintain classroom AI guidelines and AI policies with the CIO and academic leaders.
• Help departments develop discipline-specific guidance and academic integrity norms for AI use.
• Deliver AI literacy programming for faculty, staff, students, and parents.

 

Innovation

• Champion thoughtful innovation in pedagogy, including design thinking, and progressive approaches to teaching and learning.
• Support schoolwide use of makerspaces and innovation spaces, ensuring they are well resourced, safe, and supported with professional development.
• Research and pilot emerging technologies and bring well-vetted recommendations to school leadership.

 

Faculty Partnership and Professional Learning

• Design and lead professional learning programming, including new-faculty onboarding, and just-in-time support.
• Set educational technology professional development approaches for faculty and staff in each division.
• Coach faculty through classroom visits, co-planning, peer coaching, and co-teaching.
• Connect technology use to sound curriculum design: inquiry-based learning, differentiated instruction, and assessment for learning.
• Support teachers at every level of comfort with technology.

 

Digital Citizenship and Literacy

• Own the JK–12 scope and sequence for technology skills, digital citizenship, and AI literacy, ensuring annual updates and continuous development.
• Work with division leadership to schedule and deliver digital citizenship lessons.

Team Leadership

• Lead, supervise, coach, and evaluate the Educational Technologists.
• Build a coherent JK–12 technology team culture that respects the distinct needs of each division.

Academic Systems, Tools, and Budget

• Serve as the academic owner of the learning management system and core instructional platforms.
• Maintain a formal process for vetting tools for pedagogical value, cost, accessibility, and student data privacy (FERPA, COPPA, CIPA), and for retiring outdated tools.
• Develop and manage the annual educational technology software budget in partnership with the CIO, including license renewals and vendor relationships.
• Select and support adaptive and assistive technologies that help students learn.

 

Partnership with IT

• Translate instructional needs into requirements that IT can plan, secure, and support at scale.
• Share oversight of the one-to-one program with IT, including device onboarding for students and faculty.
• Coordinate on account provisioning, classroom technology, security settings for instructional tools, and support escalation.
• Participate in IT department meetings, planning, and budget development.

 

Community Engagement

• Communicate the school’s approach to technology and AI to families through workshops, events, and written guidance.
• Showcase student work and innovative uses of technology across the community.
• Maintain an online resource of best practices and emerging trends for faculty.
• Represent the school in professional networks such as ATLIS, ISTE, and NCAIS.
• Additional responsibilities may be assigned as needed.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in education, educational technology, or a related field.
• At least three years of successful teaching experience.
• Experience in educational technology leadership, instructional coaching, or faculty development experience, preferably in a JK–12 setting.
• Ability to design, lead, and implement multiple schoolwide projects at once.
• Experience designing and leading professional learning for adults.
• Strong grounding in curriculum design, pedagogy, and assessment.
• Experience administering a learning management system and digital learning platforms.
• Working knowledge of one-to-one programs and devices across Windows, macOS, iPadOS, and ChromeOS.
• Demonstrated knowledge of AI in education, including classroom uses, risks, and policy.
• Working knowledge of student data privacy requirements (FERPA, COPPA, CIPA).
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in educational technology, curriculum and instruction, or a related field.
• Independent school experience.
• Experience supervising and evaluating staff, and managing a budget.
• Background in design thinking, makerspaces, computer science, or robotics programs.
• Relevant credentials, such as the ATLIS Technology Leadership credential, ISTE certification, CETL, Apple Learning Coach, or Google for Education certifications.

Leadership Style and Personal Qualities

• An educator first, who treats technology as a means to better learning rather than an end in itself.
• A collaborative, consensus-building leader who listens well, communicates with clarity, and empowers others.
• A proponent of thoughtful innovation, with strong change-management skills.
• A clear-eyed, curious approach to emerging tools, especially AI.
• Respects faculty professionalism and builds trust through humility, patience, and classroom credibility.
• Balances visionary thinking with reliable follow-through and strong organization.
• Emotionally intelligent, genuine, and personable; an exemplary role model for students and adults.
• Able to make difficult decisions and communicate them well to the community.
• Committed to an authentic, inclusive community and to the school’s values of educational excellence, character, community, and service.

It is the policy of Charlotte Country Day School not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable law. This policy extends to recruitment, employment, promotion, demotion, transfer, layoff, termination, compensation, training, benefits and all other terms and conditions of employment.