An education in digital transformation Project partners
An education in digital transformation Interface magazine speaks to Derrick Brown, CIO of DeKalb County School District regarding its digital transformation program… WRI T T EN BY PRODUCED BY
2
Andr ew Woods Cr ai g D ani el s
3
E
ducation has experienced an incredible amount of reconfiguration. Digital transformation
is redefining, evolving and accelerating the educational landscape to equip schools, teachers and students with the necessary tools, platforms and knowledge befitting of 21st Century institutions and client expectations. Higher education and private schools were the first to dip their toes into innovation, primarily a result of increased competition and customer expectation; boosted by rising fees. Of course, the other major driver of digital transformation in the classroom is the need to maximize the classroom experience. And now, tax-funded schools
capital spending. The primary aim was to
and colleges are making enormous
construct a digital ecosystem that would
progress in improving the quality and
provide teachers and students with the
access to modern education for all.
necessary tools and resources to revolu-
DeKalb County School District (DCSD) is Georgia’s third largest school system,
tionize the learning experience. Derrick Brown is the Chief Information
serving just under 100,000 students,
Officer at DeKalb County School District
139 schools and centers, and employing
in Georgia: “Four years ago they (DCSD)
16,242 staff. In 2016, a decision was taken
started the strategic thinking and brand-
to undertake a digital transformation of its
ing of Digital Dreamers; the digital
schools, in a bid to boost the educational
ecosystem hosting platforms such as
experience for every stakeholder. The
Verge, ItsLearning, a learning manage-
digital transformation was branded Digital
ment and instructional system contain-
Dreamers, an ambitious four-year strat-
ing all online tools for virtual learning.
egy funded by SPLOST, which released
The instructional ecosystem has been
and invested taxpayer dollars through
designed to virtually meet the needs of
4
DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
educators and learners,” Brown explains. Brown and his colleagues in Curriculum
some it’s personalized, and so sometimes we differentiate, but at the end of
& Instruction and Student Support
the day, it’s the teachers who know the
Services provide online curriculum and
appropriate tools and ways to engage
tools for math, science and the core
with their students.”
curriculum, as suggested by the teaching
Brown is relatively new to DCSD. He
staff, who work closely with his team to
joined the district in November 2019, but
shape the educational landscape. “And
this work isn’t new for him. He did simi-
that’s where the magic happens, in how
lar work for another major school district.
that teacher engages with the students.
Brown is not the product of a traditional
Because they all learn differently. For
career path in education, and was bitten 5
BRINGING INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES TO THE SCHOOLS OF TOMORROW At Acer we believe that the most valuable part of computing lies in its power to spread knowledge. We see it as our responsibility to provide today’s generation with the instruments they need to develop 21st century skills and succeed in the information age.
Learning Beyond the Classroom Acer’s extensive line of products supports the learning process at every step, enabling the exploration of all subjects, in all situations and even beyond classroom walls. Our hardware solutions feature tablets, 2-in-1 devices, notebooks, Chromebooks, desktops, monitors and projectors, all designed to support dynamic and interactive learning environments.
C L I C K TO L E ARN MORE 6
www.acer.com
DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
“We aren’t just over here in the boiler room, managing technicians and systems engineers and network engineers, and managing these systems. No, we’re actually in the boardroom” Derrick Brown, CIO DeKalb County School District
by the education bug while consulting in
teacher, as well as learning materials and
Portland Public Schools for one year then
research aids. A couple of years ago
joined full time and served for another
“There was a fear from parents when
three years in various IT leadership roles.
devices were distributed to students from
Brown facilitated a similar digital transfor-
school districts throughout the nation
mation to the one at Dekalb, while work-
regarding screen time and what might
ing for The Evergreen Public Schools in
that look like for my child, but they’re
Washington. “We were going through
used intentionally and with purpose
this exercise some years ago, about the
for access and to enhance learning.
same time as DeKalb and we started with
Students don’t have their devices on
what we called the Four Cs: creativity,
their desk all day. The teacher is instruct-
communication, collaboration, and critical
ing and can still use many different tools:
thinking. That’s pretty much still the prac-
paper, books, or other means. And then
tice here at DeKalb.”
when appropriate, instruct the students
DeKalb’s digital learning platform Verge, (constructed by global software developer ItsLearning) has equipped
to use the devices for whatever task they might be doing.” Brown’s team currently has approx-
all students and educators with access
imately 175 employees with executive
to Virtual Learning. Students in grades
leadership in instructional technology
6 through 12 to take home devices to
supporting teachers as well as infrastruc-
continue learning. In elementary school
ture and support services responsible for
students have access to shared devices
the district’s network, enterprise systems
in mobile carts. Virtual assignments
& servers, unified communications,
and content can be delivered by the
cyber security and technical support to 7
name a few. Verge is a complete system
Fortune 100 companies” available 24
connected to DeKalb’s digital learning
hours a day, if not physically, then virtu-
platform, built on Itsearning’s manage-
ally. “And so, leadership and essential
ment system. That entire digital ecosys-
staff are always on call. We always felt
tem contains grade level, teacher-cre-
that way as a technology division within
ated content. “So, we provide the digital
education, but now we’re at the front
tools, and then they (the teachers) take
of the bus instead of the back, so to
those tools to create their own lesson
speak, because they’re utilizing these
plans. That’s the ecosystem running right
systems in a way they never have before,
now for teachers to virtually provide for
at all times of the day and night, glob-
the children.”
ally. We’re not always able to afford, as
According to Brown many public schools are expected to operate “like
8
DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
a school district, the best of everything, but we want to make sure that we’re
implementing enterprise equipment and
skills, managing budgets, professional
solutions with fidelity and leveraging
development, training and leadership.
Gartner for research and calls with indus-
“Communication and understanding the
try analysts about technology tools.”
problems you’re trying to solve, and
Collaboration is common in many
that they have a beginning and an end,
industries but is essential in public
and that they operationalize, are impor-
education. Brown’s background is in
tant. So that fits quite nicely into educa-
IT project management, more focused
tion. And one of the things I love about
with human capital and managing large
education is that we share. There is no
national technology projects, which
competition. We’re all doing the same
makes sense when most of the work
thing, and in the business to educate our
carried out in IT is through relation-
students, and so it’s wonderful to serve
ships, communication, organizational
and support. We pick up the phone and
9
Make Collaboration Easier One Idea at a Time
DESIGNED TO BOOST PRODUCTIVITY, FOSTER TEAMWORK, AND MOVE IDEAS FORWARD, VIEWSONIC® VIEWBOARD® INTERACTIVE DISPLAYS CAN DIGITALLY TRANSFORM ANY SCHOOL OR BUSINESS. Thanks to ultra-fine 4K touch technology, ViewBoard interactive displays offer a smooth and natural handwriting experience, while integrated myViewBoard™ software delivers real-time collaboration and content sharing – whether that’s in the classroom or in the boardroom. Learn more at viewsonic.com.
10
DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Program, specifications and availability are subject to change without notice. Corporate names and trademarks stated herein are the property of their respective companies. Copyright © 2020 ViewSonic Corporation. All rights reserved. [20VWB_EDU1164]
We want to make sure that there’s at least a person within every school that can support the work we’re doing now from the digital transformation perspective” Derrick Brown, CIO DeKalb County School District
call our peers all over the country for
can adjust and modify the tools we’re
guidance, insight and learn from their
offering. For a true digital transforma-
experiences. It’s communication through
tion in instruction, we have to know what
the building of relationships, conferences
is happening at the schoolhouse and
and networking. We, IT leaders, have to
to have that open dialogue frequently
be tremendous listeners. Great listeners.
throughout the school year so that we
And not just building the tools that we
can continue to be agile and flexible.”
want, but making sure that it’s delivering
Many organizations, not just educa-
what our teachers, families and students
tion, are looking for thought leaders
need.”
because of the influence of IT at the core
DeKalb is incredibly fortunate that
of the business, from a data and analyt-
turnover of staff is low. That allows for
ics perspective through to the essential
the continued growth of the experience
functions, ERP, human resources, finance
within the team for succession planning
and all the tools that drive a business
and for creativity and new thinking under
to be connected and integrated. Brown
the leadership of new executive direc-
extolls the virtue of being able to commu-
tors. “It gives us an opportunity to get
nicate, articulate and understand what
into the buildings with our staff and begin
the business needs. “And even though
actively seeing and listening to students,
public education isn’t a business, we are
teachers and administrators. How are
in the business of educating children.
we meeting their needs? Because, at
Our product is human. And so, we want
the end of the day, it’s making sure that
to educate and eventually create global
we understand and are observing the
thinkers, not someone that just under-
behaviors in the classroom so that we
stood network design and computers. 11
The people who strategically know how to do that and who can groom talent to support that thinking and the mission of the organization as a whole.” You would think with 7,000 teachers and 100,000 children, DeKalb would have a substantially good-sized organization to support its teachers, but there are only seven instructional technology specialists. However, the scale of the job at hand is not an issue to Brown. “What we’re doing now is as an ‘arranged marriage’, of a chief academic officer, myself and other district leaders. We have executive directors of curriculum and executive directors in technology plus instructional specialists on the technology side. As the next iteration my hope is to align with media specialists or other identified teacher resources in schools. We’re looking for jobalikes, if you will, within the schools so that each person or job title in that school, is linked to a similar role within IT, and then we can begin leveraging those partnerships to enhance support for teachers.” Digital transformation faces many challenges and education has many of its own and so Brown spends a significant amount of time working with district leaders. “I call it storytelling. We first talk about where we’re going and provide a 12
DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Derrick Brown CIO, DeKalb County School District
Derrick currently serves as the Chief Information Officer for DeKalb County School District (DCSD) in Georgia. DCSD educates nearly 100,000 students, supports 16,000 employees that serve in 142 schools and administrative offices. Brown directs activities for approximately 175 employees and serves as chief strategist and visionary for comprehensive IT solutions including but not limited to governance, infrastructure and operations, technical support services, cybersecurity, and IT modernization for service delivery supporting academic goals and business systems & service. Derrick has more than 25 years’ experience with organizations such as Evergreen Public Schools as Chief Innovation Officer, CIO/ CTO of Pulaski County Special School District, PMO Manager for Portland Public Schools, and various roles in healthcare, telecom and other capacities with state and federal government agencies. Derrick earned a B.A. in English Literature from Virginia Commonwealth University and his M.B.A. from Keller Graduate School of Management.
13
Safe students at school, home, and everywhere in between. Learn More
Relay helps DeKalb County Schools and 6,500 other districts protect their students and devices—in the classroom and at home. Learn more at lightspeedsystems.com/dekalb 14
DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
voice and a choice. Teachers are used to
members obviously can’t support 7,000
being at the front of the classroom, facili-
teachers, but we want to make sure that
tating and being the master craftsperson
there’s at least a person in every school
t. And now we are saying ‘you’re going
who can support the work. Because
to continue to do that, but what would
the tools and resources are there, we
it look like if you just took this one thing
need people in the school to become
that you master really well and imple-
the experts of those tools to transfer the
ment it using technology?’ Rather than
knowledge. We were just having this
pulling teachers out of class to do profes-
leadership conversation where culture
sional development, we offer webinars
will beat strategy all day.”
and alternative learning options. We’re
According to Brown, schools need
not asking the teachers to jump into
to be mindful of not applying too much
the deep end of the learning platform.
pressure to principals. However, they do
We want to make sure that the support
require administrators to demonstrate
structures are there, and that they have
what they want the teachers to do and
a friend or someone in the building that
observe this through classroom walk-
can be called upon. The seven staff
throughs. This was a lesson learnt at 15
Brown’s previous job, where new devices
were five to 10 years fresh out of college,
and platforms were not simply “rolled
as they were used to these tools. For the
out”. “We got excited about the learning
other 70-80 percent, this represented
process and input from administrators,
a tremendous cultural shift. We have
teachers and students before saying,
pockets of excellence because we have
‘Let’s roll this out. Let’s build this amazing
some leaders that are exceptional in their
system of tools because it’s what’s best
own right, but from a digital instructional
for the kids and learning.’ Then we won’t
perspective, they’re not quite there yet.
wonder why everyone wasn’t utilizing it.
And so how do we best support those
They’d bought into it. Think of it from a
leaders and connect them with their
marketing perspective, we didn’t just give
peers through jobalike? We want to take
it to them. The ones that were excited
the schools and the leaders that are
about it weren’t just the innovators who
doing really well and partner them with
16
DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
of the tools that they have access to and how they can be implemented with fidelity, using the technology.” IT is no longer a utility, but very much a strategic partner in educating students, and Brown feels that’s the critical role of the new CIO in digital transformation. “We aren’t just over here in the boiler room or data center, managing technicians and systems engineers and network engineers, and managing these systems. No, we’re actually in the boardroom. We’re helping make decisions for the entire organization because not only do we have access to the data, we also have access to the tools to make sure that everything is integrated, which changes the conversation for who we serve; the students, staff, families and the ones that might need some improve-
community. That’s what I’m excited about,
ment, so we can do some modeling.
and that’s why I want to be in education
Rather than us telling them what to do or
because that ‘systems thinking’ typically
what it should look like, it’ll be their peers
doesn’t come from the educational side.
within the same organization, within the
It comes from the business world, and
same school district, that help elevate
that’s where I got my start. And that’s
us to grow to where we need to be. IT
the shift that you’re beginning to see in
is married to curriculum and instruction.
education, where it used to be you were
They drive the work, and we’re their
a teacher, or a principal, and you went
co-pilot. They set the standards and we
from the principal to the administrative
implement them. And so, we’re at a point
office to be an executive. That is chang-
right now where we need to make sure
ing. The landscape is really changing.”
that all teachers understand the power
So, what does Brown see as a gauge 17
of success, with regards to his work at Dekalb? “I think graduation rates, student engagement and cultural organizational systems thinking shifts. That’s one of the most difficult parts with digital transformation. Some scholars will say it’s how the tools are being implemented. How often are they on? And for me, I don’t think that’s a good place to start because usage just tells you behavior. They logged on, that they were on it for X number of minutes or hours. For me, it’s looking at the grades and the outcomes and the learning and getting feedback from teachers. We look at the work holistically, and the whole child through SEL (social, emotional learning). So, for me, that’s how we’re going to measure success. ‘How does this make the student feel or excel?’” Amid all these changes, Brown is now keen to implement some stability in order to harness and utilize the data being collated. “Let’s spend some more time thinking. Let’s spend some more time talking about what we want and what we need and make sure that we understand the requirements of it first instead of going out and purchasing a tool before we really understand what we’re going to do with it and how it’s going to meet our needs. It’s a tough nut to crack, it really is, because you’re changing a 150-year-plus tradition of sitting in desks in rows. But it’s a nut that we will crack.”
18
DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
19
www.dekalbschoolsga.org