LM Summer2020_hi

Technologyandhealth-lifebalance I am most proud of my work as an early leader in Illinois for the influx of technology for school administrators’ purposes and for educational innovation in this field. I made podcasts of current topics to Illinois superintendents in 2008 with interviews from leading technology educators from all over the country. I lead many districts to visit the 1:1 program in Mooresville, North Carolina after I observed the great way this district was using technology to increase student learning. Apple Computer even sent a broadcast team to the IASA office in 2010 to conduct an interview with me that was rebroadcast nationally. For the past 13 years, I have hosted an often standing room only breakout session at the Triple I Conference on the topic of technology in education. I certainly never envisioned the important role 1:1 technology would play because of a pandemic! Another aspect I valued in sharing with Illinois superintendents is the concept of “Health-Life Balance.” Superintendents work extremely hard and often their health or their relationship with their family suffers because of the workload. I have been a lifelong runner and exerciser. This has greatly benefitted my physical and mental being. Superintendents probably could work less and still do an adequate job, but most superintendents are Type-A personalities. We are who we are and probably cannot change. However, we need to make sure we take time to exercise, eat healthy, spend time with family and friends, and, in the end, carve out a little time for ourselves.

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15 LM Summer 2020