Towards the end of the school year I was asked by a building principal if I liked fixing computers. I do not, and the gentlemen in my district who do that sort of thing would laugh at the thought. I guess he assumed that each time I was in the building I was fixing a computer. He did not realize I was working with teachers developing new skills in using technology tools in their classroom. Another administrator thought my job could be part time in the afternoon, when I could offer training sessions. These are part of my job but the one-on-one support in the classroom is where most of the growth occurs.

I sometimes feel my job is invisible and therefore the work that teachers do in their classroom with various technologies also goes unnoticed. I do offer many workshops and rarely does an administrator attend, there are some exceptions of course. Talking to others in different districts they find the same thing. We have discovered that classroom teachers tend to be better informed on web 2.0 tools and 21st century literacy skills then administrators. Doug Johnson has written a piece on Professional Development for Administrators , it is well worth a read and a look at the resources. I think next year I will do a little more PR for the teachers and the workshops. Sending emails once in a while, letting a principal know about the new tools and strategies that are being used in their building and my appreciation for their teachers stepping out of their comfort zone and trying new things. I think I will also give personal invitations to workshops and training sessions.