As I shared a short time ago, I’ve decided to pursue the TCEA Area 20 Director position. Why? The reason is simple–TCEA as an organization needs to change. A year ago, I articulated a vision for TCEA in this blog entry. I also acknowledged how far TEC-SIG had come making change, change that I had worked towards in the face of stiff opposition from incumbent Board members and TEC-SIG. Here is an excerpt of what I wrote that symbolizes the need for change:

Colleagues, I have sometimes despaired that our state organizations and leadership were mired in the past. But time and time again, those fears have proved groundless. Change is slow and woe to the person who tries to speed the process. . .yet as educational technologists, we ARE change agents.

With each connection, each small step forward we come closer to achieving community rather simply being a collection of individuals paying dues to a state organization. We are each called to be more than that.

And, have no doubt, TCEA has dragged its feet in making change. While it is reforming its approach in light of the consistent efforts of its membership, that change must continue and be reflected in the decisions of its Board members.

At that time, I was advocating for a significant change in the executive leadership…and TCEA hired fellow “Making IT Happen” award recipient, Lori Gracey…definitely a step in the right direction as we see new initiatives and professional development (be sure to read the full disclosure at the end of this post).

Should I be elected to the TCEA Area 20 Director position, here are some of the goals I’ll be working towards and advocating for:

1. Increased presence in online learning area. As an online learning advocate, I’ve had the opportunity to influence PBS TeacherLine of Texas in the content they can make available to public schools, how they might make it available, and what organization they might partner with to make it happen (e.g. TCEA has always been my first choice). TCEA needs to make this a priority service for Texas schools.
   Action Item: Encourage partnerships with online learning organizations like Texas Virtual School Network (TxVSN), PBS TeacherLine of Texas and PBS TeacherLine National, as well as other providers of online professional learning, and develop a clear plan for moving Texas forward.
2. Collaborate to develop strategic plans and policies of the Board and be transparent about the success AND failure. At a time when communication tools are readily available–blogs and podcasts–there’s no reason why each Board member couldn’t do MORE than engage in one-way communication. That’s why I pledge to blog about my experiences as a Board member so long as they are not confidential human resource issues. I will REFUSE to sign anything that bars that transparency and will be sure to share that with my constituents.

   Action Item: I will also advocate that at the end of each Board meeting, clearly identify what strategies will be used to achieve Board goals, and share them with the membership via a summative blog entry, reporting on progress–or lack of it–periodically, transparently and openly as possible.

3. Encourages change relevant to the organization and the stakeholders. Although we’ve all seen that blogs, wikis, podcasting, Read/Write web (Web 2.0) tools are prevalent, we need to also consider Web 3.0, immersive technologies (e.g. Second Life) and consider how these will play into K-16 education…then we need to take the lead in facilitating schools in adopting and accepting these. For too long, educators have had to fight on their own to bring technologies into the mainstream; and TCEA has played the role of supporting what is accepted. By embracing organizational change, by being committed to our children by envisioning a tomorrow different from yesterday, TCEA’s leadership can completely change the conversation in Texas.

   Action Item: Encourage review what the Organization is doing and works to streamline management and makes recommendations for improvement–such as the adoption of free, open source software solutions like Moodle and other RSS friendly tools–to the Board.

4. Enhance the Interfaces between organization and community. Again, TCEA has had a failing grade when it came to communication and long-term political advocacy. Though folks like Jennifer Bergland have done a tremendous job in advocating for political change, continuous organizational support involving multiple individuals is needed. Advocacy for Technology-using teachers in every core content area, administrators in offices can’t be a “volunteer” effort…we need a lobbyist organization.

   This is for the Board to take action and make itself more transparent in its decision-making and policy formation rather than waiting until everything is “perfect” before deploying it. Unrealistic? No…21st Century? Yes.

   Action Item: Establish a wiki–with trusted content moderators–that enables the Community to contribute their knowledge and skills around core mission of TCEA, a mission founded on the needs of stakeholders and the vision of the leadership. (Note: This was a suggestion one of our legislators made previously).

5. Manages financial and physical resources. One of my favorite examples of problems TCEA encountered was when they moved from the old building to the new one, nearly going into serious debt and having to deal with building contractor problems that left the new site (which is still beautiful) incomplete. It’s critical that this kind of work be done.
   Action Item: Re-examine what is being done to ensure it’s aligned to achieving Board vision and mission.

Finally, whether I win or lose to my highly esteemed colleagues–incumbent Jennifer Faulkner (Alamo Heights ISD Director of Technology) and Joel Adkins (Kerrville ISD’s CTO)–I do hope that all TCEA members advocate for these specific changes in their organization. and not be content to leave this issue alone…advocate for change at the campus, district, area and state level.

It’s important to our survival as educators who value the teaching, learning and leading that can happen with technology that change be achieved and that reciprocal dialogue be in place that seeks to change how things work.

Full Disclosure: Please note that TCEA has hired me to deliver two workshops, one at TCEA Area 9 Conference this Fall 2009 and another in late Spring 2010. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve.

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Everything posted on Miguel Guhlin’s blogs/wikis are his personal opinion and do not necessarily represent the views of his employer(s) or its clients. Read Full Disclosure