What Does It Take to Be Coordinator Of a Distance Learning Network?

• Experience with curriculum and instruction
• Knowledge of public education requirements for distance learning
• Public relations and people skills
• Comfortable working with communities, representing the consortium at conferences and meetings, representing districts involved, working with students, parents, staff, business leaders, and vendors
• Demonstrates use of basic media, technology and telecommunications skills
• Communication skills
• Experienced in training school staff personnel, and able to impart information to all involved in distance learning from staff members to the students and community
• Decision-making ability
• Ability to make decisions concerning management of network between districts and telephone line providers that will impact efficiency and effectiveness of services received
• Demonstrates flexibility, adaptability, capacity, and knowledge to recommend updates and expansion of network
• Knowledge of school business, law, and grant opportunities available
• Ability to manage a budget, familiar with educational bid processes; familiar with Texas Education grant writing for TIF, TIE, and other appropriate distance learning funds that may become available
• Ability to develop both educational plans and business plans
• Must be able to set goals, objectives, activities and evaluation in education and work with the business community on job responsibility, cost, completion date, and projected benefits
• Responsibility to taxpayers and supporters
• Must have integrity and loyalty for districts being served and the taxpayer's investment
• Knowledge of regulatory, financial and legal issues in distance learning
• Must be familiar with copyright laws for distance learning, including non-profit educational exemptions to copyright infringement

Maintain an office in a central location including computer, fax machine, copier and all related equipment and supplies, office furniture,telephone and fax lines.

1. Develop schedules between colleges/public schools/telephone communications partners.

2. Coordinate delivery of classes for students/faculties/community use.

3. Direct liaison between consortium members, telephone company service providers, and others as needed.

4. Grant writing for districts.

5. Coordinate/troubleshoot technical and educational concerns with telephone communications partners and assist in resolution of problems.

Conduct faculty inservice for distance learning training, including staff development.

Provide state required School Board Training via the distance learning network.

1. Conduct annual needs assessment for each school district's distance learning classroom, teachers, students, and community.

2. Incorporate distance learning with site based decision-making committees of each district.

1. Provide quarterly updates for each superintendent on the progress of district distance learning programs.

2. Provide regular tentative itinerary of director to each district.

Publicize interactive multimedia classrooms and distance learning with local newspapers, state conferences, radio,and other media.