Beyond the Classroom: Operational Challenges of Technology Leadership is the title of a featured presentation from the New Jersey Association of School Technology Officials (NJASTO) at this year’s New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA) Workshop. This session shines a spotlight on the rapidly evolving role of technology leaders in K-12 education, roles that now extend far beyond fixing computers or setting up Wi-Fi.
Today, technology is woven into nearly every part of teaching, learning and district operations. That reality has pushed school technology leadership into the spotlight, transforming what was once a technical support role into one that blends strategy, financial management, instructional vision and organizational leadership.
As someone who has worked in school technology for 18 years and currently serves as director of technology for Hawthorne Public Schools, I’ve seen this transformation up close. Early in my career, much of the work was reactive: fixing what broke, finding workarounds when systems didn’t cooperate, and trying to keep the limited technology we had running. Now, the work is proactive, strategic and deeply tied to districtwide decision-making. As vice president of the New Jersey Association of School Technology Officials (NJASTO), I’m proud to represent a network of leaders who are facing these same challenges across New Jersey and who come together to support one another.
This article aims to pull back the curtain on what technology leadership looks like today, why it matters for every student and staff member and what challenges still lie ahead.
From Troubleshooter to Strategic Leader
Not long ago, the district “tech person” was the person called to reboot the internet in the lab or reinstall Windows on a teacher’s desktop. If the network was up and the copy machine worked, it was a good day.
Fast forward to today and technology is as essential as electricity. Learning management systems track instruction, student devices are issued 1:1, security cameras and door access run on networks, and communication systems tie it all together. If the technology goes down, schools grind to a halt.
That reality has elevated the role of technology leaders. We are no longer support staff working in the background; we are administrators at the table, helping shape district strategy. Technology leaders must understand instruction, budgeting, data privacy, cybersecurity, and facilities, all while keeping an eye on the next wave of change.
The Communication Challenge: Gaining Buy-In
One of the most impactful parts of the job is communication. School board members, superintendents, principals, and teachers are experts in their fields, but many do not have a background in technology. That can make it difficult for them to see how a decision about a server or firewall upgrade directly impacts students in the classroom.
It falls to technology leaders to translate. We must explain why a cybersecurity upgrade is not just an IT issue, but a student safety issue. We must show how learning management systems save time and support differentiated instruction. We must demonstrate how reliable communication systems can mean the difference in a crisis.
This translation work requires strong presentation skills, clear communication and the ability to build consensus. Some of the most effective technology leaders I know spend as much time in boardrooms and committee meetings as they do in server rooms. Without stakeholder buy-in, even the most innovative projects stall.
Doing More With Less: Financial Realities
School technology leaders are often tasked with managing enterprise-grade infrastructures on budgets that wouldn’t sustain a small business. When budget cuts come, technology is often one of the first areas to feel the squeeze, even though schools have never been more dependent on it. This reality forces leaders to be resourceful and creative:
- E-Rate funding offsets the costs of internet and networking, but the application process can be complex.
- Grants federal, state, and private can be lifelines, but they require time and expertise to pursue.
- Title funds can sometimes be aligned with technology initiatives if they support instructional goals.
- Community and PTO partnerships can help fund specific projects, from E-Sports to security upgrades.
At Hawthorne, for example, we successfully pursued a federal Community Oriented Policing Services/School Violence Prevention Program (COPS SVPP) grant to overhaul our PA systems and deploy a new district-wide radio communications system, improvements that significantly enhance school safety. That project wouldn’t have been possible without creative funding strategies and careful planning.
Technology leaders across New Jersey have similar stories. The ingenuity required to piece together funding is a skill and one that NJASTO members frequently share with one another.
Staffing and Growth: An Unbalanced Equation
While Technology Infrastructure has grown exponentially, staffing has not. Many districts now support 1:1 device programs, cloud-based systems, VoIP phones, security cameras, and more, but still employ the same number of technicians they had when there were only a few labs and desktop machines.
This mismatch creates enormous pressure. Teams are stretched thin, forced to balance day-to-day help desk needs with large-scale projects. In many districts, technology leaders and their small teams act as network engineers, data analysts, cybersecurity officers, project managers and instructional coaches all at once.
The risks are clear: an understaffed technology department is more vulnerable to outages, cyberattacks, and system failures. For teachers and students, that means interruptions to learning. For administrators, it can mean lost time, lost data or even legal liability. Recognizing and addressing this staffing challenge is one of the most urgent issues in K-12 education today.
Cybersecurity: A Growing Threat
Another area that has pushed technology leadership to the forefront is cybersecurity. School districts are now prime targets for cyberattacks because they house valuable personal data and often lack robust protections.
Cybersecurity is no longer optional: it’s a core responsibility. Technology leaders must ensure firewalls, backups, multifactor authentication and incident response plans are in place. They must also provide training for staff, because one click on a phishing email can compromise an entire network.
Balancing cybersecurity needs with limited budgets is especially difficult, but ignoring the threat is not an option. A single attack can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, not to mention lost instructional time and community trust.
Instructional Impact: More Than Operations
While much of the conversation focuses on infrastructure and security, it’s equally important to remember the instructional side of technology. Effective technology leadership ensures that the tools we deploy support teaching and learning.
This means collaborating with curriculum directors, professional development teams, and principals. It means understanding pedagogy, not just hardware. Technology leaders must ask: Does this tool help teachers differentiate instruction? Does it empower students to be creators, not just consumers? Does it close gaps or unintentionally widen them?
At its best, technology leadership amplifies great teaching. At its worst, it can create confusion, inequity and redundancy. Striking the right balance requires constant dialogue with educators.
The Lifeline of a Professional Network
This is why professional organizations like NJASTO matter so much. NJASTO provides:
- Peer-to-peer support for troubleshooting and problem-solving
- Knowledge sharing about emerging technologies, policy changes, and funding opportunities
- Resources such as strategic planning templates, vendor contacts, and best-practice guides
When a district lacks staffing or funding, tapping into this collective expertise can be the difference between a stalled project and a successful one.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Technology Leadership
The demands on technology leaders will only continue to grow. Artificial intelligence is beginning to reshape instruction and assessment. Cybersecurity threats are becoming more sophisticated. Data privacy concerns are intensifying, and as schools move further into digital learning, equity of access remains a central issue.
The technology leader of tomorrow must be not only an IT professional, but also a strategist, communicator, educator, and advocate. from risk
For school boards, administrators, and educators, understanding this evolution is essential. Technology is not a side operation; it is the foundation of modern education.
Conclusion
Technology leadership in K-12 schools are integral to instruction, safety, operations and long-term planning. They must navigate financial constraints, staffing shortages, cybersecurity threats, and ever-changing technology, all while keeping the focus on students and teachers.
The NJASTO presentation at NJSBA highlights the collective strength of New Jersey’s technology leaders who are redefining what it means to lead “beyond the classroom.”
Tamer Mamkej is the current Technology Director for Hawthorne Public Schools, bringing 18 years of extensive experience in the educational technology sector. Over his career, Tamer has worked with a diverse array of schools, enhancing their technological infrastructures and advancing their educational capabilities.
