Director of Information Technology Ferndale Unified School District 12 months/260 days #6455

Director of Information Technology

Position: Director of Information Technology

Employing District: Ferndale Unified School District

Salary: Placement on Salary Schedule

Apply By: 10/2/2026

Contact Name: Danielle Carmesin, [email protected], 707-786-5351

Under the direction of the Superintendent or designee, the Technology Director plans, organizes, implements, secures, and evaluates the District's technology systems and services. The position provides both strategic leadership and hands-on technical support for instructional and administrative technology, network and internet services, cybersecurity, student and business information systems, telecommunications, device management, data privacy, technology purchasing, and end-user support. The Technology Director works collaboratively with administrators, teachers, classified staff, students, vendors, county and state agencies, and outside service providers to ensure reliable, secure, efficient, and equitable access to technology throughout the District.

This is a districtwide management position in a small school district and therefore requires a high level of independence, flexibility, and direct technical involvement. The Technology Director is expected to set priorities, manage projects and vendors, advise District leadership, and personally perform advanced troubleshooting, configuration, installation, and support when needed. The position serves as the District's primary technical authority and escalation point for significant technology incidents and service disruptions.

Leadership, Planning, and Governance

• Develop, maintain, and implement a District technology plan aligned with the district's Strategic Plan, instructional priorities, operational needs, and the Local Control and Accountability Plan, facilities projects, and available resources.
• Advise the Superintendent, principals, and department leaders regarding technology strategy, cybersecurity risk, system capacity, equipment replacement, software selection, and emerging technology.
• Establish short- and long-term goals, service standards, procedures, documentation, and measurable priorities for District technology operations.
• Coordinate and lead technology projects from needs assessment and design through procurement, implementation, training, evaluation, and closeout.
• Participate in leadership, facilities, safety, curriculum, and operational planning meetings when technology systems or infrastructure are involved.
• Prepare clear reports, recommendations, presentations, and board agenda materials concerning technology purchases, contracts, projects, risks, and program outcomes.

Infrastructure, Systems, and Technical Operations

• Plan, install, configure, monitor, maintain, and troubleshoot wired and wireless networks, internet connectivity, switches, routers, firewalls, servers, cloud services, storage, backups, voice systems, and related infrastructure.
• Monitor network availability, capacity, performance, and security; promptly diagnose and resolve outages, connectivity problems, equipment failures, and other service interruptions.
• Administer user accounts, identity and access systems, email, shared drives, groups, permissions, multi-factor authentication, single sign-on, and account lifecycle processes.
• Oversee endpoint management for District-owned computers, Chromebooks, tablets, mobile devices, printers, audiovisual equipment, classroom technology, and other peripherals.
• Establish and carry out operating system, application, firmware, and security patching schedules; maintain supported versions and reduce exposure to known vulnerabilities.
• Maintain accurate network diagrams, configuration records, inventories, warranties, license records, equipment assignments, and replacement schedules.
• Provide advanced technical support and serve as the escalation point for complex hardware, software, account, network, printing, audiovisual, and application issues.
• Coordinate technology requirements for new construction, modernization, classroom moves, low-voltage systems, surveillance, access control, and other facilities projects.

Cybersecurity, Data Privacy, and Continuity

• Develop and maintain a practical cybersecurity program that includes prevention, detection, response, recovery, staff awareness, access control, backups, vulnerability management, and incident documentation.
• Protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of District systems and data in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, Board policies, and accepted security practices.
• Maintain and periodically test backup, disaster recovery, business continuity, and incident response procedures for critical District systems.
• Coordinate the District response to suspected phishing, malware, unauthorized access, data loss, account compromise, or other cybersecurity incidents; promptly notify District leadership and appropriate outside partners.
• Review vendor security, privacy, data-sharing, and retention practices before implementation of technology products and services.
• Administer internet filtering and monitoring systems consistent with the Children's Internet Protection Act and District policy while supporting appropriate instructional access.

Applications, Data, and Educational Technology

• Administer, support, integrate, and coordinate critical District applications, including the student information system, financial and human resources systems, learning platforms, communication systems, website services, assessment systems, and other instructional or operational applications.
• Coordinate system integrations, data imports and exports, application rostering, account provisioning, and secure exchange of information between approved systems.
• Partner with Educational Services and school staff to evaluate and support classroom technology, digital curriculum, accessibility tools, assessment platforms, and effective technology integration.
• Provide technical support for state and local testing, online enrollment, attendance, grading, scheduling, communications, and other time-sensitive District processes.
• Assist administrators and designated staff with the accuracy, availability, and secure management of technology-related data and reports; support required state and federal reporting as assigned.
• Manage District website technology and related platforms in coordination with assigned content owners; support accessibility, reliability, and timely technical updates.

Customer Service, Training, and Support

• Operate or oversee an effective help-desk and work-order process; prioritize requests based on safety, instructional impact, operational urgency, and District priorities.
• Provide responsive, respectful, and solution-oriented service to administrators, teachers, classified staff, substitutes, students, and families when appropriate.
• Develop and deliver individual, small-group, and districtwide training on software, devices, cybersecurity, data privacy, digital tools, and technology procedures.
• Create and maintain user guides, standard operating procedures, frequently asked questions, and technical documentation that improve consistent service and self-help.
• Communicate planned outages, changes, security concerns, project timelines, and service restoration information clearly and promptly.

Budget, Purchasing, E-Rate, and Vendor Management

• Assist in developing and monitoring the annual technology budget; analyze costs, replacement cycles, licensing, warranties, subscriptions, and total cost of ownership.
• Research, test, and recommend technology products and services; develop specifications, quotes, requests for proposals, bid documents, and purchase recommendations in accordance with District procedures and applicable law.
• Manage technology contracts, subscriptions, renewals, inventory, warranties, repair services, and vendor performance.
• Coordinate the District's E-Rate program and related records, timelines, competitive bidding, service-provider communications, and compliance documentation, directly or with an authorized consultant.
• Seek grants, discounts, cooperative purchasing opportunities, and other funding sources that support technology priorities.
• Ensure technology purchases are compatible, supportable, secure, appropriately licensed, and aligned with District standards before acquisition.

Supervision and Coordination

• Plan, assign, direct, and review the work of assigned technology employees, contractors, interns, student workers, or consultants, as applicable.
• Provide training, coaching, feedback, and performance evaluation consistent with District policies and collective bargaining agreements, as applicable.
• Coordinate work schedules, project assignments, after-hours maintenance, emergency response, and site support to maintain dependable services.
• Build collaborative relationships with the Humboldt County Office of Education, other school districts, service providers, professional organizations, and state or federal agencies.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of technology leadership, project management, customer service, budgeting, purchasing, supervision, and staff development.
• Network architecture and operations, including LAN/WAN, TCP/IP, switching, routing, wireless systems, firewalls, virtual private networks, internet services, and network monitoring.
• Cybersecurity controls and practices, including identity and access management, multi-factor authentication, endpoint protection, patch management, filtering, backups, logging, vulnerability management, incident response, and disaster recovery.
• Cloud-based productivity and education platforms, device management, directory services, virtualization, servers, storage, databases, telecommunications, and audiovisual systems.
• Student information systems, business and human resources applications, assessment platforms