The Melba L. Steeg Endowed Chair in Educational Technology Leadership at Northwestern State University: A Challenging Two Year Experience for an Educational Technology Leader and Innovator

Northwestern State University of Louisiana is a University of Louisiana system institution with a rich tradition in teacher education. As a leader in distance education a million dollar chair was funded to provide resources to recruit an educational technology leader and innovator to the College of Education for two years. The purpose of this poster session is to promote the position to a retired or retiring educational technology educator and innovator who seeks to continue a career and make contributions in the field Impetus for the Poster Session: As the planning, administration and integration of educational technology theory and resources continues to impact preK-12 education, Northwestern State University continues to provide leadership in preparing professionals to promote, provide advice, and supervise the use of educational technology resources for classroom instruction. Furthermore, the classroom teacher in now more than a facilitator of knowledge but one who makes decisions regarding the appropriate use of learning materials and resources that improve instruction. In that regard, many of those who are teacher practitioners choose to pursue advanced degrees in educational technology leadership. The graduate school has prepared students for over 50 years to provide leadership in the classroom. And now in the 21 century, the College of Education prepares teachers to assume leadership roles by providing degree opportunities to advance their skills and knowledge in technology integration. The Educational Technology faculty in the College of Education work as a team to promote the online degrees but are seeking additional leadership and a prospective from a technology leader who is retired or retiring yet desires to continue to research, lead graduate students and promote the use of technology in the University’s service area. In recognition of the Northwestern State University and College of Education’s state leadership in educational technology and distance learning, the College of Education received an anonymous donation of $400,000 to endow the Melba Law Steeg Chair in Educational Technology Leadership. The College of Education submitted its request to the Louisiana Board of Regents’ in January 2005, with the state recently approving a $600,000 matching award to endow a $1 million chair. The purpose of the chair is to recruit an education technology leader and innovator to the College of Education to provide support and direction to an online graduate program which includes an M. Ed in Educational Technology Leadership and an Ed. S in Educational Leadership and Instruction with a concentration in Educational Technology. This session will promote the position to professionals seeking a challenging two year position but especially to those who are retired or retiring yet plan to remain active in the field. Furthermore, the Poster Session at the Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education is the ideal vehicle to promote this opportunity to potential candidates as this is not just a position but a challenge for one who realizes there is much to research, to explore new and innovative techniques in educational technology, and prepare teachers and professionals to apply them in the classroom. About the Institution: Northwestern State University is a University of Louisiana system institution with a rich tradition in teacher education. It was founded in 1884 as Louisiana Normal, the first college to prepare teachers in Louisiana. The College of Education is an NCATE and accredited college with undergraduate and graduate programs. The graduate program is accredited via ITSE as well. Northwestern is the leader in distance education in the state and has 17 degrees available online. The M. Ed in Educational Technology was the first online degree approved in Louisiana by the Board of Regents ten years ago. Northwestern State University’s largest graduate enrollment is in the M. Ed in Educational Technology Leadership and the Ed. S in Educational Leadership and Instruction with a concentration in Educational Technology. The College of Education is looking for technology leader and innovator to fill the Melba Law Steeg Endowed Chair in Educational Technology Leadership, a new chair in the college.