Shelby County Schools Technology Coordinator Susan Poling recently earned the Certified Education Technology Leader (CETL) designation by passing a rigorous certification exam. The CETL certification, awarded by the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN), signifies that Ms. Poling has mastered the knowledge and skills needed to bring 21^st century technology to the Shelby County School District. She is one the first to pass the examination in the state of Alabama.

 “Earning the Certified Education Technology Leader certification demonstrates a commitment to bringing 21^st century learning to our nation’s schools. Because of the CETL recertification requirements, certified leaders pledge to stay current in this ever-changing field of education technology,” said Keith Krueger, CAE, Chief Executive Officer of  the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN.)

To become certified, the candidate must have demonstrated experience in the education technology field and pass a comprehensive two-part examination based on the 10 skill areas in CoSN’s Framework of Essential Skills of the K-12 CTO. Those essential skills include: Leadership & Vision; Strategic Planning; Ethics & Policies; Instructional Focus & Professional Development; Team Building & Staffing; Stakeholder Focus; Information Technology Management; Communication Systems Management; Business Management; and Data Management. Once the CETL certification is earned, the education technology professional must complete 60 hours of professional development activities every three years to maintain the designation. 

Founded in 1992, CoSN is the premier professional association for school system technology leaders and its mission is to empower educational leaders to leverage technology to realize engaging learning environments. CoSN is committed to providing the leadership, community, and advocacy tools essential for the success of these leaders.