Learning & Leading Through Technology

Kurt Kiefer | Public Policy Advocate Award

For 16 years, Kurt Kiefer worked in the Madison (Wisconsin, USA) Metropolitan School District, including a stint as CIO. Kiefer led the effort to create a 10,000-plus device network across 50 buildings for 25,000 students and 3,000 staff. He also spearheaded the district’s educational and information technology strategic planning efforts, which led to the creation of a communitywide advocacy group focused on finding technology for schools.

One might think those contributions to ed tech would be enough. But since Keifer left the district in 2010, he’s continued to be a staunch defender of educational technology as the assistant state superintendent for the Division of Libraries and Technology at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI). In that role, he oversees all information technology efforts for DPI as well as instructional technology and library media programs across Wisconsin.

Under Kiefer’s leadership, DPI created a digital learning strategic plan that includes a statewide student information system, K– 12 data warehouse system, learning management system, virtual professional learning community platform, and resource-sharing portal. The plan serves as the guiding roadmap for moving digital learning forward across Wisconsin, and Keifer’s advocacy played a key role in persuading Governor Scott Walker to fund every aspect of the plan.

State Superintendent Tony Evers describes Kiefer as
a “highly energetic agent of change.”
Kiefer advocated to get in place technology systems
to support students, educators, and parents, Evers
said. “By connecting the dots between our educational
goals and the various technology systems necessary
to achieve them, he has enabled a consensus to move
forward even in the face of current political divisions.

“He tirelessly and continually advocates for the use of education technology as a necessary component in our efforts to create the best schools possible for the children of Wisconsin,” Evers said.

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Division for Libraries and Technology: dlt.dpi.wi.gov

Follow him on Twitter @kiefekj

His passion for technology earned him
high praise from the ISTE judges. One
wrote: “The nominee states that his focus
is not around technology but student
learning, but his lesson plans and descrip-
tions of learning show that he lives and
breathes the ISTE NETS for Students and
Teachers. He epitomizes everything that is
an ISTE Outstanding Teacher.”
When Provenzano is not guiding students to reach
new limits, he’s sharing his learning with other edu-
cators through Twitter, his blog, two books on using
Evernote in the classroom, and a radio show he started
called Hooked!, which brings in guests from around
the world to discuss student engagement. He also puts
on a free “unconference” called Edcamp Detroit. And
he’s a guest blogger, webinar developer, and education
consultant.