Leadership for Technology Integration: The Role of Principals and Mentors

This article reviews the preliminary results of a five-year Technology Innovation Challenge Grant initiative in North Dakota. A stratified sample of 72 schools was selected from the 423 schools participating. Data on the competencies of the leadership within each school (both administrators and mentors) was compared to technology integration success factors of the teachers associated with the leaders. Results on the impact of mentors on teacher preparedness to integrate technology and teacher likelihood to continue to the next phase of professional development were not as strong as expected. Two of the reasons are believed to be insufficient mentor training and selection of mentors and mentees.