ATLIS Receives Edward E. Ford Foundation Grant to Establish Credentialing Program

Association Aims to Address Niche Expertise Needed for Technology in Independent Schools

May 1, 2023—The Association of Technology Leaders in Independent Schools (ATLIS), the only professional association for independent school technology directors, announced today that it has been granted funding from the Edward E. Ford Foundation to establish a credentialing program for independent school technology leaders. While details of the program will be clarified in the upcoming design phase, it aims to recognize and certify the expertise of technology leaders in the independent school sector.

The grant allows the quickly growing association to address pervasive challenges in the marketplace, including ensuring that people serving in independent school technology roles are fully equipped to fulfill all aspects of the job and provide independent schools with a reliable way to identify and hire qualified technology leaders who have the necessary skills to lead technology initiatives.

“We are grateful to the Edward E. Ford Foundation for supporting this significant step forward in promoting excellence in technology leadership in our schools,” said Christina Lewellen, MBA, CAE, executive director of ATLIS. “We often see that technology leader candidates either have a strong educational background or a strong technical background, but rarely do they have both. We will design this program to bridge this gap and ensure that those who are credentialed have the necessary skills and competencies to demonstrate technology leadership specific to the needs of independent schools.” 

This credential will likely feature a rigorous examination process that covers a broad range of topics such as technology infrastructure, data security, digital citizenship, instructional technology, and leadership. “ATLIS will now embark on the process of designing the program specifically for the needs of independent schools,” Lewellen said. “We’re looking forward to engaging the ATLIS community to craft a designation they’re proud to obtain and maintain.” 

ATLIS announced the grant award at its 2023 Annual Conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where hundreds of independent school technology leaders gathered for professional development and community building. The association will partner with a qualified psychometric firm to design the credential, Lewellen noted, and the pilot of testing should be rolled out within one year. 

“ATLIS has a clear mission to equip schools for the future, and ensuring that their technology leadership is prepared for a swiftly moving environment is clearly a component of that mission,” said Denise Musselwhite, ATLIS board chair. “We have a lot of work ahead of us to bring this credential to life, and we couldn’t have done it without the financial support of the Edward E. Ford Foundation. We are beyond grateful to have this opportunity to serve our community in this way.” 

For more information about ATLIS, visit theATLIS.org. 

About ATLIS

The Association of Technology Leaders in Independent Schools (ATLIS) is a growing association of more than 275 independent schools dedicated to empowering schools to thrive through technology leadership. Founded in 2014 to address the unique challenges of independent school technology directors, the organization has now expanded to support all aspects of technology at schools, ensuring that they are equipped for the future. Across all dimensions of its practice, ATLIS is also dedicated to creating a diverse and inclusive association. Visit theATLIS.org.