Dear Board Members:
Your creation of the OPN Technical manager position comes at a time when I am ready to change the focus of my career from being primarily a technical person to leadership and management. Over the last year I have designed and built a WAN connecting 13 sc hool districts, an ESD and two nonprofit organizations to each other and the Internet.
Prior to that my responsibilities at Centralia College included Administrative as well as teaching responsibilities. I directed the College's largest computing center which included 120+ computers, 1.5 clasified staff and 7 student employees. As my resp onsibilities began to increase I started studying management and communications; and completed my MBA in the March of this year.
As an educator, manager, and student, my focus has always been to facilitate learning and support the educational process. There have been times when conflicting needs of different work units have made a win, win solution difficult, but without exception , I have found that if all parties keep a open mind a creative solution can be found. One of my strengths is an ability to see another's point of view and find common ground. Additionally I believe that if time permits, exploring multiple solutions prio r to accepting any solution usually produces superior results.
When supervising, I believe in leading not managing. Fiscal resources are managed people are led. As much information as time allows should be collected before a decision is made. People affected by a decision should be involved at some point, but not necessarily at all points in the decision process. Finally, those responsible for the result need to make the decision.
I have always seen technology as a powerful tool and with my background and expertise I often find myself a catalyst for change. I do not believe in change for the sake of change, but if a more powerful tool can accomplish tasks more quickly or more easi ly, I feel compelled to explore that technology.
Thank you for your consideration. I need one and a half to two weeks advance notice to schedule an interview to allow me to make sure my classes are covered. I hope we can meet soon.
Sincerely,
Wayne Simila-Dickinson