Job Overview
Title: Director – Digital Innovation
Location: Anne Arundel County Public Schools, Technology Operations – Central Office – Annapolis, MD
The Director of Digital Innovation provides strategic leadership for the responsible adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the establishment of a robust enterprise data governance program across AACPS. Reporting to the Chief Information Officer, this role serves as the district’s primary architect and coordinator for AI innovation, data governance, and data stewardship, ensuring that emerging technologies are implemented ethically, securely, and in alignment with instructional, operational, legal, and regulatory requirements.
Additional Work Requirements
- Ability to work flexible schedules
- Emergencies
- Evenings/Nights
- Holidays
- Outside of normal business hours
- Weekends
Responsibilities
- Leads the development and execution of AACPS’s enterprise AI strategy, roadmap, and governance model, aligned to district priorities and public sector best practices. Serves as the district subject matter expert on emerging AI capabilities, risks, and trends in K–12 and public sector environments.
- Partners with curriculum, teaching & learning, and school leadership to support evidence-based, appropriate instructional uses of AI and emerging technologies and tools. Uses established rubrics to identify, evaluate, and guide implementation of AI use cases supporting instruction, administration, operations, and decision support.
- Establishes safe, responsible, equitable, and ethical AI practices, including transparency, bias mitigation, privacy protections, and model oversight, consistent with government AI accountability and governance frameworks.
- Coordinates governance of data used by AI solutions to ensure accuracy, integrity, security, and compliance with FERPA, COPPA, and other applicable regulations. Promotes data literacy and a culture of responsible data use throughout the organization.
- Monitors, assesses, and pilots emerging technologies with potential value to K–12 education and district operations. Develops scalable frameworks for transitioning pilots into enterprise-supported solutions. Ensures alignment between innovation initiatives, IT architecture, cybersecurity, privacy, and operational sustainability.
- Provides clear guidance and communication to executive leadership on emerging technology risks, opportunities, and readiness. Develops policies, standards, and executive briefings related to AI and data governance.
- Collaborates with procurement and legal teams on vendor evaluation, contract language, and compliance related to AI and data usage.
- Designs, implements, and oversees AACPS’s enterprise data governance framework, including policies, standards, roles, and operating procedures. Establishes data stewardship, data ownership, and accountability models across departments. Leads data quality, metadata, data lifecycle management, and data ethics initiatives.
- Educates and engages members of the organization on data governance principles, the enterprise data governance framework, and the interdependencies of data sharing across a digital ecosystem. Translates complex data governance concepts into practical guidance, promotes shared accountability for data stewardship, and fosters an organizational culture that understands how data is created, managed, shared, and used to support interoperability, decision-making, and strategic outcomes.
- Chairs or supports cross-functional governance bodies related to AI, data, and digital innovation.
- Performs other related duties as assigned within the same classification or lower.
Minimum Qualifications
Education
- Bachelor’s Degree in Information Systems, Data Science, Computer Science, Public Administration, Education Technology, or a related field of education from a regionally accredited college or university required.
- Master’s Degree in a related field of education from a regionally accredited college or university preferred.
Experience
- Ten years relevant professional experience as a systems administrator or equivalent role, including experience in the design, implementation, administration, and operational support of Microsoft enterprise technologies in a large-scale environment; must include at least three years implementing Microsoft Enterprise Security Solutions (e.g., Microsoft Defender, Microsoft Sentinel, Entra ID, Microsoft Purview, and related security and compliance platforms) required.
- Seven years related experience in a supervisory or management role with responsibility for leading technical teams, overseeing enterprise security or data governance initiatives, and managing staff, projects, and budgets required.
- Three years relevant experience designing, implementing, and managing enterprise data classification, data protection, and data governance solutions, including hands‑on experience with Microsoft Purview (Information Protection, Data Loss Prevention, Records Management) or equivalent non‑Microsoft data classification and governance platforms required.
- Three years relevant experience leading or implementing Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions and enterprise data governance programs in regulated environments, ensuring alignment with privacy, cybersecurity, and compliance frameworks preferred.
- Three years related experience in K–12 school systems, higher education, or government organizations, with demonstrated understanding of public‑sector compliance, student data privacy, and regulatory requirements preferred.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Other Characteristics
- Strong knowledge of data privacy, security, and compliance requirements relevant to K–12 education.
- Experience leading innovation programs, AI pilots, or enterprise digital transformation initiatives.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively within a team environment.
- Demonstrated problem‑solving abilities.
- Demonstrated project management skills and ability to successfully manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Demonstrated ability to effectively work and communicate with diverse populations.
- Demonstrated proficiency with business technology applications (e.g., Video/Web Conferencing, Microsoft Office Suite – Word, Excel, Outlook, and/or PowerPoint preferred).
Licenses and Certifications
- Hold or be eligible for professional certifications in data governance, analytics, AI, or information technology (e.g., CDMP, PMP, ITIL, cloud or data certifications) preferred.
- Hold or be eligible for Driver’s License (DL) Class C Non‑Commercial issued by Maryland or State of Legal Residence (MVA/DMV) required.
- Daily access to reliable transportation.
Driving Requirements
- Driving is required to conduct bona fide Board business that is within the scope of employment in this position.
- Personal Vehicle.
Leadership Role
- First level supervisor
People Management
- This position acts as the manager for 1 to 5 direct staff.
- This position manages 1 to 2 departments.
Management Duties
- Interviews, selects, and trains employees.
- Directs the work of employees.
- Maintains records for use in supervision.
- Assesses employees’ performance (productivity/efficiency) to make promotional recommendation/other status changes.
- Plans the work.
- Determines the techniques to use.
Physical Demands
- Standing: under one-third of the time.
- Walking: under one-third of the time.
- Sitting: between one-third and two-thirds of the time.
- Keyboarding: between one-third and two-thirds of the time.
- Talking: between one-third and two-thirds of the time.
- Hearing: between one-third and two-thirds of the time.
- Driving: under one-third of the time.
- As required by the duties and responsibilities of the position.
Travel Requirements
- 10% day travel within the county.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Anne Arundel County Public Schools prohibits discrimination in matters affecting employment or in providing access to programs on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, or disability. For more information, contact: Anne Arundel County Public Schools Division of Human Resources, 2644 Riva Road, Annapolis, MD 21401. Phone: ; TDD: or Email:
Job Requirements
- Citizenship, residency or work visa required.
Contact Information
- Human Resources
- 2644 Riva Road
- Annapolis, Maryland 21401
- Phone:
- Fax:
- Email: