In the two years that Chief Information Officer James Masciuch has been working at Sidwell Friends, the world has radically changed. We are living in a post-COVID society, where technology has made a quantum leap forward. We meet online, work and learn remotely, and treat laptops as both offices and schools. What’s more, innovation is constantly shaping how people interact. Artificial intelligence (AI) exploded into the collective consciousness a year and a half ago, brimming with both the potential for discovery and chaos. But Sidwell Friends is prepared. With a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland, a master’s in information systems from Johns Hopkins, and 17 years of experience at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, most recently as the director of technology, Masciuch is an expert in the intersection of education and technology—and a very welcome addition to the c-suite.

1. How integral is technology to the School?

People take for granted the pervasiveness of technology in our lives—so much so that it becomes almost invisible. But there is always somebody behind the scenes connecting those dots and making it work, making sure things are secure and safe. Technology is one of those jobs where if it’s working, it’s invisible. That’s what it should be; you don’t want technology to be a roadblock. People probably would be surprised at how many systems we have to keep things running—from the smallest applications, like accessing a building and swiping a badge, to the technology we use in the classroom that’s more forward-facing. Behind the scenes, there’s a lot of risk-management, cybersecurity, and not-so-glamorous tasks. I still play a role in divisional technology and software packages, but I have a greater role in figuring out how our HVAC controls are going to connect to our network, contract review, and cybersecurity policies. Because of the profile of the School as well as having an urban campus, security is vital.

2. How did the pandemic affect technology in schools?

The fact that Sidwell was able to pivot to the one-to-one device program so quickly and efficiently was phenomenal. A one-to-one device program is what every school should ultimately have—for equity, access, proper supervision, and software management. There’s a flexibility we’ve inherited coming out of the pandemic when it comes to technology. The fact that teachers had to take a curriculum and pedagogy and deliver it in an online platform that was all new to them shows that we are a very resilient body. COVID increased the adoption of a lot of technology tools in the classroom that are very beneficial, opened up channels for communication around technology to our faculty in ways that didn’t exist before, and gave people new technical skills.

3. Do the students ever give you new tech ideas? 

It is more like we are constantly responding to them. Students have grown up with technology in a way that we adults have not. This has made them digital natives. Ultimately, the expectations they have from their native use of tech outside of school has forced us to respond to it in the classroom. When it comes to social media or gaming, they could run circles around me. But when it comes to being a responsible digital citizen…? Growing up with tech did not necessarily ingrain those skills in them. That’s where we constantly step in to meet them where they are. It is amazing that Sidwell has academic technologists in each division; having that kind of tailored role per division and responsive to each age is a huge benefit. It’s our job to help students navigate the tech and make sure they are being responsible when given all these very, very powerful tools. 

4. Is there anything in your job that keeps you up at night? 

The risk management piece. There are always risks that come with being such a notable school, and obviously cybersecurity is top of mind. We deal with that in many ways: through software, education, contract negotiation, hardware configurations, insurance. AI is certainly the next frontier for us all. When it comes to privacy policy, terms and conditions, and tailoring AI for education, the jury is still out. Mind you, it has only been about a year and a few months since there was the big AI announcement and the flood into the market. We’re constantly seeing these evolutions. I just sent out an email to our faculty about an acceptable-use policy for artificial intelligence, because we don’t know where these tools are going, and we need to make sure that we’re using them in a responsible way. I’m a big proponent of their use, but my biggest fear is somebody unknowingly sharing confidential information. It’s just the constant evolution and staying in touch with the tech. 

5. How innovative and cutting edge should a school be? 

Rapid innovation is a race to market and to monetization—often with little insight into the impact that it’s going to have, especially in the classroom. That’s why Sidwell Friends addressed first and foremost the integrity of our education through an academic policy and position statement around AI. Other schools have been way too finite, with guardrail policies that are going to need constant updating. Ours will go through an evolutionary process, too, but Sidwell has done an incredible job of leaving the School open to investigation and discovery, as well as discerning the best way forward. I am the last person who will ever adopt tech for the sake of it being tech. After 20 years in the educational technology field, I am also never one to tell a teacher what they should be doing in the classroom. I want to hear what your needs are, and if you’re open to it, I can share some of my knowledge and we can find solutions together. But most importantly, there needs to be a reason or an outcome that we are looking for. Innovation needs to be purpose-driven. At Sidwell, we’ll always be innovative, but we’re not trying to blow up education; we’re not disrupting. We are working with faculty and staff to identify their needs and then find a sustainable product that will hopefully create efficiencies and a better educational experience. At the heart of Sidwell Friends is our students, and that’s what we’re all here for.