The Recorder – Gill-Montague IT director earns MassCUE Administrator Award for tech innovation

MONTAGUE — An organization of educators who push technological innovation is honoring a Gill-Montague Regional School District administrator as the state’s sole recipient of the 2022 MassCUE Administrator Award.

MassCUE, which stands for Massachusetts Computer Using Educators, annually recognizes an administrator whose efforts “have gone ‘above and beyond’ in providing inspiration to other administrators and educators,” according to the organization’s website. MassCUE recognized Tina Mahaney, Gill-Montague’s director of information technology and educational data services, for being somebody who “sees the big picture as well as the details,” as described by Gill-Montague Director of Teaching and Learning Jeanne Powers, who submitted a blurb to MassCUE.

“Tina has always been a director that focuses on instruction and integration,” Powers wrote, recognizing her as “a leader that the entire administration team looks to for feedback, insight and support.

“It is not enough for educators to have access and devices,” she wrote. “Tina ensures there is learning and professional growth for all faculty and staff.”

Powers specified that during the COVID-19 pandemic, Mahaney observed that teachers “needed extensive professional development related to the flood of online resources and the need to teach remotely.” She facilitated the transition of an elementary technology teacher into the role of technology instructional coach. Powers wrote that Mahaney then “focused on the infrastructure and support of the students and families at home.”

“Working with her is a gift, and I value her leadership and support of my work every day,” Powers concluded.

Before breaking for applause during a virtual School Committee meeting last week, Superintendent Brian Beck strayed from his notes to second Powers’ sentiments.

“Tina, I totally agree with that statement,” he said to Mahaney. “It’s an absolute pleasure to work with you and I’m glad that you’re finally getting the recognition at the state level that you so richly deserve. Thank you for all your hard work.”

“Just so amazing,” School Committee Chair Jane Oakes said. “I just can’t begin to say how much I have very little knowledge of what I’m doing with these machines and Tina just always helps me without making me feel like I don’t have any knowledge.”

Mahaney expressed gratitude for Gill-Montague’s “grasp of what a technology team like (she has) now can really do for educational technology in the district.” The “true reward,” she continued, is to “be able to reach into equity and diversity” as a district through her role.

“It’s really having this strong admin team and the fact that this year was full of innovations (that helped),” Mahaney said. “It was wonderful. It’s inspiring to work with all the teachers and the administrative team and the School Committee.”

Mahaney will receive MassCUE’s Administrator Award at an Oct. 18 celebration, the night before MassCUE’s Fall Conference at Gillette Stadium.

Reach Julian Mendoza at 413-772-0261, ext. 261 or [email protected].