T&L Grant Guru appointed Chief Technology Officer of Pasadena Unified School District

Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) Superintendent Edwin Diaz announced today the appointment of Gary Carnow, Ed.D., as Chief Technology Officer, filling a senior management post critical to the execution of academic improvement strategies to raise student achievement.

“Gary brings an outstanding background as a teacher and as a recognized national expert in
educational technology to PUSD,” said Superintendent Diaz. “Gary’s impressive experience in accountability and student testing will be invaluable as we continue to upgrade our technological capacity to accelerate student achievement amid fiscal constraints.”

Dr. Carnow currently serves as Director of Technology and Information Services in the Alhambra Unified School District (AUSD), where he is responsible for all technology use in instruction, business support activities, and classroom educational technology. Dr. Carnow planned and developed the district’s technology infrastructure, procured grants, and implemented the federal E-rate and other educational programs. He has served as an adjunct professor at California State University at Los Angeles and at Pepperdine University. Dr. Carnow began his career as a classroom teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District in 1975, where he specialized in gifted and talented education programs.

"I look forward to working side by side with the students, staff, and community of PUSD,” said Dr. Carnow. “Educational technology programs have tangible effects on student achievement, and can prepare students to thrive in college and in their careers.”

As Chief Technology Officer, Dr. Carnow will be responsible for all information technology planning, infrastructure, and operations; management of student data; analysis of assessments and state testing data; and technology staff development. He will chair the district’s Technology Advisory Group.

Responsibility for assessment, testing, and the district's comprehensive accountability plan have been shifted to the Chief Technology Officer as result of fiscal constraints and the elimination of the coordinator of accountability and testing position.

Dr. Carnow holds a Bachelor’s degree, a Master’s degree in educational administration, and an Ed.D in educational administration and supervision from the University of Southern California (USC). He earned a post-doctoral certificate in school business administration from USC in 1988. The selection committee for this post included representatives of PUSD’s executive leadership team, classified and certificated employee organizations, and business and technology administrators. The nationwide recruitment process resulted in a large pool of applicants who went through an extensive screening process.