Girls' Day School Trust (GDST)

Dr. Alexandra Read

Learning Technology Integrator

Dr. Alexandra Read is a seasoned edtech professional experienced in driving innovation and digital transformation across learning environments. Her diverse leadership journey shapes her role as head of learning technology at GDST, where she embeds transformative technologies across 26 schools.

Empowering Learning through EdTech Leadership​

I began my career as an English teacher at Collier County Public Schools. Then, I earned my master's in educational technology from Florida Gulf Coast University, which shifted my career to technology leadership.

As my leadership experience expanded, I served as team leader, head of the year and department chair. I earned a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Central Florida, after which I taught at Ashford University and developed online programs for Marygrove College. 

I then joined ACS International Schools, where I supported their 1:1 device rollout as a technology teacher and leader. I developed the digital strategy at ACS Cobham Campus and led initiatives in data-driven learning and curriculum design at ACS Hillingdon Campus. 

Pedagogy-Aligned Technology Leadership 

My doctoral research explored the relationship between the technological proficiency of school leaders and that of their staff and students. Competent leadership transforms the educational landscape. Using purposeful technology drives school-wide development, sparking curiosity and fostering a culture of innovation. 

Driven by these insights, I adopted a strategy that builds the digital capacity of leadership teams and drives whole-school strategies that embed technology into a culture of learning and collaboration, anchored in strong leadership, pedagogical alignment and meaningful professional development.

“Successful use of AI will help students develop their intelligence and the skills that set them apart from their artificial counterparts. This is why human experience must be the most important aspect of any AI strategy.”

Strategic Integration of EdTech 

Impactful technology adoption is anchored in its alignment with long-term goals of schools, driving personalised and engaging pedagogy, and enabling sustainable integration across existing infrastructure and curriculum. Strategic planning must holistically address collective decision-making, community engagement, infrastructure readiness and staff wellbeing, fostering shared ownership through inclusive, transparent processes.

Cybersecurity, data privacy and inclusive access for students must be prioritised through rigorous threat assessments and seamless operational integration. Technical support availability and inclusion in the planning process enhance sustainable and equitable implementation.

Fostering an Educator-Focused Digital Learning Culture

A comprehensive strategy focusing on professional development and wellbeing creates a supportive teacher culture. Dedicated technology-related trainings with accommodating schedules empower teachers to explore and create pedagogy-supporting digital resources.

Digital initiatives must be inclusive and responsive to teacher needs, workload and progress. Proactive tech-supportive environments encourage teachers to ask questions and take risks.

To ensure ongoing relevance and effectiveness, regulated feedback mechanisms must be adaptive to teacher input.

The Future of Tech-Driven Education

As AI transforms education, learners will benefit from personalised environments driven by metacognition and neuroscience. Immersive technologies like AR and VR will enhance experiential learning and student engagement.  

Data-informed performance insights will facilitate learners with real-time feedback and support from educators. 

This reflects a transformation of passive information consumption toward active, hands-on methods of acquiring knowledge in tandem with social skills like building connections and communication skills to actively seek and maximise opportunities. 

Advice for Technology-Informed School Leaders

Encouraging digital innovation while maintaining academic rigour requires intentional leadership empowered by strategic planning and a commitment to professional learning. Transformative digital strategies emerge not in isolation, but through deep collaboration between school leaders and stakeholders, united by a shared vision for impactful learning. These strategies must be firmly embedded in pedagogical philosophies at schools, ensuring their visions are driven by feasibility and sustainability. 

Maintaining this rigour requires investing in professional development that builds digital proficiency in staff and students. Exploring new technologies must be grounded in safeguarding measures and risk management to ensure data security and privacy.