Strategy & Roadmaps
Multi-year technology plans tied to educational outcomes, with disciplined budgeting and lifecycle management so you can plan refreshes ahead of time.
Contracted Director of Technology for K–12
The technology director your district needs, at a fraction of the cost.
Compass CTO embeds a seasoned technology director with your team, leading strategy, cybersecurity, vendor oversight, and AI policy. We work alongside your existing staff and MSP and never replace them.
Technology, AI, and Cybersecurity
- 20+ years leading K–12 technology
- Districts, charters, and private schools
- Partners with your IT team and MSP
Why Compass CTO
A full-time Director of Technology costs $195k+ a year. Most schools don't need all of it full-time.
Small and mid-size districts face the same technology pressures as large ones. A full-time executive hire is expensive and hard to recruit. Compass CTO delivers that executive-level leadership at a fraction of the cost and works as part of your team.
Cybersecurity threats
Aging infrastructure
Vendor sprawl
E-Rate deadlines
Generative AI
Annual leadership cost · 5,000-student district
What we do
Executive leadership across the three areas that matter most
Your technicians keep the lights on. We provide the leadership above them: setting direction, managing risk, and making sure every technology dollar supports teaching and learning.
Cybersecurity Leadership
Risk oversight, policy, and management that protects students, staff, and data, with clear reporting your board can follow.
AI Policy & Oversight
Responsible AI guidance for operations and instruction, built for K–12 realities: student privacy, academic integrity, and staff readiness.
How it works
A clear path from first conversation to ongoing leadership
1
Assess
A fixed-fee Technology Health Assessment shows where you stand: risks, gaps, and the opportunities that will matter most.
2
Plan
You receive a 3-year roadmap, prioritized quick wins, and an executive risk summary, written for superintendents and boards.
3
Lead
An annual retainer keeps executive leadership in place: weekly working sessions, written issue tracking, and monthly status reporting.
Services
One leadership practice, three levels of coverage
Compass CTO provides executive technology leadership for K–12, covering strategy, lifecycle and vendor oversight, cybersecurity, and AI policy. It is priced per student per year, and you don't need a full-time hire or to replace your technicians or MSP.
A cumulative ladder. Each tier includes everything in the tier below it, so you can start where you are and add coverage as your needs grow.
Tier 1
Standard
from$5/ student / year
Core executive leadership for planning, budgets, vendors, and your technology team.
- Strategic planning & multi-year roadmaps
- Budgeting & lifecycle management (E-Rate where eligible)
- Vendor, contract & infrastructure leadership
- Staff mentorship & leadership
- Project governance
- Cybersecurity: light / advisory
Tier 2
Standard + Cybersecurity
from$7/ student / year
Adds full cybersecurity management to core leadership.
- Everything in Standard
- Full cybersecurity management
Tier 3
Full Stack with AI
from$9/ student / year
Complete coverage, including AI policy and oversight across your district.
- Everything in Standard + Cybersecurity
- AI policy & oversight for operations
- AI policy & oversight for instruction
What's included in every retainer
A consistent rhythm so your leadership team always knows where things stand.
Two one-hour callsevery week
Written request systemfor issues and questions
Annual on-site visitin person, once a year
Monthly status reportson every open item
What we don't do
We work alongside your team, and we're clear about where our role ends.
- Replace your MSP or helpdesk
- Provide legal or audit services, or act as your procurement authority
- Guarantee grants, E-Rate funding, or certifications
- Operate a 24/7 security operations center
- Work directly with students, parents, or non-administrative staff; we work with district and school administration
Where every engagement begins
Start with a Technology Health Assessment.
A fixed-fee engagement that gives you a clear, board-ready picture of your technology program before you commit to anything ongoing. We confirm scope, fee, and timing with you before any work begins.
3-year technology roadmapPriorities, sequencing, and budget implications
Prioritized quick winsImprovements you can act on right away
Executive risk summaryWritten for superintendents and boards
Pricing
Simple, transparent pricing, per student per year.
We estimate a full-time Director of Technology costs about $140k in salary, or $195k+ with benefits and overhead. Compass CTO delivers executive leadership for a fraction of that.
Full-time Director of Technology$195k+
Compass CTO, 5,000 students, Full Stackfrom $45k
| Enrollment | Standard | + Cyber | Full Stack |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2,000 students | $10k | $14k | $18k |
| 5,000 students | $25k | $35k | $45k |
| 10,000 students | $50k | $70k | $90k |
"Starting at" figures for illustration only. Final pricing is set per engagement. Billing is annual and paid upfront before service begins.
Every district is different. Request a Technology Health Assessment and we'll scope the right tier for your enrollment.
Lincoln MahabirFounder · Compass CTO
About
Two decades of K–12 technology leadership, now available to your district.
Compass CTO is led by Lincoln Mahabir, who spent more than 20 years as a technology director for K–12 school districts. He oversaw networks and infrastructure, cybersecurity, software deployment, teacher training, and classroom technology for thousands of students.
Compass CTO brings that executive experience to districts and schools that need strategic leadership without the cost and commitment of a full-time hire.
Networks & infrastructure
Cybersecurity
Software deployment
Teacher training
Classroom technology
Strategic planning
We partner with your existing IT staff and managed service providers. Our job is to strengthen what you already have, not replace it.
Contact
Let's talk about your district's technology.
The best first step is a Technology Health Assessment. Reach out and we'll set up a conversation.
lincoln@compasscto.com
compasscto.com