The Consortium for School Networking in partnership with MCH Strategic Data has released its first annual IT Leadership survey. Providing valuable information about how education leaders are leveraging technology, one can see potential changes, trends, challenges and priorities. From IT specialists to strategic leaders, edtech professionals have continued assuming a critical role in all aspects of the education environment. Here are 10 key findings from the survey:

1. Crushing budget realities face ed tech teachers: 80% of school district IT leaders predict flat or declining IT budgets.

2. The top 3 priorities leaders named for 2012-13 are Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) programs, assessment readiness, and broadband access.

3. The 3 biggest challenges facing CTOs are budget and resource limitations, changing the culture of teaching, and breaking down district-wide barriers.

4. Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Chief Information Officer (CIO) are the most common job titles, a big change from 10 years ago and indicative of the increasing importance of their roles.

5. 58% of IT leaders report directly to the superintendent, a best practice identified by CoSN.

6. IT leadership is remarkably stable: unlike superintendents, a sizable majority of CTOs have been in their positions for 6+ years.

7. An overwhelming 80% of IT leaders are in charge of both instructional and administrative technology for both central and school-based staff.

8. CTO salaries lag behind salaries in the business field.

9. A vast majority of survey respondents were familiar with CoSN’s work within the field.

10. More than half of survey respondents were familiar with CoSN’s Certified Education Technology Leader (CETL) program, a strong showing for a year-old program.

Get your copy of the full report.