Profile
Gabe Soumakian, Ed.D.
Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources
Burbank Unified School District
Gabe Soumakian’s interests in technology began in the early 1980’s shortly after entering the teaching profession at Loyola High School in Los Angeles. He wrote and developed a football scouting analysis database. “Back in those days, most coaches were using a hand punch card system to sort opponents’ plays. Coaches were literally spending hours breaking down films and recording play-by-play on data cards. I just felt there must be a more productive and effective method of compiling data to produce the scouting report.”
Since 1978, Gabe has worked in both private and public schools teaching computer applications and physical education. Since 1996 he has served as an administrator in a variety of educational settings. As an adjunct professor at the university level, he has taught courses in technology for administrators and technology for teachers.
Gabe earned his doctorate in Educational Leadership from Azusa Pacific University. His dissertation focused on technology staff development and the change process. On the cutting edge when electronic communication was still in its infancy, he created a online survey that allowed respondents to complete an instrument designed on FileMaker Pro®. “It was truly rewarding to see the respondents interacting with the survey to produce quality data, but it was also challenging because some of the respondents did not have district email access as they do today.”
Gabe's passion for teaching and coaching is translated into the administrative field where he exercises his innovation and creativity. “I have always been a pioneer in every school setting where I served as a teacher, coach or administrator. In most cases, I have helped staff use technology to change how they deliver instruction or manage their assignment.”
Today, Gabe is the Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources in Burbank USD. He states, “The challenge today is moving our human resources department into a paperless environment to facilitate and streamline the recruiting, hiring, credentialing, and NCLB requirements. The Burbank School District is using Filemaker Pro® to post jobs online. Candidates submit their application online for principals to instantly view and screen them from their computer. This has expedited the hiring process leading to an early selection from a stronger candidate pool. In addition, other databases are designed for principals to view their own site personnel data providing immediate human resources' support. The result is to not only recruit highly qualified teachers, but also design a database that helps principals manage an effective evaluation monitoring tool that leads to a higher teacher retention rate.
One of Gabe’s strong attributes as a facilitator trainer of the “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” is to examine how people within the organization change their professional and personal habits to become more effective. Organizations can produce marvelous results if they focus on professional development and address the human-social interaction with the technology. The emergence of Web 2.0 with the public and private social networking sites are promoting community collaboration and are building relationships in the process. Students and teachers are also learning to use the new web in more creative and innovative ways. Gabe believes the greatest challenge for educators is to close the gap between how students use technology in their world outside the classroom and how students use technology inside the classroom to enhance their learning.