Gary Brantley is an innovative technology strategist known for his financial aptitude and expertise in cultivating productive collaborations.

Gary brings his more than 20 years of experience in the technology sector and 17 years of leaderships to his current position as the Chief Information Officer of the DeKalb County School District. He is the executive sponsor for digital process innovation and measures new efficiencies for maximized return on investment. In this role, Gary serves more than 118,000 end-users within the school district, which is ranked as the 26th largest school district in the United States and third largest in the state of Georgia.

Most recently, Gary spearheaded the district’s largest technology overhaul, Digital Dreamers. This program includes the distribution of more than 70,000 combined desktop computers and laptops to teachers and students. Gary and his team also leveraged a partnership with the Sprint Foundation to provide 25,000 mobile hotspots to eligible students through Digital Dreamers.

Prior to his current role, Gary worked for IBM before transitioning to MCI WorldCom as the regional operations director. After serving as the director of technology for the Ohio State Department, he became the Chief Information Officer for the Lorain City School District, one of the largest urban school districts in Ohio.

Gary received his Bachelor of Science in Applied Science, Management from Youngstown State University and Masters of Management, Economics and Managerial Strategy from the University of Phoenix. He also obtained a Master’s Degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Computer Information Systems and has completed the CIO leadership institute at the Sloan School of Management.

Gary’s unyielding dedication to those he serves, his profession, and enhancing his knowledge and skills has earned him awards and accolades. In 2015, Gary was recognized as one of the “Top Thirty Technologist Trailblazers” by the Center of Digital Education and as a “40 Under 40 Emerging Leader” by the M&A Advisor. In 2016, Gary was appointed by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE®) to its 2017 board of directors. He is also a member of Advisory Board for RTM Business Group, and was recently named a Computerworld Premier 100 IT Leader.

When not advising esteemed members of the DeKalb County School Board or managing day-to-day operations of 147 site infrastructure, Gary enjoys running, coaching youth sports, and spending quality time with family and friends.