Linda Gerull, City CIO and Executive Director, Department of Technology, City and County of San Francisco
San Francisco is the 16th most populous city in the United States, the fourth most populated in California, and the fifth most densely populated county in the United States – behind only four of the five New York City boroughs. As San Francisco transitioned to distance learning to keep school staff, students and families safe from COVID-19, many students lacked home internet access. Committed to eliminating digital divides, the City installed high-speed broadband to public housing and distributed Chromebooks and mobile hotspots to youth at risk of missing essential education — while the mayor’s office launched 78 community learning hubs in six weeks to provide full-day, in-person support for distance learning. Join us to learn how these national firsts became possible through swift and quality decision-making enriched by a culture of diversity, inclusion, and collaboration.
Interviewed by: Julia King, Contributing Editor, CIO, IDG Communications, Inc.