ISDenver is pleased to announce an important leadership transition within our Technology Department as we welcome Stephen Butler as our new Director of Technology and extend our deepest gratitude to Anthony (Tony) Hillier for his ten years of extraordinary service to our school community.

A New Chapter: Welcoming Stephen Butler

Stephen Butler joins ISDenver with more than 25 years of experience in technology leadership, education, and systems development across K–12 independent schools, higher education, and research institutions. His career reflects a rare blend of technical expertise, instructional experience, and a deep commitment to supporting teaching and learning through thoughtful, human-centered technology.

Most recently, Stephen served as a Technology Specialist at the Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement in Freiburg, Germany. There, he analyzed IT systems, developed modernization recommendations, improved technology workflows, and mentored IT interns, work that strengthened both infrastructure and people.

Before his time in Germany, Stephen spent 13 years at Friends School in Boulder as Director of Technology and Makerspace and Technology Teacher. His leadership spanned infrastructure, networks, devices, systems, and daily operations, while his teaching included engineering, robotics, coding, 3D printing, digital citizenship, and design thinking. He also led the school’s transition to a new student information system and designed technology infrastructure for a remodeled campus.

Stephen’s career has additionally included roles as Director of Technology for the University of Colorado’s School of Education research groups and Director of Technology at Alexander Dawson School, where he supported K–12 technology integration and partnered with faculty on project-based learning.

What makes Stephen particularly well-suited to ISDenver is the combination of technology leadership and educational experience. He understands that technology is ultimately in service of students, teachers, and learning and that strong systems empower strong pedagogy.

Stephen has lived in Colorado for nearly 30 years. His recent year in Germany, along with extensive travel throughout Europe, deepened his appreciation for multicultural communities and the ways language and culture shape how we think, communicate, and lead. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Drexel University and has completed graduate coursework in Technology & Education and Computer Science & Education at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Stephen will officially began his role at ISDenver on Monday, September 14.

A Heartfelt Thank You to Tony Hillier

As we welcome Stephen, we also honor and celebrate Tony Hillier, who will be retiring and repatriating to Canada after ten years of dedicated service to ISDenver. Tony will remain with us through October 2, then continue virtually to support a smooth transition.

Tony joined ISDenver at a pivotal moment in our school’s development. Over the past decade, he has:

• Built and strengthened essential systems
• Established processes that improved efficiency and reliability
• Supported faculty and staff with care, patience, and expertise
• Developed the technology infrastructure that carried ISDenver through significant growth and change

His commitment, hard work, and willingness to tackle the challenges of a growing organization have left a lasting imprint on our community. ISDenver would not be where it is today without Tony’s leadership and contributions.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Tony and wish him and his family all the very best as they begin this next chapter back home in Canada.

Please join us in thanking "Mr. Tony" for his decade of service and in welcoming Stephen to the ISDenver community. We are deeply grateful for the foundation Tony has built and excited for the experience, perspective, and energy Stephen will bring to the next chapter of technology at ISDenver.