The Unsung Heroes of K-12 Tech.

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I meant to write this sooner, but honestly…  What better time than Cybersecurity Month to give a massive shoutout to the real MVPs of our school districts: the IT departments.

This past summer, I spent countless hours working with IT directors and their teams, helping them migrate from one Adobe agreement to another.  And let me tell you—while we tackled the technical side of things, we also had some great conversations.  I got a peek behind the curtain at what your summers really look like.

Spoiler alert: IT teams do NOT get summers off.  Not even close.

Here’s what your “summer break” actually looks like:

·       Refreshing hardware like it’s a race against time

·       Installing shiny new PA systems

·       Updating switches (because of course)

·       Oh, and let’s not forget full-on building remodels—yes, the kind where you’re doing hardware refreshes in a different room every day because drywall is literally going up around you

Then, just when you think you might catch your breath, school starts.  And with it comes:

·       Flooding and power outages (because why not?)

·       Apple OS updates that drop one week into the school year

·       A tsunami of last-minute emergencies and “urgent” requests

Honestly, I don’t know how you do it.  You keep every computer humming, every smart screen updated, every subscription renewed.  You make sure the LMS is running smoothly, the classroom management software is teacher-approved, the data is backed up, the firewall is locked down, and no one’s getting hacked.  You chase down password resets, ensure MFA is turned on, and somehow manage to keep your boss, your team, and the entire school ecosystem happy—all while making sure students can actually learn without tech hiccups.

Whew.  I’m exhausted just typing all that, and I know I’m not even scratching the surface.

So now that the school year is rolling full steam ahead and the back-to-school fires have (mostly) been extinguished, take a well-earned deep breath.  Cybersecurity Month is the perfect time to recognize everything you do—not just to keep things running, but to keep them secure.  You’re the backbone of the district, and the reason teachers can teach and students can learn.

Here’s to you, K–12 IT teams.  May your networks be stable, your updates be smooth, and your coffee always be strong.  You deserve all the appreciation—and then some.

Nicole Prevenas

Sales & Marketing Manager