The Fair Grove Information Technology staff, Michael Brock and Paul Thomas, handle all things technologically related for the school district along with the help of four students that assist them second and sixth hour.
Thomas is the Director of Technology and has just started his fourth year at Fair Grove while Brock is the Assistant Technology Director and has been at Fair Grove for three years now. They both are responsible for the technology around the building and routinely work around the school fixing electronics. In addition to their usual responsibilities they now have a student tech class where students go and help out in the Technology Department. Brock said, “This is the first year that we have had students working with us and are excited to see it expand next year.”
The Technology Department does many different things for the Fair Grove School District. Thomas said, “We currently maintain and house 21 servers that do a variety of things for us. [In addition] we also maintain around 19,000 different devices from internet access points to TVs/Interactive Panels to copiers down to the chromebooks.”
Thomas furthermore added, “We handle student and staff account creation for google, windows and Lumen as well as maintain the school’s web page. If it is technology and it is in our district, odds are, we are responsible for it to be operating.”
In addition Brock explained, “We work with the Building Admins to make sure each building has its needs covered.”
Moreover, Brock added, “We recently replaced all the wireless access points in the district to widen our wireless coverage for students. We are always striving to make our technology experience better for all involved.”
While they both work together on many different tech related projects, they each also have their own roles, tasks and responsibilities. Brock said, “Paul Thomas is in charge of the network, budget and overall direction of the Tech Department. In addition I am the Lumen Coordinator and in charge of the school website while our student tech class handles most of the day to day tickets.”
Both Brock and Thomas spoke highly on their experience with the Fair Grove staff and students. Thomas said, “In the three years I have been here, I would say that the culture here is fantastic. It starts with our leadership, Superintendent Mr. Bell, Dr. Overstreet and Mr. Seiger, Mr. Green, Dr. Hollan and Mr. Buffington… have all done a terrific job making this a great place to work.”
