I know that I am not the IT administrator who is feeling the burden of understaffing. Understaffing in the IT departments have escalated over the past decade. Back in 1990's and early 2000's it was common to have a 1:35 ratio of IT staff to workstations. Now most schools are closer to a 100:1 ratio or higher.
This increase is justifiable in most cases as networks and operation systems have become more stable and the need to make desk-side visits are minimized by using remote access software. However, the part that does cause the most frustration is now many more people are wanting and demanding new technologies at which the IT department is burdened with supporting them.
Most new technologies now rely on the very same network and network nodes that we [as IT people] have acclimated to the 100:1 ratio. This reliance on the network and it's resources are underlying issues that can take up more time and energies than the original 100 nodes assigned to one person.
Over the years, I have attended several conferences that specifically target the IT staff for schools. The Florida Council of Independent School offers breakout rooms for IT staff. The Lausanne Laptop Institute offers special tracks designed for IT specialist.
Given the nature of my action research project, either of these two venues would be a great place to present my findings.
Aside from a small stint in the mental health field, I have spent most of my entire life in education. This blog is going to portray some of my experiences throughout this journey and hopefully give you entertainment as well as education as to some of the things I have experienced.
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