MAEDS 2024

Description:
Ready to geek out and empathize a little while solving big IT problems? This session will present key findings from our feasibility studies on consolidating and expanding shared IT services across Michigan's K-12 landscape to achieve more equitable services. We explored the potential for intermediate school districts (ISDs) to offer centralized services like Service Desk, network engineering, administration, Cloud storage, and more on a regional or statewide basis. Spoiler alert: we’re all about finding solutions that promote digital equity and make IT staff smile (yes, really!).

The studies analyzed current IT services, projected costs, implementation roadmaps, and benefits of a consolidated model. Our guiding principles? Ensuring equitable access, enhancing network reliability and security, leveraging shared services, and—you guessed it—improving staff retention rates and tackling the things that keep you up at night. Who doesn’t want to give their overworked staff a real vacation without having to log in?

We'll share real-world staffing and operational data from multiple ISDs, giving you the inside scoop. The session will cover our "working backwards" approach, starting with a vision for an equitable future state that provides engaging IT career paths, and then offering some nitty-gritty details of possible approaches to implementation.

Attendees will gain insights into:
-Potential for centralized services to provide enriching professional development opportunities (Ever thought about career coaching for IT ninjas?)
-Roadmap for phased implementation prioritizing underserved areas and staff wellbeing (Because who doesn’t love a good roadmap?)
-Identifying the indicators that help you recognize when the timing is right for collaboration efforts and start planning for increased stability (We all need indicators, even if we don’t all use our turn signals)
-Challenges faced and solutions for improving IT staff job satisfaction (Let’s face it, happy IT folks = happy schools)
-Opportunities for skills diversification and reduced burnout in a shared services model (Because variety is the spice of IT life)

Whether your district currently offers shared services or is simply interested in improving IT workforce retention, this session provides valuable data-backed insights. Come learn about collaborating across districts to create rewarding technology roles that attract and retain top talent for the benefit of all our schools and students.

Plus, we promise at least one bad tech joke. (Why do programmers prefer dark mode? Because light attracts bugs!)

See you there!