We continue celebrating our Education Support Professionals with today’s honoree, Jessica Maynard, Data Network and Communications Analyst in the IT office! In a nutshell, she works in a team environment to help maintain our network and security infrastructure in the educational setting.
It’s a pretty big nutshell though. “One day I’m helping to investigate phishing emails or installing a new security camera, then another I’m creating new users and resetting passwords,” Jess says. “Or, that could even be all in the same day. I think that’s what I enjoy most about this job: Each day could be drastically different from the day prior, and most days will still bring on new challenges, so you’re always learning.”
“Today, I can confidently say that I wear a lot more hats in my IT role than I wore eight years ago,” she continues. “When I started in my career, our IT team would mostly manage desktops, servers, and printers. Now we are maintaining Cisco voip phones (voice over internet protocol), security cameras, wireless networks, Chromebooks, and so much more. In order to keep up with all of the changes, we continue to research, take virtual and in-person training, and I feel lucky enough to say that we can also reach out to our coworkers for help.”
“Jess is so talented,” begins IT Director Paul Streicher. “She has been with the district since she was fresh out of college and has been a major part of our office’s planning and successes over the past 8 years. She is positive and dedicated to helping in any way she is needed, whether that’s updating google workspace changes or remembering to pick up a card for someone’s office birthday. I am amazed that she is able to gracefully manage task after task that I am constantly dropping on her!”
Teaching and learning these days is very technology-forward, with hundreds of students using Chromebooks, desktop or Mac computers in a small lab setting, or simply just the internet every school day. “In a moment where one or many of these technology related items have a hiccup, it has an effect on their learning,” says Jess. “Therefore, we make sure that we do our best to maintain a smooth-running infrastructure and make sure things ‘just work.’”
Jess notes that it’s rewarding to be able to help out someone in need. “Whether it’s a priority situation, or just a quick fix that helps them to complete a task… I’ve learned that a quick fix for us, could be a bigger deal for someone else, and that’s pretty cool.”
Jessica graduated from GFHS in 2009, and then SUNY Plattsburgh in 2014 with a BS in Information Technology and a minor in Computer Science. She has been back working for Glens Falls City Schools for 8 years. Her current favorite thing to do is to spend time with her family. “I love soaking in whatever time I can with my two boys and husband whether we’re home just hanging out, or we’re out and about.”
Throughout the week, Nov. 18-22, we are highlighting our “school superheroes” whose various careers touch the lives of our students and pave the way for success! Education Support Professionals—our teacher aides, teaching assistants, secretaries, custodians, and many other team members—play a crucial role in every school building, every day. Check back every day this week to read about our superhero team members who are being honored during ESP Week 2024!