What can I do for your school district?

I am an Educational Technology Engineer.  I am familiar with many types of classroom technology environments.  I know what works, and what does not work.  Anyone can read pages of glossy sales literature, but I draw on years of experience from myself, and a multitude of industry contacts.  If you have a project you are planning, chances are I have either done it or know someone who has.

I can develop a plans for new construction, working directly with the engineering company, the electricians, the general contractor, and the furniture builder.  Ever see a beautiful wiring job done only to have every network outlet in the library covered by a bookshelf?  I take things into account that someone making a set of electrical drawings may not, like how will the computer plug in?  Will the students play with the network connection?  Are you going to plug a bank of 12 computers into a quad outlet? (I hope not)  I can save the "Boy I wish we had thought of that sooner."  sayings on opening day.

Upgrades and enhancements also pose a unique set of problems.  Every situation is different.  Do the servers have enough disk space for your new software?  Do the workstations have enough memory?  Are the databases compatible?  Will it run on my existing wires?  Who will do the training?  How will this fit the Core Curriculum Standards?  Is this in the scope of  "No Child Left Behind (NCLB)"  Are we in violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act?  My specialty is making "things" talk to other "things".

Many times a project has had many hands in it, and everyone is pointing fingers at each other.  Is it the wiring guy?  The network vendor?  The servers?  The switches?  The phone company?  Meanwhile the teachers are yelling at the Superintendent, the Superintendent is yelling at the principal, who is yelling at the local tech, and nothing is working.  I can evaluate the whole package, and determine what is the problem, and find the best person to get it running.  I have had many clients call me when everyone has given up.

How can I help your district?  I am a project manager. (the word "consultant" has a bad connotation) I work on the side of my client.  I do not have 'arrangements' with preferred vendors.  I develop a scope-of-work document that fits the need.  I recommend a vendor to my client that I know and trust,  and I make sure that the finished product is what we asked for.  Many times, a project will have many phases.  I connect the pieces together and integrate the whole system.  I will turn over a complete working system.

Here is a listing of the items I am most familiar with:

Contact me when you are at the "thinking" stage and lets bounce a couple if ideas.  If you think I can help, we'll get started right away.  If not, I will have made a new friend.