Q: What does your daily routine look like?

Scott Raymond: We come in, we communicate, and we build the game plan to just decide how we’re going to split up anything that we have and just to walk through. 

Kyle Davis: Typically, we’ll come in the morning, and we’ll look through tickets. The first thing we usually do is just go through that and try to plan out our day, like how we’re going to spend it. We try to group the tickets around. So we’re going to work in the same area of the school. It’s a pretty big campus. So if we’re going to the arena side, we like to try to hit everyone up over there. And then we wait for walk-ins, students will come in with their Chromebooks having issues and will take care of that.

Q: What are some challenges you face in your position?

Raymond: There are only two of us. And we support 2400 students and 350 staff members that all need us simultaneously.

Davis: I guess the biggest challenge is everyone’s schedule. So we’ll get tickets from teachers that, they need help or something, but it’s not always a good time to go in and help them. As you can imagine, they’re lecturing or they’re in the middle of the lesson; same with you guys, the students. But it’s not it’s not always a good time for you guys or for us too. So there are times when we were out of the office trying to fix something, and someone comes and knocks on the door and we’re not they were not able to help them. So yeah, the biggest trouble is just scheduling. 

Q: What’s the thing you do that a lot of people don’t realize is essential to school?

Davis: I guess probably the biggest thing behind the scenes would be just making sure our applications are running properly. Making sure that software that’s needed is updated and ready to use for the students for whatever class it is whether that’s a journalism class or a history class or just whatever, whatever kind of software or application that they use. Not many people really think about it. 

Q: How does your role impact the students?

Davis: Just trying to keep them learning. Keep them in the classroom. Like, it sounds really generic, but that really is that really is our goal is to, like, since the introduction of technology into schools, it’s different. It’s much different than what I even went to school with, like I didn’t have Chromebooks. I mean, I’m not that old; I’m 32. I guess, just making sure the kids stay in the classrooms and that their computers work like they’re supposed to, which, as you know, technology doesn’t always work like it’s supposed to.

Q: What is something you are grateful for?

Raymond: I’m grateful for the security I have. Knowing that I’m supporting almost 3000 people day to day. And the opportunity for growth.

Davis: So here, in the district specifically, the staff here has been incredibly patient and kind. It’s always easy to just blame IT and just get mad and complain. No one does that here. If something’s not working, I’m sure they’re frustrated, but they’re kind to us and treat us with respect. And so we really appreciate that. Same with the students. I’m going to be honest. So I started at the beginning of last year here, and when they told me I was going to be starting at a high school, I was nervous because it’s been a while since I’ve been in a high school building, and I didn’t know how students were these days or what to expect. I guess everyone’s complaining about kids these days, like they’re all trouble. I mean, they might be, but they were trouble when I was a kid, too. 

Q: How do you stay dedicated to your work? 

Raymond: I like being able to see the students succeed. And it really just puts a smile on their face. 

Davis: I think the obvious motivations for working are just for my family. That’s obviously a given. I have three kids. Also for people in the industry that I’m in as well. Like that’s a big driving factor is I get along with the people I work with. Scott, the other guy that works with me, He’s great. We’ve become like best friends since working. We didn’t know each other before coming here. And so, having people like that in the industry or at your job can help motivate you and help want you to do better. I’m good at things that he’s not so good at. And he’s good at things that I’m not so good at. And so we kind of help, like, motivate each other to do better in different ways.

Q: What are your Thanksgiving plans this year?

Raymond: Just having a family dinner on Thanksgiving Day. And staying home and sleeping for the rest.

Davis: That’s actually a good question this year because we’re actually doing something, we’re going to Colorado. So my entire family, pretty much we, rented a cabin. So there’s going to be like, 15 or 20 of us going up to this big cabin, over break. We don’t get to travel much. So when we do, we like to make a big deal.