Tech-Driven Education and Security
At Proviso Township High School District 209
The Client
Proviso Township High School District 209, located in suburban Chicago, serves 4,500 students across three schools and 650 staff members, with technology playing a vital role in delivering high-quality education. Michael Swanson, the district’s Director of IT, has been at the forefront of a transformation, partnering with Mindsight to build a stable, secure, and innovative technology landscape.
Michael’s journey in IT began with a simple question: “Does anyone know anything about electrical?” That moment sparked his passion, leading him to work in his high school’s IT department during his junior and senior years. Eleven years later, he now leads Proviso’s technology initiatives, collaborating closely with his team, the Superintendent, and the School Board to drive progress. Beyond his role, Michael is deeply committed to fostering the next generation of IT professionals through the internship program he launched eight years ago, providing hands-on opportunities for students to learn and grow. It’s his way of giving back to the community that shaped him.
Their Situation
When Michael joined Proviso in 2022, he was tasked with overhauling the overall IT infrastructure to better meet the modern learning demands of the district. Immediately he focused on:
- Stabilizing the IT environment to reduce network outages.
- Establishing a robust monitoring system to enable proactive maintenance.
- Implementing a comprehensive security strategy and protocols to protect student and staff data.
- Creating operating documentation and a clear roadmap for IT improvement.
Mindsight's Approach
Mindsight and Proviso embarked on a collaborative journey to transform the district’s IT environment.
- Comprehensive Assessment: The first step was to conduct a thorough assessment of the network and overall infrastructure to accurately determine the current state of operations and prioritize what had to get done to stabilize the environment.
- Infrastructure Upgrades: Critical upgrades were made to firewalls, switches, and servers.
- Infrastructure Management with 24/7 Monitoring: Real-time monitoring and management of the environment was implemented to ensure quick issue resolution and minimize downtime.
- vCISO Services: Mindsight’s virtual CISO (vCISO) assessed the environment and identified vulnerabilities with the anti-virus software, patching, and servers. A comprehensive plan was implemented that included regular assessments and adherence to best practices.
The Outcome
The days of putting out fires and reacting to unknowns are over. A technology roadmap enables IT to be proactive to deliver the best learning experience for students and the best teaching experience for staff. The collaboration between Mindsight and Proviso has yielded significant results:
- Enhanced Stability and Security: Infrastructure is now managed and monitored for proactive maintenance and alerting rather than reactive response. Critical security and stability events have gone from a daily occurrence to negligible.
- Improved Learning Outcomes: Reliable technology supports personalized instructional strategies and minimizes classroom disruptions.
- Cybersecurity Progress: The district has improved its cybersecurity posture, advancing from a failing grade to a C+ and climbing higher. As Michael notes, some might view a C+ as mediocre, but in less than two years, much has been achieved with Mindsight’s expertise and he’s eagerly awaiting that A+.
- Postive Feedback: In a recent district-wide survey, staff highlighted technology as one of the district’s top strengths.
- Trusted Relationships: Michael attributes his ability to get things done and budgets approved to the trusted partnership he has built with the Mindsight team which translates to a more trusted relationship with his Superintendent.
- Improved Cost Management: Costs are more predictable, which enables the district to continue to operate in a fiscally responsible fashion by using historically gathered data to analyze systems and plan for future usage.
The Value of Mindsight's Partnership
Strategic Planning: Helping the district plan for centralized data management and future modernization projects.
Personalized Support: Offering a team that integrates seamlessly with Proviso’s IT staff and provides expert guidance.
Proactive Problem-Solving: Ensuring potential issues are identified and addressed before they disrupt operations.
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