Many schools are now wired, using Internet, electronic gradebook programs, and computerized curriculum enhancements. All of these things require computers and one thing is known about computers for sure: When you need them most, they stop working like they are supposed to. If you are very fortunate, your school district has someone who will come and try to get you up and running again (or will call someone who can). Question is, how quickly will YOU get service? Look on this priority list for Techno folks and see!
Who gets the fastest service?
1. Secretaries--hands down. Aside from their obvious important roles in our schools, they are also the ones who place the calls for everyone else who needs your services. Keep these folks happy.
2. Superintendent--If you have a "stand-up" superintendent, he or she will likely tell you to take care of others before you get to the central office computer. Go fix the superintendent's computer anyway.
3. Coaches--only because they have the entire football team at their disposal and you don't want them using the computer for tackling practice.
4. Principals--reading their email keeps them out of the teachers' hair.
5. Teachers who keep candy dishes on their desk--Naturally there is a heirarchy here, M&M's or Snickers rank higher than peppermints.
6. Teachers who "know all about computers"--may as well wait until they have finished trying to "fix" their own computer. You can repair all the damage at once that way.
7. Teachers you NEVER hear from--take a couple cans of compressed air. You will have 3 months of dust to dispense with before finding out the non-functioning computer has a loose power cord. "It just stopped working a couple of weeks (read: months) ago and I didn't want to bother you."
The #1 priority of technological assistance? Who is serving doughnuts?