New School

[plumyeti]

Just started at a new school as sole IT Lead in a small primary school.

Having just come from a large secondary school as a senior.

 

Taking over from a non-technical person so no documentation or guides or information.

 

I literally had to "hack" into the system to create my own user account and setup my new laptop.

 

It seems that they are expecting me to hit the ground running. Support calls coming in left right and center for system or places i didn't even know existed.

 

Where would you start?

I am sort of waiting for my monitors to show up and desk moved so that I can get fully setup to get stuck in.

[TheHyperTechie]

If you don't have the means to work yet, e.g. waiting for your kit to arrive - I would just do an audit of the site (assuming you haven't already?) Look at their network cabs, classroom set-ups, introduce yourself to staff etc. 

[flipthebit]

My first instincts would be to have:

• A good assessment of all the assets you're responsible for and their rough condition. Maybe do an asset check.
• An idea of the immediate outstanding issues people are expecting you to fix.
• To get all the accounts in place to manage all you need to manage.

 

[Passat1983ICTech]

1 hour ago, HyperTech said:

If you don't have the means to work yet, e.g. waiting for your kit to arrive - I would just do an audit of the site (assuming you haven't already?) Look at their network cabs, classroom set-ups, introduce yourself to staff etc. 

 

1 hour ago, flipthebit said:

My first instincts would be to have:

• A good assessment of all the assets you're responsible for and their rough condition. Maybe do an asset check.
• An idea of the immediate outstanding issues people are expecting you to fix.
• To get all the accounts in place to manage all you need to manage.

 

hello spot on both start at may be doing revamp on the network eg start over again then you can document passwords and admin logins

[penfold]

Get some feedback from the staff to their main pain points. While it may no be as important as doing a full assessment, it can quickly build trust (and therefore time) if you can implement an easy quick fix for an issue which has been particularly annoying for some members of staff.

[nicholab]

Do Staff room lunches once a week to find out issues as people will talk more freely.

[Syman_a]

Have a chat with the caretaker/ site team.

 

They tend to know where the equipment is ( though they may not know its purpose.)

[DrBeaker]

 

 

9 hours ago, plumyeti said:

Just started at a new school as sole IT Lead in a small primary school.

Having just come from a large secondary school as a senior.

 

Taking over from a non-technical person so no documentation or guides or information.

 

I literally had to "hack" into the system to create my own user account and setup my new laptop.

 

It seems that they are expecting me to hit the ground running. Support calls coming in left right and center for system or places i didn't even know existed.

 

Where would you start?

I am sort of waiting for my monitors to show up and desk moved so that I can get fully setup to get stuck in.

 

Been in a similar situation a few years ago, it wasn't very nice. 

 

It has taken many years, arguments, debates, staff changes and a LOT of investment to sort out a lot of neglect.

 

You have my sympathies.

 

 

 

2 hours ago, Syman_a said:

Have a chat with the caretaker/ site team.

 

They tend to know where the equipment is ( though they may not know its purpose.)

 

They usually ask me, as their turnover was high! They didn't know their own kit/site etc 😂

 

[FN-GM]

I would speak to your manager and leadership to seek the strategic direction of the school, their priorities etc and align yourself with this. 

[DrBeaker]

14 hours ago, FN-GM said:

I would speak to your manager and leadership to seek the strategic direction of the school, their priorities etc and align yourself with this. 

 

Be prepared for them not to have a clue however.... 

 

Some didn't even want to meet us halfway despite them signing the cheques.

[nicholab]

I would go to them with a direction you think IT is going it starts the conversation.  Turn up with an A4 page in a document.  You look super professional.