How Robots Are Helping Better K–12 Schools -

This year’s top educational technology innovators are leaders in classrooms, schools and organizations who embrace change in this age of digital transformation.

Ashley joined CDW in 2005 as a small business account manager and, in 2020, took on an elevated role as senior sales manager of K–12 South. She was later promoted to area sales director for the same team. Ashley’s proudest achievement at CDW was being the sales lead for the Mississippi Connects project, which was the country’s largest ed tech initiative to date. She currently lives in downtown Chicago with her husband John and two young daughters, Emma and Giovanna.

Ashley joined CDW in 2005 as a small business account manager and, in 2020, took on an elevated role as senior sales manager of K–12 South. She was later promoted to area sales director for the same team. Ashley’s proudest achievement at CDW was being the sales lead for the Mississippi Connects project, which was the country’s largest ed tech initiative to date. She currently lives in downtown Chicago with her husband John and two young daughters, Emma and Giovanna.
K–12 schools everywhere are facing challenges with staffing. Teacher shortages are making headlines across the country, but other departments are feeling the staffing strain too. Job openings persist, proving hard to fill, in IT, transportation, food service and other departments at K–12 institutions. 
While some schools have found relief in turning to outside services to ease the burden, one school district in Texas is making lemonade from the sour situation.
Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District is using students’ help to mitigate staffing shortages in its facilities and maintenance department. The district’s CTO, Kyle Berger, found a way to embrace science, technology, engineering and math lessons that solve real-world problems.
Click the banner below for more guidance on how networks lay the foundation for success.
Berger is using robots, programmed by students in the district, to automate tasks such as cutting the grass and cleaning the floors in schools. In turn, the students are learning valuable STEM skills while school maintenance doesn’t go unchecked. Programming the robots gives students a better understanding of automation and other robotics.
Within the district, students are also helping with other technology-driven tasks, such as device repairs. Teaching students to repair devices gives time back to IT staff.
Students have an opportunity to take these skills into higher education and the workforce one day. At the same time, Berger is saving the district money when funds are tight and job openings are hard to fill without higher pay.
GET THE INFOGRAPHIC: Discover six creative ways to spend ESSER funds.
While robotics and automation are not widely used in K–12 schools for facilities maintenance, Berger is sharing his knowledge with other districts in his area and beyond.
He has the support of his own staff — network directors, security directors and others — who have bought into the creative applications of technology and student learning. He is also bringing educators and IT staff together through these programs, breaking down silos between departments.
Because Berger’s ideas (for robotic automation and device repairs in particular) are helping the school’s bottom line, he generally doesn’t encounter pushback from administrators. When needed, Berger and Grapevine-Colleyville ISD use the services offered by CDW’s education strategists, especially for projects such as network upgrades that can’t be completed by students.
This article is part of the ConnectIT: Bridging the Gap Between Education and Technology series. Please join the discussion on Twitter by using the #ConnectIT hashtag.

Unlock white papers, personalized recommendations and other premium content for an in-depth look at evolving IT
Management
TCEA 2024: Schools Let Teachers Take the Lead in Professional Development
Management
TCEA 2024: Planning and Administrator Support Are Necessary to Sustain Devices
Visit Some Of Our Other Technology Websites:
Tap into practical IT advice from CDW experts.
Visit the Research Hub
Copyright © 2024 CDW LLC 200 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Vernon Hills, IL 60061
Do Not Sell My Personal Information

sourceHow RobotsindiaHow RobotschinaHow RobotsusaHow Robots
CanadaHow RobotskuwaitHow RobotsAntigua and Barbuda
How RobotsArgentinaHow RobotsArmenia
How Robots
Australia
How RobotsAustria
How RobotsAustrian Empire*
Azerbaijan
How RobotsBaden*
Bahamas, The
How RobotsBahrain
How RobotsBangladesh
How RobotsBarbados
How RobotsBavaria*
How RobotsBelarus
How RobotsBelgium
How RobotsBelize
How RobotsBenin (Dahomey)
How RobotsBolivia
How RobotsBosnia and Herzegovina
How RobotsBotswana
How RobotsBrazil
How RobotsBrunei
How RobotsBrunswick and Lüneburg*
How RobotsBulgaria
How RobotsBurkina Faso
How RobotsBurma
How RobotsBurundi
How RobotsCabo Verde
How RobotsCambodia
How RobotsCameroon
How RobotsCanada
How RobotsCayman Islands, The
How RobotsCentral African Republic
How RobotsCentral American Federation*
How RobotsChad
How RobotsChile
How RobotsChina
China
How RobotsColombia
How RobotsComoros
How RobotsCongo Free State, The*
How RobotsCosta Rica
How RobotsCote d’Ivoire
How RobotsCroatia
How RobotsCuba
How RobotsCyprus
How RobotsCzechia
How RobotsCzechoslovakia*
How RobotsDemocratic Republic of the Congo
How RobotsDenmark
How RobotsDjibouti
How RobotsDominica
How RobotsDominican Republic
How RobotsDuchy of Parma, The*
How RobotsEast Germany German Democratic Republic*
How RobotsEcuador
How RobotsEgypt
How RobotsEl Salvador
How RobotsEquatorial Guinea
How RobotsEritrea
How RobotsEstonia
How RobotsEswatini
How RobotsEthiopia
How RobotsFederal Government of Germany *
How RobotsFiji
How RobotsFinland
How RobotsindiaHow RobotschinaHow RobotsusaHow Robots
CanadaHow RobotskuwaitHow RobotsAntigua and Barbuda
How RobotsArgentinaHow RobotsArmenia
How Robots
Australia
How RobotsAustria
How RobotsAustrian Empire*
Azerbaijan
How RobotsBaden*
Bahamas, The
How RobotsBahrain
How RobotsBangladesh
How RobotsBarbados
How RobotsBavaria*
How RobotsBelarus
How RobotsBelgium
How RobotsBelize
How RobotsBenin (Dahomey)
How RobotsBolivia
How RobotsBosnia and Herzegovina
How RobotsBotswana
How RobotsBrazil
How RobotsBrunei
How RobotsBrunswick and Lüneburg*
How RobotsBulgaria
How RobotsBurkina Faso (Upper Volta)
How RobotsBurma
How RobotsBurundi
How RobotsCabo Verde
How RobotsCambodia
How RobotsCameroon
How RobotsCanada
How RobotsCayman Islands, The
How RobotsCentral African Republic
How RobotsCentral American Federation*
How RobotsChad
How RobotsChile
How RobotsChina
China
How RobotsColombia
How RobotsComoros
How RobotsCongo Free State, The*
How RobotsCosta Rica
How RobotsCote d’Ivoire
How RobotsCroatia
How RobotsCuba
How RobotsCyprus
How RobotsCzechia
How RobotsCzechoslovakia*
How RobotsDemocratic Republic of the Congo
How RobotsDenmark
How RobotsDjibouti
How RobotsDominica
How RobotsDominican Republic
How RobotsDuchy of Parma, The*
How RobotsEast Germany
How RobotsEcuador
How RobotsEgypt
How RobotsEl Salvador
How RobotsEquatorial Guinea
How RobotsEritrea
How RobotsEstonia
How RobotsEswatini
How RobotsEthiopia
How RobotsFederal Government of Germany *
How RobotsFiji
How RobotsFinland
This year’s top educational technology innovators are leaders in classrooms, schools and organizations who embrace change in this age of digital transformation.

Ashley joined CDW in 2005 as a small business account manager and, in 2020, took on an elevated role as senior sales manager of K–12 South. She was later promoted to area sales director for the same team. Ashley’s proudest achievement at CDW was being the sales lead for the Mississippi Connects project, which was the country’s largest ed tech initiative to date. She currently lives in downtown Chicago with her husband John and two young daughters, Emma and Giovanna.

Ashley joined CDW in 2005 as a small business account manager and, in 2020, took on an elevated role as senior sales manager of K–12 South. She was later promoted to area sales director for the same team. Ashley’s proudest achievement at CDW was being the sales lead for the Mississippi Connects project, which was the country’s largest ed tech initiative to date. She currently lives in downtown Chicago with her husband John and two young daughters, Emma and Giovanna.
K–12 schools everywhere are facing challenges with staffing. Teacher shortages are making headlines across the country, but other departments are feeling the staffing strain too. Job openings persist, proving hard to fill, in IT, transportation, food service and other departments at K–12 institutions. 
While some schools have found relief in turning to outside services to ease the burden, one school district in Texas is making lemonade from the sour situation.
Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District is using students’ help to mitigate staffing shortages in its facilities and maintenance department. The district’s CTO, Kyle Berger, found a way to embrace science, technology, engineering and math lessons that solve real-world problems.
Click the banner below for more guidance on how networks lay the foundation for success.
Berger is using robots, programmed by students in the district, to automate tasks such as cutting the grass and cleaning the floors in schools. In turn, the students are learning valuable STEM skills while school maintenance doesn’t go unchecked. Programming the robots gives students a better understanding of automation and other robotics.
Within the district, students are also helping with other technology-driven tasks, such as device repairs. Teaching students to repair devices gives time back to IT staff.
Students have an opportunity to take these skills into higher education and the workforce one day. At the same time, Berger is saving the district money when funds are tight and job openings are hard to fill without higher pay.
GET THE INFOGRAPHIC: Discover six creative ways to spend ESSER funds.
While robotics and automation are not widely used in K–12 schools for facilities maintenance, Berger is sharing his knowledge with other districts in his area and beyond.
He has the support of his own staff — network directors, security directors and others — who have bought into the creative applications of technology and student learning. He is also bringing educators and IT staff together through these programs, breaking down silos between departments.
Because Berger’s ideas (for robotic automation and device repairs in particular) are helping the school’s bottom line, he generally doesn’t encounter pushback from administrators. When needed, Berger and Grapevine-Colleyville ISD use the services offered by CDW’s education strategists, especially for projects such as network upgrades that can’t be completed by students.
This article is part of the ConnectIT: Bridging the Gap Between Education and Technology series. Please join the discussion on Twitter by using the #ConnectIT hashtag.

Unlock white papers, personalized recommendations and other premium content for an in-depth look at evolving IT
Management
TCEA 2024: Schools Let Teachers Take the Lead in Professional Development
Management
TCEA 2024: Planning and Administrator Support Are Necessary to Sustain Devices
Visit Some Of Our Other Technology Websites:
Tap into practical IT advice from CDW experts.
Visit the Research Hub
Copyright © 2024 CDW LLC 200 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Vernon Hills, IL 60061
Do Not Sell My Personal Information

sourceHow RobotsindiaHow RobotschinaHow RobotsusaHow Robots
CanadaHow RobotskuwaitHow RobotsAntigua and Barbuda
How RobotsArgentinaHow RobotsArmenia
How Robots
Australia
How RobotsAustria
How RobotsAustrian Empire*
Azerbaijan
How RobotsBaden*
Bahamas, The
How RobotsBahrain
How RobotsBangladesh
How RobotsBarbados
How RobotsBavaria*
How RobotsBelarus
How RobotsBelgium
How RobotsBelize
How RobotsBenin (Dahomey)
How RobotsBolivia
How RobotsBosnia and Herzegovina
How RobotsBotswana
How RobotsBrazil
How RobotsBrunei
How RobotsBrunswick and Lüneburg*
How RobotsBulgaria
How RobotsBurkina Faso
How RobotsBurma
How RobotsBurundi
How RobotsCabo Verde
How RobotsCambodia
How RobotsCameroon
How RobotsCanada
How RobotsCayman Islands, The
How RobotsCentral African Republic
How RobotsCentral American Federation*
How RobotsChad
How RobotsChile
How RobotsChina
China
How RobotsColombia
How RobotsComoros
How RobotsCongo Free State, The*
How RobotsCosta Rica
How RobotsCote d’Ivoire
How RobotsCroatia
How RobotsCuba
How RobotsCyprus
How RobotsCzechia
How RobotsCzechoslovakia*
How RobotsDemocratic Republic of the Congo
How RobotsDenmark
How RobotsDjibouti
How RobotsDominica
How RobotsDominican Republic
How RobotsDuchy of Parma, The*
How RobotsEast Germany German Democratic Republic*
How RobotsEcuador
How RobotsEgypt
How RobotsEl Salvador
How RobotsEquatorial Guinea
How RobotsEritrea
How RobotsEstonia
How RobotsEswatini
How RobotsEthiopia
How RobotsFederal Government of Germany *
How RobotsFiji
How RobotsFinland
How RobotsindiaHow RobotschinaHow RobotsusaHow Robots
CanadaHow RobotskuwaitHow RobotsAntigua and Barbuda
How RobotsArgentinaHow RobotsArmenia
How Robots
Australia
How RobotsAustria
How RobotsAustrian Empire*
Azerbaijan
How RobotsBaden*
Bahamas, The
How RobotsBahrain
How RobotsBangladesh
How RobotsBarbados
How RobotsBavaria*
How RobotsBelarus
How RobotsBelgium
How RobotsBelize
How RobotsBenin (Dahomey)
How RobotsBolivia
How RobotsBosnia and Herzegovina
How RobotsBotswana
How RobotsBrazil
How RobotsBrunei
How RobotsBrunswick and Lüneburg*
How RobotsBulgaria
How RobotsBurkina Faso (Upper Volta)
How RobotsBurma
How RobotsBurundi
How RobotsCabo Verde
How RobotsCambodia
How RobotsCameroon
How RobotsCanada
How RobotsCayman Islands, The
How RobotsCentral African Republic
How RobotsCentral American Federation*
How RobotsChad
How RobotsChile
How RobotsChina
China
How RobotsColombia
How RobotsComoros
How RobotsCongo Free State, The*
How RobotsCosta Rica
How RobotsCote d’Ivoire
How RobotsCroatia
How RobotsCuba
How RobotsCyprus
How RobotsCzechia
How RobotsCzechoslovakia*
How RobotsDemocratic Republic of the Congo
How RobotsDenmark
How RobotsDjibouti
How RobotsDominica
How RobotsDominican Republic
How RobotsDuchy of Parma, The*
How RobotsEast Germany
How RobotsEcuador
How RobotsEgypt
How RobotsEl Salvador
How RobotsEquatorial Guinea
How RobotsEritrea
How RobotsEstonia
How RobotsEswatini
How RobotsEthiopia
How RobotsFederal Government of Germany *
How RobotsFiji
How RobotsFinland