When I step into Ms. Jennifer Scheinberg’s office, I expect to stay there. I expect to perch atop a too-small black rolling chair, ask questions, and receive answers. I expect to be interrupted by a student or two with a malfunctioning iPad or a broken charger or a ripped-up pair of headphones. Maybe a couple of teachers will drop in as well—wouldn’t that be interesting?
But somehow, I find myself hurrying through the halls, trailing behind Ms. Scheinberg and Rich from IT. I don’t expect to be led to the auditorium, and I certainly don’t expect to be craning my head over my shoulder, watching Ms. Scheinberg, Rich, and Beatrice Malfi (senior) troubleshoot projector problems for Cultural Heritage Night. I definitely don’t expect to see Ms. Scheinberg hustling from the projector box to the AV control board to the stage, but there she is, calling out suggestions and nodding her approval.
“Anything that’s plugged in and has power?” Ms. Scheinberg says. “They call us.” A teacher at Great Neck South High since 1999, she’s seen more than her fair share of tech pass through these halls. From 2014’s iPads to 2015’s “Follow Me Printing,” Ms. Scheinberg, whether as a computer teacher, staff developer, or, as of now, chairperson of the Library/Instructional Technology Department, has seen it all.
She’s done it all, too: along with tackling iPad issues, showing teachers how to use Google Classroom, and replacing ID cards, Ms. Scheinberg and the IT team troubleshoot the building’s technology and software issues, oversee budgeting, advise staff on how to approach AI, and participate in technology meetings hosted at Great Neck South High. These meetings, which occur every other Tuesday, ensure that everyone is on the same page regarding tech. Participants discuss what’s working, and what’s not, then collectively decide how to move forward, an essential process when dealing with something as rapidly changing as technology. The IT team’s behind-the-scenes impact also shines through during school events—Ms. Scheinberg has helped organize Rebel War, SADD assemblies, superintendent’s conferences, and the aforementioned Cultural Heritage Night. If something requires power, the tech team is there.
“Ms. Scheinberg is an integral part of the day-to-day operation of the school because we all depend on technology,” Ms. Callaghan says. “I marvel at this: [she] always has the answers. She always seems to be up to date with everything that we need or what we need help with, and she’s definitely the go-to person.”
Being the go-to person, Ms. Scheinberg is the school’s first level of support. Or, in her words, the “first line of defense.”
“I evaluate any issue that comes in and if it’s something that I [can] fix. Like if your computer’s not working, is it plugged in? Is it turned on? I know it sounds silly, but everyone’s always rushing and moving quickly. Sometimes the cable’s just slightly out.”
In a way, Ms. Scheinberg is a conduit. Tech problems come to her, and if she can fix them, they stop there. If she can’t, she passes them on, and they flow up the chain of command until someone stops them. Even when Ms. Scheinberg doesn’t have a direct solution to a problem, she usually knows someone who does. Great Neck South’s IT department is just one part of the entire district’s technology team, and while a lot of its work is contained to South, there is no shortage of interaction between schools.
“If [a problem] is something bigger, then I’ll open a ticket, and our district staff, someone like Rich, will come into the building. And then we’ll take a look, install software, and fix whatever isn’t working. It’s like I’ve escalated to the next level.”
The tech department depends on this kind of interplay between colleagues. No matter how mechanical tech may be, in this system, it only works safely and efficiently with human involvement. From the day-to-day cooperation necessary to keep the school running to the personal motivations of the tech team, a distinctly human aspect thrives amongst all the tangled cords and blue light.
“Even though I deal with technology on a daily basis, this would not work without the human element and the human piece that is behind the technology… It’s really about the people. Without [them], none of this would work.
“[My colleagues] support me by being available, communicating, and reporting back concerns. It can be so busy down here that I don’t even make my way [into] the library some days, but maybe later that night, we’ll touch base by text. Anyone needs anything, we’re there. When I’ve gone through tough times, they’ve been there for me, and I’d like to make myself available to them if something is going on in their lives as well.”
It’s all about connection, whether internet or human. Every person in the tech department is part of a team, and the tech department itself is part of a larger district-wide network. If the IT team is Great Neck South’s beating bionic heart, Great Neck South High is but one part of a larger body.
“It’s never just been about the technology,” Ms. Scheinberg says. “Technology is great, but I do really consider it a tool. Just like we use pencils and paper and other tools in education, technology is supposed to support what we do, not take it over. It’s about the students. It’s about the education. And, really, it’s about the human piece of everything.”
