Invisible Infrastructure: Why IT in Schools matters more than ever
During my STEM internship supporting Stone Ridge’s technology team, I realized how much of modern education depends on networks, servers, platforms, and the devices that most people never see. To understand just how large and complex that invisible infrastructure is, I interviewed Brittany Adkins-Williams, former Associate Director of Information Technology at Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart and Director of Technology at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy. Her perspective revealed not only what it takes to run a school’s technology ecosystem, but also what makes IT in education so human-centered and where the future of technology in education may be headed.
Below is a Q&A highlighting the systems behind the work, the challenges of maintaining them, and the importance of school-based technology.
Q&A with Brittany Adkins-Williams
Q: What first drew you to a career in IT, and how did you end up working in a school environment?
A: I was introduced to computers at a young age through my grandfather, who worked in education and brought a computer home in the mid-1990s. That early exposure sparked my interest in technology. In high school, I realized computer science aligned better with my strengths than other subjects, and I eventually majored in it in college after working in corporate and technical roles. Educational technology allowed me to combine my technical background with teaching and problem-solving.
Q: How would you describe your responsibilities as a Director of Technology?
A: My responsibilities include managing the school’s networks, ensuring stable wi-fi across campus, maintaining servers, supporting audio-visual systems, managing phones, and overseeing databases that store student and family information. At a boarding school, this also means ensuring technology works 24/7. I’m also involved in larger projects like system upgrades, phone system transitions, website redesigns, and developing policies around emerging technologies such as AI.
Q: What systems form the backbone of a school’s technology environment?
A: On the networking side, we use Cisco Meraki, which allows us to monitor access points and troubleshoot connectivity issues. For student information and learning management, we use Blackbaud, which combines scheduling, grading, and coursework in one system. These platforms support nearly every aspect of daily school life, even though students rarely think about them.
Q: What kinds of technical issues do students and teachers encounter most often?
A: Students usually come in with software issues, wi-fi connectivity problems, printing issues, or damaged devices. Teachers often need software installed or licenses updated, or help with classroom technology, like projectors. Recently, slow wi-fi in certain areas has also been a concern.
Q: How do you prioritize issues when multiple problems arise at once?
A: Prioritization depends on impact and urgency. A network outage affects everyone and becomes a top priority. If a teacher needs a tool for a class starting in two hours, that comes before something needed weeks later. During the California wildfires, power outages caused multiple systems to shut down. After power was restored, servers, phones, and printers had to be rebooted and reconfigured. It took hours, but it was a learning experience that helped us improve our recovery processes for future emergencies.
Q: What has been the most challenging part of managing technology systems for an entire school?
A: time and money. Many major updates can’t happen during the school year, so they’re pushed to breaks or summer. Budhetung is also difficult because technology is expensive, and choosing where to invest requires careful planning.
Q: What role do student interns play in school IT departments?
A: Interns are incredibly helpful. They assist with device preparation, labeling cables, maintaining equipment, and supporting large rollout projects. Their work frees up time for IT staff and gives students valuable hands-on experience with real infrastructure.
Q: What advice would you give students considering a career in IT or tech support?
A: Patience is key. IT in education requires understanding people just as much as understanding technology. Being able to explain technical issues clearly and kindly is just as important as fixing the problem itself.
Q: How do you see IT in schools evolving in the future?
A: Automation and AI will play a larger role, especially in help-desk systems and communication. Cybersecurity and data privacy will also continue to be top priorities, along with educating students and teachers about responsible technology use.
Internship Timeline
This timeline shows how much of school IT work happens quietly before problems ever reach classrooms. Tasks like device setup and network checks may seem small, but they play a critical role in preventing disruptions and supporting daily learning. The experience helped me see technology as a system that relies on preparation rather than reaction.
Through my interview with Brittany Adkins-Williams and my experience as an IT intern, I came to understand that school technology is not defined by flashy devices or visible upgrades, but by the infrastructure that quietly supports every aspect of learning. Networks, servers, databases, and platforms form the foundation upon which classrooms function, even though students rarely notice them unless something fails.
What stood out most was how human-centered this work truly is. School IT requires patience, communication, and an understanding of how technology affects real people in real time. Whether responding to a classroom emergency, planning a system upgrade, or preparing hundreds of devices before the school year begins, the goal is always the same: to ensure that learning can continue uninterrupted.
Together, the interview and timelines reveal that this invisible infrastructure is not passive; it is actively built, maintained, and improved by people who solve problems before others realize they exist. In a world where education increasingly depends on technology, it is the invisible infrastructure and the people who sustain it that quietly make every visible success possible
