iTS4ED

iTS4ED

By Los Angeles Unified Information Technology Services 4 EducationEducation
Download on the App Store

iTS4ED episodes

  • Episode 19: Esports Champions

    Welcome to iTS4ED podcast, in this session we will speak with 3 amazing coaches representing LAUSD Esports Programs around the district. We will learn about what eSports is and how they got started with their programs.  These esports coaches will share their highlights and challenges with student participation, competitions and potential careers and college scholarships. 


    Host:

    • Youssef Elias, School Systems Manager, Los Angeles Unified 
    • Co-Host

      • James Hicks, ITS Esports Lead, Los Angeles Unified
      • Guests:

        • Gavin Ma, Franklin HS, Esports Coach 
        • Edwin Guama, Hamilton HS, Esports Coach 
        • Bryant Cooper, Chatsworth Charter HS, Esports Coach
        • 48 min
        • Episode 18: "Principals" of Technology

          Welcome to ITS4ED podcast, today’s podcast is titled, “Principals” of Technology: A Podcast for Innovative Educators; How school leaders can inspire and implement technology-driven change in their schools.  This podcast features interviews with principals who are bold leaders of technology and on the forefront of introducing new technologies with their staff.  We aim to share the stories, challenges, and best practices of these visionary educators who are transforming their schools with technology.  Listen as they provide practical tips and resources for principals who want to learn from their peers and become more effective and confident in leading technology initiatives.


          Host:

          • Youssef Elias, School Systems Manager, Los Angeles Unified 
          • Guests:

            • Heather Karuza, Ph.D., Principal, Narbonne HS
            • Sarah Gilman, Principal, Garvanza ES
            • 58 min
            • Episode 17: Adult School and ITS Collaboration

              Welcome to the ITS4ED podcast. Today we will explore the landscape of Adult learning in Los Angeles Unified.  Technology is transforming the way adults learn, offering new tools, resources, and opportunities that were unimaginable just a decade ago. We'll explore Adult Education and find out about the programs that are offered. We’ll focus in on Evans Adult School where innovative technology is offered to adult learners.  Lastly, we’ll talk to members of the Information Technology Services team who will share information about a new, collaborative, teaching and learning program with Adult Education that will lead to potential technology jobs in Los Angeles Unified.


              Host:

              • Youssef Elias, School Systems Manager, Los Angeles Unified 
              • Guests:

                • Matthew Oberlander, Director, Equity and Instruction, Division of Adult and Career Education  (DACE)
                • Farzana Cassim, Instructional Technology Teacher Advisor, Evans Adult School, DACE
                • Richard Meraz, Deputy Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), Los Angeles Unified
                • Stephen Mercado, Deputy Director, IT Infrastructure Project Manager, Communications Systems Installation Branch (CSIB)
                • 49 min
                • Episode 16: Women Leaders in IT (Part 2)
                  Welcome to ITS4ED podcast, today we return to record session 2 on celebrating women leaders in IT.  In this session we will continue with our conversations with Dr. Jacqueline Sanderlin, Homaira Kaufmann, and Mary Lu Camacho.  These are three amazing Women Leaders in IT who will share more of their journeys, challenges, and triumphs in the tech world. Join us as we embark on these empowering conversations. 
                  Host:
                  Youssef Elias, School Systems Manager, LA Unified
                  Guests:
                  Jaqueline Sanderlin, Leadership Executive Manager, Apple
                  Homaira Kaufman, National Account Manager for SLED and the President of Belkin’s Women’s
                  Network Group
                  Mary Lu Camacho, Senior Administrator, IT Customer Service, Los Angeles Unified
                  30 min
                • Episode 15: Women Leaders in IT (Part 1)

                  Welcome to ITS4ED podcast, today we celebrate women leaders in IT and explore their journeys, challenges, and triumphs in the tech world.  As you all know LA Unified’s IT department is a massive enterprise with over 800 employees and we have our own software development shop, maintain our own data center, and have a device repair shop.  Even with all of this, we still rely on valuable partners to deliver software and tools that our schools and stakeholders depend on.  Today we will be interviewing a couple of our women partners who are making a real impact in the tech world as well as our very own first women Senior Administrator in IT.


                  Host:

                  • Youssef Elias, School Systems Manager, LA Unified
                  • Guests:

                    • Jaqueline Sanderlin, Leadership Executive Manager, Apple
                    • Homaira Kaufman, National Account Manager for SLED and the President of Belkin’s Women’s Network Group
                    • Mary Lu Camacho, Senior Administrator, IT Customer Service, Los Angeles Unified
                    •  


                      35 min
                    • Episode 14: Things You Didn’t Know About IT

                      Welcome to the ITS4Ed Podcast! This session is titled “Things You Didn’t Know About ITS”. Usually when we think of IT we think of computers, software and maybe things like Wi-Fi.  But did you know that ITS is responsible for many other technology related things?  Today we'll be interviewing various members of our ITS team who work on projects for IP phones, radios, public announcement systems, and network operations.  Did you know that when inclement weather strikes, a whole team of IT professionals spring into action to ensure that all our systems are up and running?  Join us in this session to find out more.


                      Narrator:

                      • Youssef Elias, School Systems Manager, LA Unified 
                      •  

                        Guest Speakers:

                        • Tom Castillo, IT Infra Project/Program Manager, ITS-Infrastructure 
                        • Gary Mossman, Network Systems Engineer, ITS-Infrastructure
                        • 29 min
                        • Episode 13: A Day in the Life of an IT Support Technician

                          Welcome to this session of the ITS4Ed Podcast. Our host, Youssef Elias, will be interviewing our ITS technicians, from ITST to ITST Supervisor.  Learn about what they do day in and day out.  Listen to each of their unique experiences in ITS and understand what makes them focused and dedicated to supporting students and staff in LA Unified.

                          Narrator:

                          • Youssef Elias, School Systems Manager, LA Unified
                          • Guest Speakers:

                            • Brian Andasol, IT Support Technician Supervisor
                            • Bryan Joe, IT Support Technician
                            • Katherine Palmeri, IT Support Technician
                            • Jose Lucrecio Rivera, IT Support Technician
                            • 47 min
                            • Episode 12: Student Devices and the Device Renewal Program in LA Unified

                              Welcome to this session of the ITS4Ed Podcast. Today, we’ll be discussing student devices in LAUSD and the pilot Device Renewal Program.  We have come a long way in the district in terms of technology.  Pre-pandemic we had a handful of schools where every student had a device, during the pandemic it was a necessity.  To ensure the continuity of teaching and learning, devices in the hands of students were a must. In addition, funding was provided for this effort which relieved schools from purchasing them on their own. Now post-pandemic, we have seen the positive impacts that technology has made for our teachers, students, and staff.  We still need to issue devices to students but not necessarily the funding to do so.  You will hear from our IT Customer Support staff who have been working on managing the student devices and working on a creative way to remedy the funding gap through the Device Renewal Program. 

                              Narrator: 

                              Youssef Elias, School Systems

                              Manager, LA Unified  

                              Guest Speakers: 

                              • Jose Somoano, Senior IT Operations Manager, LA Unified
                              • Manny Montenegro, Senior IT Operations Manager, LA Unified
                              • Hugo Perez Garcia, IT Support Technician Supervisor, LA Unified
                              • 23 min
                              • Episode 11: Celebrating the ITS Employees of the Quarter

                                Welcome to ITS4Ed. In this podcast, we celebrate the Information Technology Services (ITS)  Employees of the Quarter.  The ITS Employee of the Quarter Recognition Program provides an opportunity for all ITS employees to be recognized for their outstanding contributions and service to the students and employees of the Los Angeles Unified School District.  ITS is committed to recognizing employee excellence and helping to build an encouraging and positive work environment.  Our first two ITS Employees of the Quarter are Rose and Tony.  You’ll hear from Tony, a Technical Specialist, who shares his passion for his work, and Rose, an IT Support Technician, who shares her “words to live by” when it comes to customer service.


                                Narrator:

                                • Youssef Elias, School Systems Manager, LA Unified 
                                •  

                                  Guest Speakers:

                                  • Tony Nguyen, Technical Specialist
                                  • Rosamaria Marchione, IT Support Technician
                                  • 40 min
                                  • Episode 10: Cybersecurity Awareness

                                    Welcome to this session of the ITS4Ed Podcast on Cybersecurity Awareness.  October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month.  Since 2004, the President of the United States and Congress have declared the month of October to be Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a dedicated month for the public and private sectors to work together to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity. In 2023, the theme for Cyber Security Awareness Month is “Step up your Cyber fitness.” This theme is all about learning “the ability to identify, react, and respond to online threats by taking small and easy steps.”     

                                    This session is focused on things you can do to secure your world from cyber threats and hacks. Learn the difference between “phishing”, “vishing” and “smishing (SMS phishing)”.  Additionally, you will hear about careers in Cybersecurity from our very own LA Unified experts, Joel Simangan, LAUSD’s first Chief Information Security Officer, and Eddard Romero, Interim Senior Administrator, IT Infrastructure.


                                    Narrator:

                                    • Youssef Elias, School Systems Manager, LA Unified 
                                    • Guest Speakers:

                                      • Joel Simangan – CISO, LA Unified
                                      • Eddard Romero - Interim Senior Administrator, Infrastructure, LA Unified
                                      • 1 hr 1 min

                                      About iTS4ED

                                      From the publisher's feed

                                      A Podcast series about IT Issues and Trends in K-12 Schools from the Los Angeles Unified School District's Information Technology Services team.