Diane Harte, Digital Development Lead (EdTech) and EDI Co-Ordinator at KEVI Handsworth Wood Girls’ Academy describes her varied day-today role, including the most rewarding and challenging aspects of her job.
Describe a ‘typical day’ at work
In the school I look after the digital assets; these include the website, staff and student intranets, many of the apps used in the classroom and admin functions and the automations and bespoke apps we run in the school.
This year we are extending this to include a new parent portal which will be launched in the new year together with our shiny and new website.
My typical day starts with a bucket of coffee and my to-do list. Without either of these I am lost!
I work from home for the majority of the week due to the involved nature of building dashboards, automations and other solutions. With my two days in school being beautifully busy delivering training, support and popping in and out of classrooms to make sure everyone is comfortable with the technology they have at hand.
What do you find most rewarding about your job?
Every day is different, tackling a different set of needs or wants and finding the best way to deliver solutions that will save time and effort for the whole school. Nothing makes me happier than seeing the smile once a problem is solved!
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced in your role and how did you overcome it?
Saying no, I want to fix everything, and I tend to say ‘we can do that’ a little too often. Seeing the work as more of a project than a series of small tasks helps as a cost/benefit analysis refocuses my mind on what is important.
How have you developed since taking on this role?
This is my first role in the Education system, which has really embraced my need to constantly be learning. Each term I will do a bit of a deep dive into an option available to expand on my expertise and support my colleagues better.
What is something interesting or surprising about you that most people don't know?
I am a bit of a career magpie, since I was 18 I have been a nurse, a mobile phones sales person, a PA, a pensions professional, a baker, a company director, a freelance web developer, a systems implementation manager and now a Digital Development Lead.
What is one important lesson or piece of advice you would give to your younger self?
Medicine isn’t for you, there is a reason your best exam results are in Maths, Physics and Languages.
