L. Chance - Proposal

1. Mission Accomplished:
Taking charge of 200,000 technology devices to ensure
access equity
SxSW Proposal Submission
Leonard Chance IV
Coordinator, Technology
Hardware/Software Planning
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD

2. Cypress-Fairbanks ISD SxSW EDU 2015
Why we did it
• Fundamentally, it’s the right thing to do for:
Our Children & Teachers Our Technology Co-workers Our Investors
• The right technology in
the hands of children
and teachers when
they need it
• Provide the best tools
to maintain the
required level of
accountability
• Ensure that we are
good stewards of the
funds entrusted to us,
including the largest
bond in Texas

3. Cypress-Fairbanks ISD SxSW EDU 2015
Why we did it
• Our CTO asked our customers a simple question: “What do you need?”
• Applied CETL
• CTO had extensive dialog with our
technicians and end-user customers, our
“first line”
• “Tools to manage our technology assets”
was a consistent answer

4. Cypress-Fairbanks ISD SxSW EDU 2015
Why we did it
• We recognized that the legacy systems in place were not sustainable
• Inaccurate and time consuming
• Burdensome to the point that they were not used, or our TAs left the district
• We recognized the need to maintain accountability
• Individually, the assets aren’t expensive, collectively they are very expensive
• We didn’t want to buy things we already had
• CyFair bond
• Largest in history
• We needed confidence in our systems and processes
• Get in front of the questions – prevent fires, don’t fight them

5. Cypress-Fairbanks ISD SxSW EDU 2015
How we did it
• Ingredients for success
• Listen and understand the needs
• Focus on the mission
• Embrace the “will to succeed”
• Have a great system and partner
• Communicate and share successes
• Follow-through on accountability “Whether you
think you can,
Or think you can’t.
You’re right.”
-Henry Ford

6. Cypress-Fairbanks ISD SxSW EDU 2015
How we did it – understand the battlespace
Customers Accountability IT
• Easy to use
• system workflow
matches business
workflow
• Intuitive
• What assets,
where, who has
them
• Equitable
distribution
• Warranty, age
• Budget planning
• Understand stakeholder needs, challenges and opportunities

7. Cypress-Fairbanks ISD SxSW EDU 2015
How we did it – focus on the mission
• Share the vision
• Clearly articulate the schedule
• Ensure everyone understands their required contribution
• Ensure everyone understands the “end-game”
• Share successes and accomplishments
• Build the avalanche of success
• Communicate and demonstrate the “will to succeed”

8. Cypress-Fairbanks ISD SxSW EDU 2015
How we did it – the will to succeed
• Commitment from senior leadership to see it through
• Even when there are bumps in the road
• Willingness to hold people to account – at all levels
• Senior leadership deeply believes in the vision and benefits of
success
• The “will to succeed:”
• “Find a way” spirit
• “No” means “find another way”
• Obstacles are not road-blocks, they are challenges to overcome
• Improvise and overcome
• Communicate a deep belief in the vision and benefits
• Ultimate success is never questioned

9. Cypress-Fairbanks ISD SxSW EDU 2015
How we did it – vendor partnership
• We choose a great system
• Designed for asset tracking
• System workflow matches our business workflow
• Easy-to-use, intuitive, easy to learn
• Our vendor is our partner
• They listen and are responsive
• Understand K-12 asset management
• Our consultive rather than prescriptive
• Share in the vision and will to succeed

10. Cypress-Fairbanks ISD SxSW EDU 2015
How we did it – training
• Training is more than training:
• It’s another opportunity to listen
• It’s another opportunity to convey the vision
• It’s another opportunity to demonstrate the will to succeed
• Develop training and training schedule to ensure everyone has the
tools and knowledge they need to succeed

11. Cypress-Fairbanks ISD SxSW EDU 2015
Our success
• We’re confident that we are good stewards of our funds
• We can tell anyone what we have and were it is
• We don’t buy things we already have
• We are ahead of the questions
• We have equitable distribution
• We can quickly and easily see distribution across the district
• We can easily move items to match the need
• Bottom line: students and teachers have the
tools they need, when they need them

12. Cypress-Fairbanks ISD SxSW EDU 2015
Thank you
Thank you for your time!
Leonard Chance IV
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD
Leonard.ChanceIV@cfisd.net