Technology
The Technology department provides support and systems to all areas of the district from operations to security to classroom support.
Meet The Tech Director, Carlos Ramirez
THE MOUNT VERNON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT WELCOMES BACK MR. CARLOS RAMIREZ, MS ED NEW DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY
Mr. Ramirez, a former middle school technology teacher in Mount Vernon in 2002, returns to our District as the new Director of Technology.
He is the former Statewide Coordinator of Technology Policy of The New York State Education Department (NYSED). He has been a dedicated advocate for instructional technology planning and funding in NYS. During his term at the NYS Education Department, he led and supported multiple policies and funding initiatives such as the Implementation of Commissioner Regulations Part 100.12 Instructional Technology Planning requirement, Distance Learning Grants opportunity, School Libraries Resources and funding, Statewide E-Rate, and NYS Technology Voucher-Microsoft Settlement.
Mr. Ramirez most recently worked at the Greenburgh Central School District as Director of Technology and CIO implementing multiple Information and Instructional Technology initiatives such as a one-to-one student device program, implementation of State-of-the-Art Security Cameras districtwide, a Data Dashboard for effective use of state and local assessment data to inform instructional planning, priority to instructional technology support in the classroom.
He also worked at the Lower Hudson Region Information Center (LHRIC) as an Account Manager and Manager of the Smart Schools Implementation Service providing expert advice to districts in the Lower Hudson Region in the preparation of their Smart Schools Investment Plans to ensure local schools take advantage of the Smart Schools Bond Act funding opportunity.
As an Advocate for Public Education and Funding, he was selected as the recipient of the 2017 Advocate of the Year by the NYS Association of School Business Officials (NYSASBO). He considers cost-effectiveness and operational efficiencies as critical components of strategic planning and management.
Mr. Ramirez is a strong believer in planning and best practices as tools to promote the integration of technology in the classroom and to enable Active Learning and Student Achievement.
Mr. Ramirez’s action plan is to fully engage in an assessment of the technology in our schools and to identify areas of improvement and corrective action with a focus on Safety and Security. He is also working on building capacity for school buildings and districtwide Data Teams using our new student information system Infinite Campus and Data Dashboard Campus Analytics to ensure our building and District leadership uses data to make informed instructional and operational decisions.
Mr. Ramirez is a strong supporter of developing and sustaining a Culture of Data via Professional Learning Communities.
You can reach Mr. Ramirez via email at cramirez@mtvernoncsd.org and learn more about our recently NYSED-approved Instructional Technology Plan, the work of the Technology Committee, Student Data consistency efforts in progress and other Educational Technology Initiatives.
Advisory Committees
Mr. Ramirez was selected to serve on the College of Westchester’s College Advisory Council for the School of Information Technology in the summer of 2024.
The College Advisory Council advises the College of Westchester on the workforce demands in the current climate to help guide academic programs and review learning outcomes and objectives. Their goal is to ensure that students are prepared to enter the workforce upon graduation.
The council meets once per year to advise the College of Westchester on their academic programs.
Mr. Ramirez was also selected to serve on the Lower Hudson Regional Information Center (LHRIC) Advisory Committee for Southern Westchester Board of Cooperative Educational Services. There, he will serve with other key educational leaders from the region.
Supports and Systems
- Technical Support
- Data Privacy and Security
- Instructional Technology Coaches
- Technology Plan
- Smart School Bond
- School Tech Links
- 1:1 Device Program
- Software Request
- Join the District's Robo Call System
- Infinite Campus
- Useful Links
Technical Support
Work Orders
Parents & Students:
Please go to the following website to enter a work order:
https://studenthelp.lhric.org
Faculty & Staff: Click below to enter a work order: http://service.lhric.org/
The LHRIC has partnered with the District to provide support to students on District owned devices.
Support is available from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Please have a parent fill out the form below to request assistance and provide us with the information needed for our technician to work with you on the issue. The technician will use the Parent/Guardian's email to communicate and in some cases may need to call to schedule a support session.
Printer Support
- For HP and Xerox Toner and printer support, please call the 800 number on the CBS sticker on the device. Please have the CBS equipment ID number also on the CBS sticker.
- For other printers, please use the work order system
- Used Toner and drum units should be returned to the company using the provided label and same box
How to Change a Password
- Passwords expire every 90 days. For 8 consecutive days prior to that, you will receive an email, with the link, reminding you to reset your password.
- Staff: Click this link to reset your password and enroll in ADSS.
- Changing your password
- How to change your password (updated video to come)
- Staff should also enroll in the ADSS password program via the link above in case of future forgotten passwords. This will allow you to reset your password without any need of the help desk.
- How to Register for the ADSS Self Help password reset tool (updated video to come)
- Locked out
- Call the help desk 914-358-2361 and put in a work order with a telephone number where you can be reached
- Password expired
- Call the help desk 914-358-2361 and put in a work order with a telephone number where you can be reached
Spam Filter/Accessing the Email Archive - Sometimes emails will get trapped in the spam filter. Staff can access the spam filter to release email by clicking here
-
The email archive is a great way for staff to search for emails including emails that have been deleted. To access the archive, click here
- Call the help desk 914-358-2361 and put in a work order with a telephone number where you can be reached
- Changing your password
Data Privacy and Security
- Pursuant to Section 2-d of the Education Law, parents and students are entitled to certain protections regarding confidential student information. The District is committed to safeguarding personally identifiable information from unauthorized access or disclosure as set forth below:
• Incident/Breach Complaint Form
Report unauthorized access or disclosure of personally identifiable information (PII)
Instructional Technology Coaches
Mount Vernon’s Instructional Technology Professional Development & Coaching Staff
MEET YOUR INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY TEAM
The Lower Hudson Regional Information Center’s Instructional Technology department is honored to provide professional development and coaching to teachers and administrators. Our team consists of classroom teachers who collectively bring over 25 years of teaching expertise in instructional technology. Some of our team members will work in the district every week, while others have a specific number of days to complete a technology initiative. Our goal is to provide quality professional development and coaching for teachers in technology that aligns with NYS/ISTE standards and emphasizes student-centered learning, choice and creativity.
All team members report directly to the district’s Director of Technology and Mary Lynn Collins-Callanan, Manager of Instructional Technology at the LHRIC.
If you have any questions or comments, please contact the District’s Technology Office or one of our LHRIC team members below.
Mae Isaac
Senior Facilitator
misaac@mtvernoncsd.org
Mae is a Technology Support Specialist on the Instructional Technology team at the Lower Hudson Regional Information Center (LHRIC) in Harrison, New York. Her work focuses on supporting teachers with the integration of technology into their classroom. While helping educators find engaging ways to incorporate technology into their teaching, she supports the how-to as well as the why. She works closely with the LINKS and other members of the technology team to provide timely support for applications such as Office 365, Schoology, Nearpod and many other products. She is a huge fan of OneNote!
Technology Support: LINKS coordination, Schoology, Office 365, Nearpod
Days On-site: Monday, Wednesday and Friday
Book an appointment with Mae
Randy Hall
Senior Facilitator
rhall@mtvernoncsd.org
Randy is a Senior Facilitator on the Instructional Technology team at the Lower Hudson Regional Information Center (LHRIC) in Harrison, NY. As a Senior Facilitator, his work focuses on active learning environments and strategies, online and blended learning approaches using learning management systems, building relationships with other New York State agencies and vendors, and designing and delivering professional learning programs and services for schools and districts in Westchester, Rockland, and Putnam counties.
Technology Support: Schoology, MVU, and MV Instructional Technology Team
Book an appointment with Randy
Sean Rowan
Senior Facilitator
srowan@mtvernoncsd.org
Sean joined the LHRIC in 2015. She has expertise in providing digital and print curriculum solutions in school districts throughout the Northeast. She’s worked hand in hand with classroom teachers, principals, department chairs, instructional leaders and superintendents implementing district and state objectives. Utilizing her experiences as a classroom teacher, Sean will support the Pre-K, K, 1st and 2nd grades with their instructional goals and supporting them with integration of iPads and laptops into the classroom instruction. Sean holds a master’s degree in Elementary Education from Mercy College.
Technology Support: Cubetto, iPads, Waterford Reading Academy, Seesaw, Nearpod, iReady, Lexia, Achieve, Schoology, Office 365
Days On-site: Monday, Wednesday and Friday
Dana Unger
Instructional Technology Consultant
dunger1@mtvernoncsd.org
Dana Unger is an instructional technology consultant with over 20 years’ experience leading workshops, coaching and mentoring sessions across the tri-state area and beyond. Her main objective is to help teachers achieve the next level in their learning and she focuses on keeping things fun along the journey. Dana spent several years consulting in the Yonkers school district, leads PD sessions for Learning.com, CoderZ, and Schoology and is a Microsoft in Education certified trainer. Dana holds an MA in Communication, Computing, Technology and Education and an Ed. M. in Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. She has been happily working with LHRIC for the past 6 years, supporting the team on a variety of projects.
Technology Support: Schoology, Microsoft 365, Nearpod, Learning.com, Kami, Edpuzzle, Soundtrap and translation tools for Entering/Emerging ENL students and teachers to better communicate in the classroom.
Technology Plan
The District envisions using technology in education to enhance, improve, engage and stimulate the learning environment for all students. The goal is to advance students' educational experiences and skills, preparing them to live and work in a global community. The District aims to equip students with the knowledge, skills and values necessary to thrive in a continuously changing world, helping each student reach their full potential as a human being. Additionally, technology is to be integrated seamlessly into the educational process, supporting rigorous academic standards and fostering a student-centered approach to learning.
2022-2025 Technology Plan (Approved by NYSED 07/06/2022)
Smart School Bond
Smart School Bond
The District's current plan for utilization of the Smart School Bond includes the following:
- Providing data and security wiring for MVHS, former NMHS site and Mount Vernon STEAM Academy
- Providing security, intercom and public address systems for MVHS, former NMHS site and STEAM Academy
- Providing a new intrusion detection security system Districtwide.
- The amended Smart Schools Investment plan
School Tech Links
MVCSD Technology Links assist the District Technology Administrator by working with teachers, administrators and clerical staff as to ensure the success of school initiatives.
They act as points of contact for the Technology Department, provide building-based support and deliver workshops during professional development days and after-school meetings as needed.
1:1 Device Program
Lost Student Device and Charger Restoration
The Mount Vernon School District offers a digital device to all students to support learning in the classroom and at home. There is no cost to receive a device or to repair a damaged device. However, If the device or charger is lost, the district is asking for families to contribute a fee towards financial restoration.
Families that have lost or failed to return equipment or power chargers upon request may have received a bill. If the equipment has been located, students should notify school staff. If the equipment has been stolen, a police report is needed. Once verified, the charges will be waived.
Payment of Fee for Missing Equipment
Payment for missing equipment may be made via MuniciPAY using:
• Check
• Cash
• Money Order
• Credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express -- service fees apply, by they will be absorbed by the District and not assumed by the parent)
• Electronic Check Payments (service fee will apply, as stated above)
- When Payment Options appears, click on the “Switch to Pay with Check” link and then continue entering your information.
For families that wish to pay their bill online, we have provided this online tool.
Software Request
In accordance with NY State ED Law 2-D and Part 121 Regulations, the district requires the approval of any online services in order to adhere to the current student data privacy rules. Please enter a Web Help Desk ticket to request approval BEFORE using any new online software services in the classroom.
If the software requires student personally identifiable information (i.e. student name, email address, etc.) and/or teacher or principal evaluation data, we will need to contact the vendor for a data privacy agreement. In this case, please allow time to gather all of the necessary documents.
If the software does not require student personally identifiable information and/or teacher or principal evaluation data, we will still need to add the online software service to our district inventory.
- Complete and upload the vendor signed document to this form.
- Have the vendor complete and sign the District's Parent Bill of Rights which can be found here: Parent Bill of Rights
Join the District's Robo Call System
Infinite Campus
Teachers: Visit the Infinite Campus Training Library for instructions on logging in, taking attendance, and for grades 7-12, syncing categories and weights from Infinite Campus to Schoology Grade book.
Useful Links
Student Device Agreement
Contact Info
Carlos Ramirez
Director of Technology
cramirez@mtvernoncsd.org
Rino Lembo
Data Analyst
rlembo@mtvernoncsd.org
Sarah McGarty
Data Analyst
smcgarty@mtvernoncsd.org
Cindy Murasso
Data Analyst
cmurasso@mtvernoncsd.org
Oscar Davis
Computer Technician
ODavis@mtvernoncsd.org
Phyllis Griffin
Administrative Assistant
pgriffin1@mtvernoncsd.org
Joel Pratt
Computer Technician
jpratt@mtvernoncsd.org
Julie Rossi
Typist
jrossi@mtvernoncsd.org