Award Recipient - Technology Staff: Claudia Cruz

Claudia Cruz

Currently the IT Systems Administrator for Los Gatos Union School District. I've worked in K-12 for over 8 years and previously worked in low-voltage as a project manager for 5 years.

How long have you been in your current role and how did you get there?

"I've been the district's IT Systems Administrator a little over 2 years now and previously was the IT Technician for the district since 2016. I had the fortune of working alongside my now, IT Manager as a project manager during the district's wireless network upgrade over 10 years ago. I returned to work as a temporary contractor with the district in August of 2016 and was hired on that fall."

What's a recent win you've had at work?

"My most recent win happened this summer, the week that school started to be more specific. We transitioned our aging CISCO phones to a new Zoom Phone system who's implementation came down to the last second. At one point I was sitting at our Welcome Back meeting with an earbud in one ear as our lines cut over carriers. With the help of my team we were able to roll over, configure, deploy, and test over 200 phones in 72 hours."

How long have you been a CITE member? What is your favorite memory from a CITE event?

"I've been attending CITE since 2018 and to this day my favorite memory is taking a picture with him and our team. We may not have shown it but we were definitely fan-girling!"

What do you do in your limited free time?

"We aren't allowed free time.. haha

I'm blessed to work with a team that emphasizes the need to take care of ourselves and disconnect after hours. In my free time I enjoy hiking with my partner, traveling to new states, listening to podcasts (shoutout to the Crime Junkie!) and troubleshooting the wifi connection at my parents house."

Are there any special shout outs you'd like to give to someone in your life or the CITE community who has made a special impact on you?

"I couldn't have survived K-12 IT without the support of Matt Mullikin, Tim Landeck, and Amy Liang. All 3 have made such an impact on me, in 3 VERY different ways, but with the same passion for education and technology. They truly embody our district's core belief of Service Above Self, and that has left a lasting impression on me and our team."

If someone is intimidated or reluctant to get involved with CITE, what advice would you give them?

"I would say CITE is like that friend that you can text anytime and they always know the right thing to say. They're the one standing on your corner cheering you on in the rain. And though, you may not see them often, they feel like family when you do."