Toward the end of 2023, Chris Hawkins and I were on one of many conference road trips and were trying to figure out how to make Sales easier. We needed to hire, to motivate and elevate, while figuring out how to increase revenue. Meeting with school districts and serving their needs came fairly easy to us because of our unique position and experience within the company - we listened while they talked. Most of the time we could help. Sometimes we couldn’t. It all felt “easy” because we were there to consult - listen, evaluate, and help where/if/when we could. We never had to ask for a sale. Sales came in naturally when the timing was right. What could we do to get every member of our team to the “easy” of serving districts?
Very quickly our new vision and structure was born. We would drastically reduce the concept of “sales” from our vocabulary, our titles and our mindset. We would remove metrics tied to particular products, lines and solutions and eliminate commission from compensation. Our KPIs would be reduced to a single goal, simplified and measurable. We’d transition from a Sales Team to a Solutions Team - better representing what we’ve always felt truly made us different in this industry and empowering our entire team to embrace a consultative approach to working with our K-12 District partners. We would make sure that each member of our team was not only the right fit for Secured Tech, including the multiple new individuals we were hiring, but also that they were in the right seat on the boat. We needed everyone rowing in the same direction for this concept to work.
We started with role evaluation - where did we see gaps? Where did we see untapped potential in our current team? Where did team members show strengths that were not being fully highlighted in their current responsibilities? Titles were edited, job descriptions were re-written, and, in a few select cases, roles were changed; all with input and approval from the team because we needed to ensure that they understood the vision and felt ownership over their responsibilities.
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a time when schools and institutions across the country take stock of their digital security practices. For K12 schools, where technology is essential to daily operations, protecting devices and data is more critical than ever. Schools handle a vast amount of sensitive information, student records, personal data, and communications- making them prime targets for cyberattacks.
We are overly excited to announce our next Partner Spotlight, Simpledu.
Simpledu has been a wonderful partner of ours since its birth and we are pleased to share how their business shares our values — raising the standard of education through services and solutions.
Simpledu believes K-12 administrators should focus on students, not tedium. This is accomplished through its flagship discipline management system, simpldiscipline, and afternoon dismissal system, simpldismissal.
At the district level, Simpledu provides simpldiscipline to automate and enhance K-12 student discipline management with real-time data synced to Student Information System PowerSchool. This simplifies incident tracking, referrals, and attendance while improving data accuracy. Its real-time analytics and communication with teachers allow administrators to support students effectively and meet local, state, and federal reporting needs.
At the school level, Simpledu provides simpldismissal to optimize K-12 dismissal with real-time web-based info giving teachers the ability to release students directly from the classroom in a timely manner. This allows for a simpler, safer dismissal while allowing increased instructional time.
Zach Sheppard, Co-founder and CTO of the company shares his words of appreciation. “From the very beginning, STS has been more than just a partner to us—they've been a true collaborator and friend. Together, we've worked tirelessly to serve our customers, investing our time, energy, and resources to broaden our impact on schools. We share the same core values, ethics, and a mission to improve education. This alignment has not only strengthened our partnership but has also allowed both of us to grow and expand in meaningful ways. Through our joint efforts, we've achieved great things and look forward to many more successes together.”
This recognition is a testament to STS's continued dedication and success in the business world. Being named one of the Fast 25 for the second consecutive year showcases the company's consistent growth and innovation.
About Community Buyback
The Secured Tech Solutions Community Buyback program provides K-12 schools an easy way to recoup technology funds while keeping resources IN THE COMMUNITY.
Cheers to a new year filled with positive vibes and sustainable choices! As K-12 schools gear up for an exciting journey ahead, let's dive into the world of electronic recycling (e-recycling) and discover how Secured Tech Solutions is making it a breeze. Ready to get inspired? Head over to https://securedtechsolutions.com/recycling for the full scoop!
We are delighted to inform our valued customers and communities that we have made a significant addition to our team. It gives us great pleasure to announce that Josh Devine has joined STS as our newly appointed President. In his role as President, Josh will oversee the day-to-day operations at Secured Tech Solutions, ensuring that all departments are functioning efficiently to deliver the best possible service to our valued customers and partners. He will achieve this by providing strong leadership and holding our teams accountable, while also inspiring each employee to align with the company's vision.
We all have that one kitchen junk drawer that seems to have no bottom, or that coat closet that could give Narnia a run for its money. These spaces become the designated homes for items we convince ourselves are absolutely essential or might come in handy just one more time. They turn into the secret hiding places for that lone left-hand snow glove or the covert storage spot for a Christmas gift you bring out when your in-laws come to visit. It's where you stash away super glue that's likely to dry up before you even have the chance to use it again, or a key ring whose purpose remains a mystery. Despite their ever-growing collection, we stubbornly hold onto these random bits and bobs, allowing them to take up valuable space within our homes.
