Maranatha’s “Techies” Always Keep Us Up and Running

4/30/2018

Come meet the hard working trio in Maranatha’s Information Technology Department, who help provide reliable and high quality support which includes providing services in computer hardware and software, systems networking, information security, AV support throughout Maranatha, and so much more.

In this series, we have been introducing each of our hardworking and dedicated faculty and staff departments. This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the talented people God has brought to our school, and to give readers a little insight into each department, its members, and the calling the Lord has placed on their lives. We hope these features give you an even greater appreciation for our staff and the ways they enrich our students’ lives and help make Maranatha High School a Christ-centered and welcoming community.

THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT

Tim Parent (Director of Technology)

Tim has had the pleasure of working for Maranatha for five years. Having worked in both the public and private sectors in regards to education and technology as a whole, Tim was drawn to education for a number of reasons. Tim said, “The advantage of an IT background is the ability to choose where you would like to apply the knowledge in a variety of environments. Education was something that interested me and offered a different spin on my career path that I did not experience in the corporate environment. The difference I am referring to was the opportunity to truly impact lives in a meaningful way. To build solutions that help teachers and students further education is very rewarding. When the opportunity to move to a private Christian based environment presented itself, it was an effortless decision.”

Maranatha High School is truly an amazing place to Tim, and he believes that it is our community that defines us. “The relationships we have with one another is what makes Maranatha feel like a second home. What I enjoy the most about working at MHS is the people. It is my belief that we have built an amazing Information Technology team and I couldn’t be happier with our performance. I truly appreciate the attention to detail, quick response times, and overall passion for the field that my technicians bring on a daily basis. I feel blessed to have the opportunity to do what I love in a setting where I can express my beliefs and work alongside individuals who exhibit a true passion for our mission.”

For the Information Technology Department, it is Tim’s ongoing mission to keep Maranatha at the forefront of technology in both education and infrastructure. “I would like our department to continue to push for excellence. We will continue to build, maintain, and foster an innovative technology environment that is both forward thinking and actively engaging. Our goal is to offer an unparalleled technology experience for students, parents, faculty, and staff. Keeping mindful of the quickly evolving environment, we will stay vigilant with the changing trends and adapt our practices to continually improve all facets of technology at Maranatha.”

Quirky Fact: “In my time at Maranatha, I have fielded over 100,000 emails.”

Neil Barizo (Systems Support Technician)

Neil has been working at Maranatha High School for five years. Having first been hired in September 2013, Neil likes working for Maranatha because of the camaraderie and its Christian family environment. In fact, it was his sister (who had two sons attend Maranatha) that told him there was an opening. Neil said, “I thought it would be nice to return to a more Christian workplace, since I previously worked at Glendale Adventist Medical Center. Working in our IT Department is great, especially the guys I work with, Tim and Joe. I also look forward to all the new technology we plan to implement into the new computer lab.”

Quirky Fact: “I have an extensive film and television score collection and even video game scores. From classic scores to recent scores, at any given time I could have a theme in my head or I could be humming it.”

Joe Ramos (Systems Support Technician)

Joe is the newest member of the IT Department, having been working at Maranatha for less than a year. Joe said, “I returned to school for a career change from film to IT. As soon as I finished my schooling, God opened the door for me at Maranatha. It has been a blessing ever since.”

The people, as well as the mutual support and friendship amongst everyone at Maranatha, is what Joe finds to be amazing. “It’s a refreshing change from what I was used to in the film industry. Finding a solution to a problem brings me joy and working in the IT Department provides a never-ending supply of tech problems to be solved.”

Quirky Fact: “I love working with my hands. I am constantly in my garage with wood projects and building things like coffee tables, wall shelves, or picture frames.”

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