Nate Jackson has been the Technology Director at Marietta Public Schools for 10 years. The Bryan County native is a 2000 graduate of Durant High School and received a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and master’s degree in Information Technology from Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant.
Jackson got his start working with computers as a high school student.
“They let me work on computers while I was going to school,” he said, “and then I continued to work there through college and even for a while after I got my master’s.”
Jackson was hired at Marietta based on a promise he made during his interview.
“I told them I would save the district more money than they’d spend on my salary,” Jackson stated.
During his tenure with the district, Jackson is proud to say that he’s kept his promise. He’s done that in several ways. One is the way he purchases technology.
“A lot of my job is tech purchasing,” he said. “A pair of headphones isn’t bought in this district without me pricing it. I look around for the best products and the best prices. It’s a big deal to me that I can show people that I’m saving the district money through smart purchasing. I stretch our budget as far as I can, and I feel like the district trusts me to do the most efficient thing with tech and tech purchases.
When Jackson started to work at Marietta, he was responsible for fewer than 300 total desktop/laptop computers. Currently, the district has over 500 desktops and connected devices and over 2,000 Chrome Books, which is more than one per student. Jackson keeps all those devices operational without the need for the district to contract for repairs – either to the devices or the network – unlike smaller districts are forced to do.
Another way that Jackson benefits the district is in the scope of his work. When he came to the district ten years ago, he took care of computers. In the intervening years, he’s picked up a few more jobs.
“When I came, I worked with computers, but now I take care of the telephones, intercom system, and several other things, too,” he said. “They’re now part of a network. We run the same network for computers, intercoms, phone system, bells, clocks, surveillance, emergency management. Anything that goes on goes through our network.”
That network has grown substantially under Jackson’s care. For example, when he came to Marietta, all the systems in the whole district were sharing a total of only 4.5 mbits of internet. Now, over 1,000 mbits is available to the district, of which 500 to 600 mbits are used during spikes of usage.
“It’s something that’s grown to the point it’s surprising,” he admitted.
Finally, Jackson benefits the district in providing it with technology that administrators and teachers can use as a tool in the educational process.
“A lot of my job is trying to make sure that technology is a springboard and not something that holds people back,” explained Jackson. “So many times people are limited by their technology if their computer doesn’t do what they need it to. I want tech to enhance what they do. Technology isn’t a replacement for a good teacher, but it can be a multiplier of one.”
Jackson has a vested interest in ensuring the district is operating at its full potential: he and his wife Angie have a son, Nicholas, who will be attending school at Marietta next year.
“It’s nice to work for a district that’s behind technology,” stated Jackson. “I can’t think of a time when I’ve approached the administration with something we need to do that they haven’t supported me.”
Jackson is widely recognized across the district as the resident expert on technology.
“Nate Jackson is an amazing asset to our district,” said Superintendent Brandi Naylor. “He not only knows technology, but he also understands the role that technology should play in education. He’s a master at saving the district money, either by doing extensive research to get the best price for equipment, or by doing the work himself to save us from having to pay for installation.”