Shane Pinnell

I love IT

I get excited about technology, about new product announcements or the latest release of a minor update to an obscure piece of software. I have an affinity for gadgets and love trying new things. I love making things work and making them work better. I am in awe of the wonders of the world that we live in and I am excited for what is coming!

What I do

I currently work as a Solutions Engineer with Verkada helping State, Local and Education (SLED) entities engineer solutions to protect their people and places with modern physical security tools. This role allows me to utilize my experience and knowledge gained in over 15 years working in K-12 IT to help find the right solutions, and collaborate on long term goals and strategies to ensure the continued safe, secure and effective use of technology to help "Protect people and places in a privacy-sensitive way."

What I'm good at

I am good at understanding problems and collaborating on solutions. Whether learning about business processes to help improve them with technology, figuring out a networking issue, solving a problem with a driver, writing custom applications or automating mundane tasks; my ability to identify, learn about and troubleshoot the problem in front of me allows me contribute to solutions. I am also good at sharing my knoweldge and experiences with others and helping my peers find the right solutions by leading them in a direction that allowins them to make their own discoveries.

Why I'm good at it

The combination of my affinity for technology and my experience have provided me with a pragmatic view of the IT world. I have learned to value the opinions and experiences of others. I appreciate standards. I have learned to embrace open sources. I have learned to avoid the trappings of brands or fanboy-isms in favor of choosing the right tool for the job. I have learned that I do not need to continually reinvent the wheel.

Memberships and Associations

CITE - California IT in Education
CUE - Computer Using Educators
ACSA - Association of California School Administrators
ISTE - International Society for Technology in Education

Awards and Achievements

ACSA Region XIX, Technology Administrator of the Year: I received the ACSA Region XIX Technology Administrator of the Year award for 2017.
CITE Certified CTO: Between January, 2016 and May 2023, I was a California IT in Edcuation Certified Chief Technology Officer. The rigorous CITE CTO Mentor Program significantly expanded my understanding of my role as an Information Technology professional in K-12 schools and allowed me to grow immensely. You can review my portfolio here CTO Mentor Portfolio