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WINTERSVILLE -- The Indian Creek Local School District has some new technical support to help keep operations running smoothly.
George Vein has joined the district as informational technology director with Greg Hoit serving as tech support liaison. Both are new positions and the officials began their duties in August. They are doing their part to keep staff and students equipped and updated with Vein handling software and Hoit overseeing hardware.
Vein said he has returned to his roots as a Wintersville High School alumnus. The village resident got his feet wet at Jefferson County Joint Vocational School, where he learned about communications, then worked at local television stations and subcontracted with radio stations. He served in consumer repair for 15 years but his focus changed as technology evolved. After briefly residing in Virginia, he returned to the area and obtained an associate degree in informational technology from Eastern Gateway Community College. Vein later obtained a bachelor's degree in informational technology and a master's degree in informational systems and technology management from Cappella University.
He earned an internship and then more permanent employment with EGCC and rose from support tech to director. Most recently, he worked with JSW Steel in Mingo Junction as a senior network administrator and then received his current position. His present duties entail overseeing technology for the district, network management and providing Wi-Fi and Chromebooks to administrators, faculty, staff and students. He has been spending time creating a sound plan with Dave Moffat, interactive media teacher at Indian Creek High School, for instructional technology.
"We're working in tandem to give everybody the best instruction they can get," he added, saying he has also been involved with upgrading the network at Hills Elementary in Mingo Junction to improve usage for teachers and pupils.
He also is involved with updating the network for the new high school, Cross Creek Elementary and renovated Hills Elementary School. Vein had prior experience with online education through his work with EGCC's interactive video distance learning program, which involved videoconferencing instruction from a remote classroom, plus he was involved with integration, implementation and administration of certain systems associated with online learning such as student web portals and single sign-on. Those actions have been useful as he helps the district navigate through remote learning amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
"I think COVID has opened the door to how kids will be taught," he commented. "I think people are seeing how we could promote diversity and that we have more than one way to do it [with online learning]. Everybody here is working through it and COVID really pushed it out there."
Overall, he is glad to be working with the school system.
"It's nice being back in education," he said.
Hoit, a resident of Wellsburg, has 36 years of experience with educational support and most recently served Brooke County Schools as an electronics technician and computer programmer. He earned associate's degree from the former Jefferson Technical Institute in electronic engineering and electrical engineering and worked in area businesses before moving into the educational realm. Hoit also lived in South Carolina, where he temporarily worked at Fleet Mortgage Group, but loves the educational field most of all. He said retirement didn't suit him and a phone call from Scott Abercrombie, current assistant principal at Indian Creek Middle School, put him on a new path.
"I loved working in the school system. Abercrombie knew I loved teachers and I loved kids. I took early retirement but was not ready," he said, adding that he is already enjoying his new role. "I love it here. From the administration to teachers, they know their job and they are professional. George and I work pretty well together and hopefully it works well for the system."
Hoit said he enjoys joking with the teachers, staff and students and loves his work.
"I enjoy being able to help kids get their education and help teachers and administrators with what they need. I love the challenges and look forward to what's next technology-wise for the kids," he continued. "You've got to leave your mark, and if I've affected one kid or one teacher, that's great. I really enjoy what I do."
Now that he's at Indian Creek, he hopes to remain active for a very long time.
"I have no plans for retirement. I want to do this as long as I can."
Indian Creek Superintendent T.C. Chappelear said both were new positions and the district definitely benefits from having Vein and Hoit on staff.
"With Vein's level of experience, I think we're pretty lucky to get him on board," Chappelear said. "Greg had 36 years of experience in Brooke County working in instructional technology with teachers and students. I feel like he's going to do a lot of good things for us."