Working for the Miami-Dade County Public Schools system for 12 years and Coral Gables Senior High for seven, the job of Mr. Jorge Lopez is one that remains behind the scenes. To quantify his work would be impossible, because at just 11:35 a.m., he has helped 15 people, had his hands on at least 45 computers and laptops, made five coffees to share with faculty and is scheduled to set up audio systems for Promethean boards in the gym during a faculty meeting.
Growing up in a time when technology was a fresh development in classrooms, Mr. Lopez found himself fascinated by the hidden intricacies within the world of computers. This childhood curiosity would inspire him to pursue a degree in Computer Science.
“I studied computers because I [learned] how to do it from an earlier age, because we were raised with this stuff. You guys already had it, but we were in the process of figuring it out, and people around us that were teaching us were in the process of figuring it out, and everything was moving quickly. So for us, it was more the newest stuff, so that’s what was interesting about it,” Mr. Lopez said.
After graduating from college, Mr. Lopez was introduced to job opportunities within M-DCPS through his family members who worked for the district. With their encouragement, he filled out multiple applications and soon landed a position in Information Technology.
As a Network Infrastructure Support Technician, Mr. Lopez manages the very nervous system that runs technology at Gables. Whenever something digital fails, he is always there to fix it at the root of the problem. Unofficially, he also takes on the role of a Field Tech, visiting other schools to assist technicians across the district.
As computers continue to evolve with new software, Mr. Lopez constantly hones his technological skills. The large size of Gables’ student and faculty population gives him plenty of possibilities to test his efficiency, often solving large-scale issues before most IT personnel.
Throughout his time specializing in IT, Mr. Lopez has tackled all sorts of issues, helping others and streamlining repairs.
With his years of experience, taking a closer look at Mr. Lopez’s day-to-day activities reveals his integral role in keeping Gables running. Much of his work centers around handling maintenance, restoring the internet connection to buildings and meticulously deciphering digital problems.
Weeks ago, when the gym lost internet connection at Gables, Mr. Lopez investigated the internet boxes in the auditorium that supply the connection. Discovering that construction had shut down the electricity to the auditorium, he ran an extension cord to feed the gym’s box. In the process, he found a damaged wire feeding and quickly restored the wire activity by restarting the box.
“Everybody depends on technology, so if somebody has an issue, then they’re stuck. They can’t do anything. So then, when you fix it, they say thank you. So essentially, making people happy [is the most fulfilling]. You fixed their computer. You made them happy [and] they say thank you,” Mr. Lopez said.
Beyond fixing computers, Mr. Lopez researches, learns and applies skills in coffee-making. For him, coffee is a lifestyle and he is drawn to the variety of the crop. From brewing coffee in under 10 seconds to presenting the sweetness in the cup, he experiments with new methods. Serving as a hobby to relax, he plans to apply these tools when creating coffee for others.
“[Coffee is] never the same, even year to year changes, just like any other crop…weather patterns, droughts, all that stuff, make the same exact coffee that I’ve had last year taste different this year. And you’ll see it on the bags of specialty coffee…The differences in weather and processes and technology, essentially, shape how the stuff comes out…That’s what I like about coffee. It’s always different,” Mr. Lopez said.
From repairing school-wide WiFi issues to installing grass walls in classrooms, Mr. Lopez’s work remains hidden in plain sight. Even though he is known for keeping laptops, desktops and peripherals running smoothly, there is much more that his job entails that often goes unnoticed. This year, he received the IT of the Year Award from Miami-Dade County, a recognition that only scratches the surface of his commitment to fulfilling all technological needs he can.
“I mean, helping others, that’s what it goes back to, it is a sense of accomplishment, but it’s more like just the gratitude that people have. Because to me, this is all simple stuff…The more you’re specialized in something, the easier [it is] just for you, and what seems impossible for somebody else, takes like two seconds, and then they’re like, super grateful…It’s just to me, it’s the instant gratification we get…If you can do something that makes somebody thankful or happy, that’s what I get out of it,” Mr. Lopez said.
