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.:Resource Guides:Technology-Profile: TechCorps
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Technology
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Profile: TechCorps
Connecting schools with technology to improve education is one of the major themes of technology nonprofits, and few organizations have been as successful in this arena as TechCorps. Using their network of corporate volunteers,
TechCorps recruits, places, and supports highly skilled members of the technology community who assist schools with the use of technology. TechCorps receives most of its funding from corporate sponsors like Cisco and Hewlett-Packard. While many organizations seek to
increase the use of technology in schools, TechCorps tries to supply the human infrastructure needed to power that revolution.
David Yaskulka, TechCorps's Director of Marketing and Business Development, helped explain how TechCorps works and the motivation behind it, as well as sharing a little bit about his own career. After graduating from Williams College with a degree in Philosophy, David
began a career that would include both for-profit and nonprofit experiences, including becoming the co-founder of LEAD USA and Director of Marketing at Phase Two Strategies, a top-10 independent high-tech PR agency.
| What does TechCorps do, and what makes its mission so important? |
Tech Corps connects schools with highly trained specialists. Schools don't have the money to invest in training, integration into the curriculum, and the consulting. We bring teachers and tech volunteers together. Technological
literacy is such a key to the future of kids (especially who are on the wrong side of the digital divide), and the school system could never afford the tools needed to get it right.
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| What successes has TechCorps had? |
TechCorps started in 1995, and although we've seen technology really increase in schools, there is still a big divide. The best way to measure our success might be to look at the market value of the services we provide, because it's
hard to assess the impact of a volunteers time.
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| Can you give us an example or two? |
In Columbus Ohio there was a huge addition of computers (10,000) into the school system, and they had a seven person technology staff with no budget to increase it. We brought in a volunteer early in the process who helped reduce the
installation time of each computer by 45 minutes. That one volunteer who contributed 60 hours of time made a major impact. A lot of work might be at a simpler level, such as giving advice to tech support people or making web pages for classes. Editor's Note: For
those who don't want to do the math, that one volunteer saved the school system 7500 hours.
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| Why can't volunteers just go directly into the school system? |
As an outsider trying to get into the school system, you might be viewed with suspicion. Tech Corps manages those relationships with you, and finds the place where your skills will provide the greatest benefit.
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| How is working for a technology nonprofit like TechCorps different from working for a regular nonprofit organization? |
TechCorps is one of the most astute nonprofits in building corporate partnerships. From its very beginning TechCorps had an insight that there was an overlap between corporate and community interests. TechCorps has flourished by
existing right at the nexus between those two.
The technology field is a little more on the cutting edge, so it places your organization in a better position to succeed. Nonprofits can learn a lot from the business world, and technology nonprofits typically have embraced some of that, almost by definition,
and that has helped. Moving faster and being more efficient are all part of technology nonprofits.
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| What are the most important things a prospective employee could bring to TechCorps? |
A pretty passionate devotion to the mission. You don't need to be a geek, or an education expert. You will have to have seen how technology can make a difference for kids, especially those who have not had access to technology, but
it's the passion for the position that will really make you stand out.
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| What kinds of skills do TechCorps volunteers have? |
A very wide range. They usually will work for our sponsors, since they have IT backgrounds. The bar is generally set at someone who makes a living in an IT company.
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| And how about paid employees? |
That's pretty particular on the position. To be a state manager, you'd need a lot of organizational development skills, some knowledge about educational technology, probably some experience with volunteerism, and you'd probably have
to have demonstrated some commitment to the mission. Most jobs will require basic computer literacy. Here even the entry-level positions require basic skills like being able to use Microsoft Office.
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| What is it like working for TechCorps? |
I work about 50-60 hours a week. It's a difficult job, but who would want anything other than that? Our job will be done when the technology needs of schools around the country are met. The gap between our need and the capacity to
meet it is huge.
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| Are there any drawbacks to working for an organization like yours? |
The expense account isn't the same as in the for-profit sector. Aside from financial, the disadvantages are few. In terms of the challenge and the caliber of people you work with, both internally and in the field, it's
extraordinary.
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| What are the male-to-female ratios of volunteers and paid employees? |
A minority of our volunteers are women, simply because we receive fewer female applicants. I would say that the majority of TechCorps employees are female, however.
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| Does TechCorps plan on creating programs that target women? |
We're trying to work on programs to supply opportunities for girls. It makes it a lot easier for girls to get into technology if they see people who have succeeded in that field.
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| Does TechCorps ever use virtual volunteering? |
Yes, we do. One of our strongest programs, techs4schools, is an online mentoring and tech support program for educators. On average we'll take 10 educators and 10 tech volunteers and
using a Listserv function we will have them build relationships online. It was originally developed for schools we couldn't reach in person, but it has become a really helpful program for either strictly virtual volunteers or in combination with regular
volunteering.
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| How easy to find a job as a recent college grad or as a student who is still in college? |
Honestly, pretty tough right now. A lot of technology nonprofits get funding from technology companies, and those technology companies aren't doing so well right now.
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| What is it like moving from for-profit to nonprofit work? |
It's easier to go from corporate to nonprofit than the other way around, but there will often be an initial suspicion. You just have to demonstrate commitment to the mission. You can do that as a volunteer or as a board member, but i
think that the nonprofit world wants to see that that person has taken their time to show commitment to the issue. If they have put their money and time where their mouth is. If you take the time to get a volunteer position before applying for a job, then the
nonprofit world can be very welcoming.
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| Do you have any last comments for job seekers? |
I think that whether you're looking to go into the corporate or nonprofit world, strategically chosen volunteer positions will be hugely beneficial in your career. Those positions should be at the nexus of your personal passion and
the skills and people who you want to be involved with. For example, if you're interested in getting involved in fund raising, then there will be a nonprofit in your community who will accept someone with zero experience into their organization.
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David has been working at TechCorps since 2001, and is currently living in New Jersey with his wife and sons. He can be contacted at yaskulka@techcorps.org.
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