Christina Holcomb 7/2

Stephen Skinner 7/2

Marianne Smith 7/2

Tony Maxwell 7/7

Deontre Price 7/12

Liz Huff 7/12

Steven Chatham 7/13

Neal Kellogg 7/17

Stephen Grieb 7/18

Paul Ashurst 7/28

We have ten birthdays this month, a 3-way tie along with March and October.

Whoop whoop! I want to give a huge shout-out to our amazing Network Services team for successfully remodeling our existing data center at OPS! You all persevered (which is a characteristic in our Portrait of a Graduate) through numerous setbacks and supply chain issues. That floor really shines! You did great!

We want to take a moment to recognize and applaud the exceptional efforts of Steve and his entire team. Their seamless collaboration has yielded remarkable results in ensuring the smooth functioning of our newer end-of-year processes and preparing for the upcoming 23-24 summer school.

The team's diligent work was instrumental in guaranteeing that all student devices were not only returned but also properly checked in at the end of the year. In addition to this crucial task, they have traveled an extra 500 miles in the past few weeks. They have actively coordinated and traveled from site to site, working closely with our vendors to receive new carts for our 1:STAY program. Their commitment to excellence ensured that all our summer school needs were met well in time.

It is worth noting that each of these responsibilities on its own presented significant challenges. However, Steve and his team embraced them all, demonstrating their commitment to the success of our students. Their ability to tackle multiple tasks simultaneously is commendable and is a testament to their professionalism and dedication.

Let us extend our heartfelt gratitude to Steve Brian and every team member. (Begin slow clap)

Not only is Christina's birthday on July 2nd, but she is going on a well-deserved vacation while she recovers from the successful submission of the Annual Statistical Report (ASR) to The Wave. This is an all-hands-on-deck project with PRE and Enterprise Services.

Additionally, several end-of-year reports are also due Sabrina has successfully completed:

Neglected and Delinquent End-of-Year Report

District-Wide Student Needs Assessment

Title 1 Comprehensive Needs Assessment

End-of-Year Homeless Report

End-of-Year Alt Ed Report

What an amazing data team we have! I'm proud of you all!

If you follow any cybersecurity blogs or live in this space, you've come across the terms EDR, MDR, and XDR. I decided to see what ChatGPT could teach me about it. Those terms start blending after a while!

Initial prompt: System Instruction: You are the CTO, responsible for the company's technological development and innovation. You lead the technology team and oversee the design, development, and implementation of new technological solutions.

Secondary prompt: What is the difference between MDR, EDR, and XDR is relation to next generation virus scanning.

Explain like I'm five.

In a matter of seconds, ChatGPT provided me a brief explanation and even provided me with a cool analogy.

_____________________

MDR, EDR, and XDR are different levels or types of virus scanning technology that help protect computers and networks from virus attacks.

MDR stands for "Managed Detection and Response" and focuses on detecting and responding to active security threats. It involves skilled cyber security professionals who use specialized tools to monitor and manage networks to look for signs of attacks.

EDR stands for "Endpoint Detection and Response" and is a type of software that is installed directly on individual computers or devices to monitor them for suspicious activity. When it detects something unusual, it sends an alert to security professionals who can then investigate and respond.

XDR stands for "Extended Detection and Response" and is a more advanced form of virus scanning that looks at multiple sources of data to provide a more comprehensive view of network security. It includes both MDR and EDR technologies, along with other tools such as network traffic analysis and behavioral analysis.

In simpler terms, MDR is like having a team of security guards watching the entire building, EDR is like having a security camera in each room, and XDR is like having both security guards and cameras, plus additional tools all working together to keep you safe.

_____________

I asked for another analogy. I actually like the superhero theme.

_____________

MDR, EDR, and XDR are like different levels of security superheroes protecting your computer and network from bad guys (viruses).

MDR is like a group of security officers patrolling the streets to watch out for any criminal activity and quickly responding to any threats they find.

EDR is like a special superhero that sits inside your computer to keep a watchful eye on everything that is happening and alerting the security officers if it sees anything unusual.

XDR is like a team of superheroes that work together to protect your home, not just the streets and your computer. They look at every angle and use their superpowers to detect and respond to any bad guys trying to break in.

Hi, my name is Emily Murphy! I graduated from OU with BAs in Economics and Criminology, and I am expected to graduate with my MA in Sociology this Summer. My passions/hobbies include houseplants, little ugly dogs, and video games. I'm so excited to be working with such a warm and welcoming department as their newest Program Evaluator, and I can't wait to see what opportunities lie in store!

Email: eamurphy@okcps.org

Toby taught social studies in Mustang for five years before becoming an assistant principal at Longfellow Middle School in Norman. He also served as an assistant principal at Mustang High School for five years and worked with the freshman academy for two of those years. While at Mustang High School, Toby worked with students to create traditional and alternative paths to success after high school. In 2019, Toby helped open the brand new Mustang Central Middle School in Mustang, and has served as the principal since then. Toby has hit the ground running in this role and focusing his passion of supporting and encouraging students to engage in the college and career planning process early in their academic careers.

Toby has a Bachelor's Degree in Education and a Master's in Education Administration from Southwestern Oklahoma State University.

Email: tblair@okcps.org

By providing equitable access to a world class education, every Oklahoma City Public Schools student will graduate ready to fulfill their unique purpose in a healthy, vibrant community.

Every day, Oklahoma City Public Schools will ignite a passion for learning in every child, invite families to engage, and inspire respectful and trusting relationships with our diverse community.