10 Years Strong: Simplifying IT and Enhancing Student Safety with GoGuardian Admin at Ripon School District

Travis Liptow, Director of Technology and Innovation at Ripon Area School District in Wisconsin, has seen the tech landscape evolve dramatically over the twenty-six years he’s worked in the industry. After more than two decades of navigating various challenges in device management and student safety, he has yet to find a solution that meets the needs of his administrators, teachers, and students as well as GoGuardian Admin.

Overcoming the challenges of outdated systems

Before switching to GoGuardian, Ripon District was working with netbooks and an antiquated proxy server system. "We were dealing with proxy settings from another vendor, and we actually had an appliance onsite for some of our proxy filtering. When they were offsite, it was just a bit of work to try to deal with that,” Travis explained. This setup was far from ideal - their onsite filter couldn’t handle student website access logging files as the district added more devices to the filter, which made the system slow and unreliable.

The biggest challenge? Lack of flexibility. "There weren’t the different segmented filters depending on what grade level they were or what school they were at," he stated. The district also struggled with limited reporting capabilities. "We could get some IP information, a few things about the websites they visited, maybe, but really no detailed reporting." The absence of timely alerts made it even harder to track issues as they occurred.

The switch to GoGuardian Admin came at the right time. Travis recalled the moment he discovered the platform: "We were just kind of googling what to do for filtering. Then we found your website and said, ‘Hey, we’re going to try this.’ After we trialed it, we decided, 'This is what we need'."

The transition was smooth and the results were immediate. "It solved the issue on the support end where we spent so much time maintaining onsite appliances. GoGuardian Admin, being a cloud-based solution, eliminated the need for that hassle," Travis stated. With GoGuardian, the district could focus on monitoring and managing the system rather than worrying about the upkeep of on-site technology.

Seamless transition, immediate benefits

When Ripon switched to GoGuardian Admin, the setup process was quick and painless. "I feel like we were set up within minutes, and we had created different policies based on the different grade levels, different schools," Travis explained. The system's integration with Google was another time-saver: "Provisioning through Google and the OUs — within five minutes, we were ready to go."

A cloud-based solution was another major win for the district. Without the need for onsite equipment, Ripon’s IT team could breathe easier: "We don’t have to worry about replacing equipment here. I don’t have to fret about the network infrastructure equipment when it comes to GoGuardian and filtering. It’s just one more thing off my plate."

Travis highlighted the flexibility of the system, particularly the ability to customize student access based on grade levels. "Having Custom Groups where we can place students until they are using their technology more appropriately has been great," he said. "It reinforces the responsible use of technology within the district." At the same time, Custom Groups also offer opportunities like allowing access to specific websites for after-school programs such as esports, giving students a chance to engage with technology in a structured and purposeful way.

Actionable insights at your fingertips

The reporting and tracking features were another game-changer. With GoGuardian, Ripon gained access to detailed insights into student activity, something they had long been missing. "We get more detailed reporting that includes the sites they visited, YouTube videos they search for, items being flagged and blocked — each one of them separate," Travis noted.

GoGuardian Admin allows Travis to easily track blocked sites and identify potential issues, making it simpler to resolve problems when they arise. "We can determine which sites are being misused or shouldn’t be available to access," he said. With the Filtering Simulator, it’s easier than ever to investigate why certain sites are blocked or allowed. "I can pull a URL into the filter simulator and figure out what’s going on," Travis added. This tool has been invaluable for fine-tuning the district’s filtering policies.

Continuous improvement and forward-thinking features

When it comes to product updates, Travis appreciates how GoGuardian continuously evolves to meet emerging needs. "The YouTube filtering and some of the updates [GoGuardian] did with that and some of the settings we have, I really like that," he said. One particularly useful feature is Smart Alerts, which can be assigned directly to principals or staff so they can act on potential issues without having to go through Travis. "They get those right away so they can decide immediately if a student shouldn’t have access to the website," Travis noted.

GoGuardian’s proactive approach to emerging technologies also stands out. The AI filtering capabilities have become a point of focus, especially with the increasing use of AI tools by students. "AI is a new thing for us to try to figure out," Travis explained. With GoGuardian, Ripon has been able to experiment and adapt its policies to ensure students are using AI tools appropriately.

GoGuardian support: Always there when you need it

One of the aspects of GoGuardian that Travis values most is tech support. "I like being able to work on about 10 things at once, so being able to have a conversation with support is a lifesaver," Travis shared. The flexibility of being able to solve problems while managing other tasks is a major advantage, especially in a smaller district like Ripon.

"[The GoGuardian customer support team] reaches out at just the right time, and they’ve been so helpful." The district’s ability to bundle additional services, like GoGuardian Beacon, was another key benefit, especially given the growing importance of mental health in schools.

With 24/7 live monitoring of student activity, Ripon Area School District can feel confident its catching important issues before they escalate. "Having someone monitor it so we don’t have to worry in the middle of the night has been incredibly helpful," Travis said. This level of support, combined with the ability to proactively address concerns, allows Ripon to route critical matters to the appropriate team for further management, ensuring the IT team can focus on its core responsibilities.

Looking ahead

For Ripon Area School District, GoGuardian Admin has proven to be a game-changer, offering a flexible, efficient, and comprehensive solution that saves time and helps the team focus on other important tasks. Travis summed it up perfectly: "It really does make our jobs more efficient.”

With GoGuardian, Ripon has not only streamlined its processes but has also gained peace of mind, knowing that it can focus on what truly matters — providing students and staff with the best possible technology experience.

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