LCS Head of Information Technology Jeff B.

In this digital age, a strong understanding of technology is a critical skill for LCS graduates. THP has invested in LCS’s technology capabilities for over two decades, annually enhancing the school’s internet connectivity and upgrading its computer lab. HPN sat down with Jeff B., an LCS 2012 graduate and the school’s Head of Information Technology, to discuss the most recent improvements and how he hopes to bolster LCS’s technology capabilities for the future.

HPN: What does your position entail?

Jeff: I head the IT Department at Louverture Cleary School outside of Port-au-Prince. I manage the school’s technology infrastructure and make sure everything is running properly.

HPN: What upgrades have been made to LCS’s IT Department in the last year or so?

Jeff: We upgraded our network service by switching to a fiber optic network, which is much faster than our old system. The improved internet service helps our employees communicate faster and has also helped teachers and students with their ability to do research.

We also updated our computer lab. The old system was very slow, the software was old, there were not enough stations, and none of the computers were hooked up to the internet. Now, all of the computers are independent, which makes them much faster and they are connected to the internet.

HPN: What is your vision for LCS’s computer curriculum?

Jeff: For a lot of students, including myself, coming to LCS is the first time they get the chance to work on a computer. I hope to implement a good programming curriculum, mostly teaching HTML, so they can create web pages.

HPN: How did you get started working in IT and why are you interested in it?

Jeff: My interest in IT began because my brother studied IT in school. I was always amazed by his work and said to myself, “This is what I am going to do when I graduate high school.”

I was afraid I would not finish my education like my brother did not. He had to stop because my family couldn't afford to pay his college tuition. My scholarship from LCS made a big impact. I am always thinking about how I can help Haiti develop as a country and saw that a better IT infrastructure is an important part of that growth.

HPN: What advice would you give to an LCS graduate who wants to pursue a career in IT?

Jeff: I would say go for it, because Haiti cannot develop without technology. I know it's going to be hard work, but we are Louverturians. We are made for hard work and for making a change.