TOLEDO, Ohio — Robert Gulick, the director of technology for Washington Local Schools, has worked in education for 30 years. He's seen technology, and how students use it to learn, continue to evolve.
"As my career progressed and the use of technology progressed it became obvious that we needed to have the skills in-house to be able to quickly respond to situations," Gulick said.
So, he signed up for training to become a forensic examiner, funded by the WLS technology department. In the spring of 2022, he participated in "a five-month forensic boot camp" in Florida, where he received a three-year certificate in cyber protection from the International Association of Computer Investigative Specialists.
But how does his certification actually help him in his daily duties? The size of the WLS district necessitates multiple people specializing in different areas of technology.
"With our size, we realized we needed to take a proactive look at cyber security and cyber investigations," Gulick said.
The cyber protection training expanded on Gulick's existing computer science skills. Now, he has a skill set that can help him investigate when students, faculty or staff display troubling behavior online.
And if an investigation requires involvement from local law enforcement, Gulick said he can assist them as well. For example, in the case of cyber threats, violent crime or a child going missing, Gulick said he'll be able to provide police with evidence, such as warning signs posted online.
The Toledo Police Department representatives say any information is welcome and although they have their own forensic examination process that typically analyzes firearms, shell casings and projectiles, Gulick now offers different expertise that can be valuable.