Change is constant – and if you want verification, just ask Mike Memory.
Memory, the director of technology at Badin High School, deals with tech changes every day. He and his staff of two first-rate assistants work hard to keep up with the pace.
“We have to be ready to change at a moment’s notice,” said Memory, who has been with Badin since July of 2010. “Windows and all of the applications that we use in our technology are frequently updated. They don’t send you an email letting you know that they’re ruining your life by changing things – they just do it.”
In fact, Memory and his department are preparing to upgrade the Windows system on every computer in the school this summer – a heavy lift since Memory noted that there are some 1,100 computers affiliated with the Catholic high school on New London Road in Hamilton.
“Being in charge of all things technology in 2025 is a daunting task,” Badin Principal Patrick Keating said, “but Mike Memory does so graciously and puts all of his energy into ensuring that students, faculty and staff are supported.”
“Mike is someone who truly lives out our motto of Serving God, Serving Others,” Keating added. “He is a man with an incredible faith and he leads with his heart, always putting the needs of others before himself. Whether it is his constant support, his great jokes, or his caring heart, Mike continues to make a difference at Badin.”
Memory, age 66, was in on the ground floor of the computer age in education. The Colerain High School graduate earned his degree from the University of Cincinnati – taking numerous Programming and Engineering classes -- and worked for Procter & Gamble and other organizations before landing at BHS.
“The earliest computer I had was a calculator,” Memory recalled. “We went from slide rules to calculators in our high school Physics class. As for repairing computers, I like to take things apart and see what makes them work. Break them down, see how to make them better – I’ve always been a troubleshooter at heart.”
When Memory came to Badin, the school was embracing the digital age for students with iPods for freshmen and sophomores. “We didn’t even have wireless in the building when I got here,” he said. In December of 2011, the school announced that every student would have an iPad for the 2011-12 school year.
“Technology is kind of like the Big Bang Theory,” Memory said. “It’s just been an explosion of new ideas. We’ve since transitioned from iPads to laptops for all of the students.”
Asked about dealing with the tech needs of more than 700 students on a daily basis, Memory said, “It’s a difficult balance between trying to rescue them and trying to give them responsibility. I feel for them – they have a lot on their plate. They’re extremely busy. We try to be there for them; to advocate for them; to treat them like the adults they want to be seen as.”
Cyber security is an ongoing concern within schools and other non-profits.
“The one constant is the human element,” Memory said. “It’s always the weakest link in Cyber security. Bad guys target schools, hospitals and libraries – they have fewer updated protections and fewer IT resources than most businesses. Everything runs off computers these days – there’s no manual mode anymore.”
Memory said you always just have to be ready to adjust – as he and full-time tech assistants Eric Wurzbacher and Christian Prewitt are on a daily basis.
“Like anything else, as soon as you have a plan in place and have put it to paper, things change,” Memory remarked. “You have to be willing to go with the flow and adjust to any changes.
“We call the frustrations, ‘challenges’,” he added with a smile. “We have a good team in place right now to address most problems and issues pretty quickly. Students adapt easily. They gravitate to the tools that work the best for them.”
Memory – married for 38 years to his wife, Cindy; they have three children -- noted that the biggest highlight during his now 15 years at Badin came when Cincinnati Archbishop Dennis Schnurr journeyed to the school in January 2014 to broadcast the annual student Question-and-Answer webcast at the start of Catholic Schools Week. Memory had to make sure the tech portion of the event went smoothly – which it did.
“Throughout my tenure, I have always had strong support from the administration for our technology program,” Memory said. “We could never have reached the point where we are today without their constant support of technology – and of technology improvement.”
Looking at Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other changes down the road, Memory said, “We’ll always need computers. The formats keep changing. AI is still in its infancy, but it can be a valuable tool. Kind of like autopilot for a car.”