Mrs. Andrea Drinkwine accepted a position as Software Support and Database Specialist at Haverford in July 2013. However, her journey at the school started even before then.
“Before I started working here, I already knew what a special place this was, as my son is a Haverford graduate,” Mrs. Drinkwine said.
Before Haverford, Mrs. Drinkwine taught and worked in technology in different public and private schools. After working as the Software Support and Database Specialist for one year, she became the Director of Information and Instructional Technology.
“While I will miss the daily challenges, what I’ll miss most are the people.”
Mrs. Andrea Drinkwine
Mrs. Drinkwine’s main responsibility was to implement Haverford’s Master Educational Technology Plan, which involved overseeing all aspects of the school’s technology—planning, coordinating, and managing infrastructure and software systems, supporting teaching and learning, and facilitating day-to-day school operations. With such a large role, each day offered a unique experience.
“No two days were ever the same, which I really enjoyed,” Mrs. Drinkwine said. “One moment I might be troubleshooting a system issue, the next I could be researching new edtech tools or developing long-term strategic plans.”
Her work required both creative and technical skills.
“There were two sides: the big-picture vision and the hands-on problem solving,” she said.
Throughout her tenure, Mrs. Drinkwine was involved in a wide range of initiatives that affected nearly every aspect of the school, many of which are used daily by students and faculty alike.
“I was involved in launching the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program to the upper school; rolling out the Canvas Learning Management System, Grade Guardian, and Clevertouch interactive panels; the adoption of educational tools like Microsoft 365, Adobe Creative Cloud, Kami, Padlet, Minecraft and more; and the adoption and school-wide implementation of the Veracross Student Information System this past school year,” Mrs. Drinkwine said.
She was also involved in more complex campus-wide technology improvements.
“I managed the upgrade of the campus-wide network infrastructure—including underground fiber, new switches, wireless access points, and modern management systems—as well as the implementation of a new Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone system, a digital signage solution, updated paging and security systems, and installation of new security cameras,” Mrs. Drinkwine said.
Mrs. Drinkwine, working with her colleagues in the IT department, has helped modernize Haverford’s technology infrastructure and set it up for the future.
“I feel like we’ve positioned Haverford’s technology infrastructure to support a technology-enabled educational environment well into the future,” Mrs. Drinkwine said. “We also established Haverford’s Instructional Technology Plan, Digital Literacy Standards, and more.”
Together with her team, she has built a scalable and reliable technology infrastructure that enhances communication and collaboration, streamlines operations and data management, and fosters innovation in teaching and learning–effectively preparing students for success in a rapidly changing technological world.
“This infrastructure also played a major part in allowing the school to sustain teaching and operations during the peak of COVID-19,” she said.
Mrs. Drinkwine enjoys the challenges and lessons that come with her job.
“Working closely with faculty, staff and students, my team and I have understood their needs and have solved countless problems,” Mrs. Drinkwine said. “While it has been very challenging due to the constant learning and dynamic nature of driving innovation through technology, it has taught me the value of skills like patience, flexibility, and listening. Every challenge is a new opportunity to grow.”
She also takes great satisfaction in seeing students and faculty benefit from using technology.
“Some of my most meaningful moments of my time here have been watching how technology can truly transform the learning experience. I especially remember times when a teacher tried a new tool for the first time, or when students would dive into a tech-based project and become completely immersed,” Mrs. Drinkwine said. “Those ‘a-ha’ moments in which someone discovers a new way to teach, learn, or connect, truly made the work feel worthwhile.”
Reflecting on her retirement, Mrs. Drinkwine believes she will miss the people at Haverford most.
“While I will miss the daily challenges, what I’ll miss most are the people. The relationships I’ve built and the strong sense of community here have been truly special,” she said.
Mrs. Drinkwine looks forward to the freedoms that follow retirement, but also hopes to continue staying connected with technological developments.
“I’m excited for some well-deserved rest and travel, and especially excited to be able to spend more time with my five grandchildren,” she said. “Since educational technology and data management have always been passions of mine, I may also do some consulting work—just enough to stay engaged in the field.”
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