A Carmel Graduate Gives Back

Come October, Chris DeChent will have worked in the Carmel Schools for 20 years. But that anniversary does not even include the time he worked in the district before graduating from Carmel High School in 2004.  

DeChent, the Information Systems Technician, started helping out with district technology when he was in Carmel High School. By tenth grade he had a summer internship in the IT department and, later, an after-school job.  

“In high school I was always the student ready to jump in and help the teacher if the computer had a problem or the projector wasn’t working,” DeChent said. “I enjoyed building computers, understanding how they worked, and figuring out how to repair them. My name became known to the IT department and they let me help out. I started here full time after graduation.” 

DeChent credits his teachers with encouraging his interests and talents.    

“Carmel schools opened a door for me,” DeChent said. “The technology teachers in the middle school at the time – Mr. Naso and Mr. Diamond – first sparked my interest in technology. They were great teachers, and they made me want to explore more. Then the high school technology and business department teachers pushed my interest even further. I credit Carmel teachers, administrators, and staff with helping me succeed.”  

DeChent’s first computer lab was in fourth grade and his family did not get a personal computer until he was a high school freshman.  

Times have changed. Now every student in the Carmel Central School District gets a device to use starting in kindergarten. By the time they leave school, Carmel students have computer skills that prepare them for business and academic success, and many graduate with college credits in high-level computer engineering courses.  

DeChent, who went to flight school after high school, holds a commercial pilot and flight instructor certificate. He earned IT certifications after attending NY Business Insitute. DeChent is proud of the progress the district has made. 

“When I walk down a school hallway and see students in their classrooms communicating and collaborating within Microsoft Teams or watching a teacher present a lesson using the technology that I helped to implement, it feels very rewarding,” DeChent said. “Our department has a hand in so many things that affect students. From repairing student devices and managing accounts, to supporting educational applications, we manage the student information system and maintain networks that enable students to connect to the internet. This department helps keep the schools running. I am so proud to serve the school district that gave me so much.”