760-367-9191 Ext 4339

Information Technology

Meet Our Team

Troy Slayden - Director of Information Technology

“Far better to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure.. Than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victor nor defeat.” - Theodore Roosevelt

I am an alumni of Yucca Valley High School and a product of Morongo Unified School District. I attended our local Copper Mountain Community College before obtaining 2 BA degrees from CSUSB. I have over 20 years of experience working in Information Technology. I started my career working for a technology consulting company, created my own consulting company, and worked for state and local government before being employed by MUSD as the first District’s IT Director. I then had the amazing opportunity to build this very diversely talented team that I am very thankful for and proud of. Being raised in this area as a teenager I have been faced with many of the same challenges as our District’s students. After starting my career I had always desired the opportunity to work in a position that has potential to positively impact to this community.

Dakota Hudson - SIS Administrator

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.” – Aristotle

I started my academic career in the Morongo Basin and I know the difficulties that our students face. This understanding brought me back to Morongo USD to contribute my 15+ years of IT experience in a way that is meaningful to our community. Making data work for students is my primary goal. I help teachers and administrators by facilitating data fidelity allowing for real-time, data-informed decisions that positively impact student success. Only through effective teachers and accurate data can we create a culture of excellence.

Glenn Williams - Information System Specialist

I grew up in Cincinnati Ohio. Served fifteen years in the Marine Corps and traveled the world thanks to Uncle Sam. I was stationed at the Combat Center for most of my time in the Marines. Part of my time in I flew the Pioneer Remotely Piloted Vehicle and fly remote control planes as a hobby. “Take offs are optional. Landings are mandatory”. I’ve worked mostly in the IT field but have worked on base in the G-6 for a couple of years. It’s nice to see the students and staff use the technology that we have in place and to see the students learn the different applications that is offered that they will use after they graduate high school.

Grant Marshall - Network Specialist

I was born in Los Angeles but I grew up in the small town of St. Charles, IL, about 40 miles west of Chicago. That’s where I gained my passion for all things technology and earned a BS in Computer Information Systems from DeVry University. Throughout my IT career, I’ve worked in various help desk and tech support roles. I’ve been with MUSD since March of 2017. It’s exciting to work in an ever-changing industry and also rewarding knowing the work I’m doing is positively affecting students and staff in my community.

Luz Acosta - I.T. Administrative Assistant

I have lived here in California pretty much my whole life… I grew up in Rancho Cucamonga and had a spark and patience for babysitting children at a young age. I started a career in the Hospitality Industry in 2003, I have over 12 years of experience, and I’ve loved serving others while being part of opening teams and trainee of staff for different high-end resorts around Southern California.

Which later led me to meeting a Marine and getting married in 2005, becoming a proud EOD wife, and a mom of 2 kids has been a blessing! We moved around different places… That gave me the opportunity to obtain a diploma for Early Childhood Development while working at a CDC in NC, I have always had a passion for working with kids. We got back for the 2^nd time here in the desert late 2016. I started working for MUSD in 2017 and have loved every minute of it, teaching and being part of student’s life’s and assisting teachers / staff has been a lot of fun. Now I am part of IT and look forward on continuing to grow professionally and as an individual!!

John Snell - I.T. Support Specialist

I was born and raised in Utah, but served out here with 3rd Bn 7th Marines at the Combat Center in the 90's. I have a BA in Illustration & Graphic Design from Southern Utah University. I started in technology installing DSL connections and handling customer issues at Central Utah Telephone/Cut.Net. From that point on, dealing with broken technology has been a huge part of my career. For some of us, it's been a long ride from the early days of Macintoshes, DOS and Windows 3.1, to all of the amazing possibilities we have today. I've only been with Morongo Unified School District for a few years, but it has been a huge learning experience working with the teachers and staff at all the schools. Please, keep breaking stuff, because we never get tired of learning new things!

Shaun Lowe - I.T. Support Specialist

I've always lived in small desert communities. Growing up in Barstow, I moved to Twentynine Palms in '99. I attended TPHS and started working in the IT field with a local business in 2002 where I earned my A+ certification. I joined the MUSD IT department in April 2013. It's been a great experience supporting the same schools - and in some cases even the same people - I was familiar with when I was a student. It's been exciting watching how much the technology base of every single site in the district has developed and expanded, and even more so having been a part of it. And I look forward to supporting the district and expanding my own knowledge along with the expanding technology base of the sites, students and employees I support on a daily basis.

Sean Kudebeh - I.T. Support Specialist

I was raised right here in the Morongo Basin and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’ve had an interest in Technology from a young age and as a child my father and I would spend hours on the computer together. After high school I attended CMC for my AS in Computer Science, and made some money tutoring middle-aged and elderly students about computers. It was then that I learned how rewarding IT work can be and I decided that was the career I wanted. Since then I’ve worked for the CMC IT Department as a student worker and I spent two years managing the computers at Palm Vista Elementary. Working in IT has become a dream come true, not only do I get to help the fine people of my hometown but I get paid to do it! I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Michael Hardwick - I.T. Support Specialist

I was born and raised in St. Louis, Mo. I have always been interested in how things work and how to integrate different technologies. I have 35+ years of IT experience. I started my Technology career in Kansas City, Mo. In 1985. I have worked in many IT arenas. This includes Credit Unions, Insurance Testing Laboratories, Investment Banking, Small Technology companies, Biotech companies, Healthcare, and Education. I thrive on overcoming technical challenges and making the end user experience as streamline as possible. I am an avid Audiophile. I enjoy using vintage tube audio equipment for my listening pleasure. I enjoy many music genres. However, my favorite is Jazz. Moving to Yucca Valley has been the best decision ever. The weather and the quiet was key. I enjoy working for MUSD. I respect teachers a great deal. I truly understand the challenges of teaching in a diverse culture. It is rewarding knowing that my part of the education processes helps make our end users technology experience easier so they can focus on teaching our students.

Julia Diliberto - Student Information System Tech

We’ve lived in the desert for 18 years and raised our 4 boys here. I have a BA in Communication Studies from UCLA and worked as a children’s librarian and in an elementary school office before finishing a BS in Computer Science and Information Technology and landing here at MUSD. I want to use technology to help our district shine, in and out of the classroom. While I don’t work directly with kids anymore, I am convinced that not a single moment spent serving our students is wasted, so I look forward to supporting our staff in this mission.

Mark Burda - Student Information System Tech

I was born in raised in the Inland Empire. Coming in as new addition to MUSD, I bring over 10+ years’ experience in Staff Training and Development from many different fields that include: Hospitality & Restaurants, Private/Public Education, and my favorite Finance. Earlier in my career, I was a Trainer Manager for one of the country’s largest tax preparation firms, training and certifying over 100 tax preparers during my tenure, eventually leading me to establish my own tax preparation business to operate. In the realm of education, I have assisted firms with major program client management and billing system conversions by training therapists and teachers in user interfaces for virtual visits, program development, and program billing. I have also been part of Student Information System conversions at the college level by providing financial aid consoling, contract management, and was an incoming freshman student advocate assisting with orientations and adjustment to new student life on campuses. I am passionate about serving those who serve, and even more so excited about providing opportunities to our community’s students.

SITE TECHS

West End Support -

Vacant ( LES, YMES and JTES)
Daniele Stehle (FHES and ONES)
Wyatt Billington (BRHS, LCMS, SACW)
Ryan Fauls (YVHS)
Melanie Griffith (MVES)
Leia Wilke (Acce West, YMES and YVES)

East End Support

Maurice Williams (TPHS and PVES)
Vadim Kolosov (PVES)
Justin Gray (OES and CES)
Trevor Vallo (TPJH and TPES)