Auburn School Department, based in one of Maine’s largest cities, serves 3,400 students across six elementary schools, a middle school, a high school, and an alternative school. For Technology Director Peter Robinson, technology has always been a passion. With 32 years in education, he’s seen firsthand how the right tools can transform learning.
Challenge
Before implementing ClassLink, Auburn relied on a patchwork system for managing student accounts and digital access. Setting up student logins was a time-consuming, manual process that required hand-exporting data, importing it into Google, and manually adding new students as they enrolled. Account management was unreliable, often requiring calls to customer support to troubleshoot issues. Teachers juggled multiple logins for their students, creating frustration and lost teaching time. On the rostering side, every vendor required different formats, forcing Peter and his team to reinvent the process each time. Without centralized control, ensuring data security and compliance with student privacy laws was a constant concern.
Solution
Auburn turned to ClassLink for a comprehensive solution. With LaunchPad, students and teachers gained a single, convenient access point for all educational resources. Roster Server streamlined rostering by integrating directly with PowerSchool, allowing Peter to configure and securely deliver student data to vendors with precision. The Department could now customize exports for each vendor, ensuring they received only the necessary information. OneSync automated the creation of Google accounts, ensuring that new students had login credentials ready the next day. ClassLink’s strong security controls provided Auburn with detailed oversight of what data vendors received, ensuring student privacy and compliance.
Results
With ClassLink, Auburn has dramatically improved efficiency, security, and ease of access. Teachers no longer have to track multiple passwords for their students, freeing up valuable instructional time. IT staff spend significantly less time troubleshooting login issues and managing vendor integrations. Roster Server serves as a centralized hub for student data, eliminating redundant workflows and reducing errors. OneSync ensures accounts are created automatically, minimizing delays for new students. When Peter has needed support, whether for troubleshooting or implementing a new feature, ClassLink has been incredibly responsive—he recalls submitting a request and having a resolution in place by the next day. Beyond the technology, Peter enjoys the ClassLink Meetups, where he learns from other users who approach challenges in different ways, making it a valuable space for professional growth and collaboration.
“We can’t live without ClassLink. It’s our go-to!"