From Chaos to Control: How FileWave Transformed IT at Talladega Schools

A Non-Traditional Path to IT Leadership

Matt Fuller’s journey into the world of IT wasn’t by the book—and that’s exactly what makes his story so compelling. With a degree in history, Fuller never imagined he’d one day be responsible for managing the entire IT infrastructure at Talladega City Schools in Alabama. But a curious mind, hands-on experience, and a willingness to learn put him on a path that eventually led him to oversee the district’s technology across four schools and a career tech center.

“I’ve been blessed to do this for over 20 years,” Fuller said. “I try to be a problem solver who knows a little bit about computers.”

His background includes nearly two decades at the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind, where he managed IT for eight regional centers and five campuses. But with a growing family and an opportunity to serve closer to home, Fuller made the switch to Talladega City Schools—a district of 1,600 students—and soon realized he had a massive challenge ahead.

“When I arrived, half the computers weren’t even on the domain. We had Walmart routers in classrooms doing Wi-Fi,” Fuller recalled. “Everything was manual. If someone wanted Microsoft Office, they had to wait for me to drive over and install it.”

From Skepticism to Must-Have

Initially hesitant, Fuller admits he was skeptical when first introduced to FileWave. “Honestly, my first thought was—it’s expensive,” he said. “We were using Mosyle for our 125 iPads at the time, and that seemed good enough.” But a cybersecurity grant from the state provided him with extra budget—just enough to explore new options. After persistent outreach from a regional partner, Fuller finally sat in on a demo.

“Probably 10 minutes into that presentation, I said to myself, ‘I want to buy this stuff,’” Fuller said. “Since then, there hasn’t been a day I don’t use FileWave.”

The Windows side of the platform is equally essential. “The integration with Active Directory and software deployment tools makes life so much easier. We use FileWave to refresh labs, automate login profiles, and remove old antivirus software when switching vendors. It’s our Swiss Army knife.”

The moment he started onboarding with FileWave, Fuller found himself rapidly unlocking its potential—from managing iPads to pushing out software updates across hundreds of Windows devices. “Ever since we bought it, we’ve just kept finding more uses for it,” he said. “I tell people all the time—take everything else, but don’t take away my FileWave.”

Managing a District with Two People—and Zero Downtime

Talladega City Schools operates with just two people in its IT department. But thanks to FileWave, Fuller says the team functions as if it were double the size. “FileWave does at a fraction of the cost what it would take three or four full-time techs to do,” he explained. “I can push out Microsoft Office to 100 laptops in a couple of minutes. Think about how long that would take manually.”

One of the most recent success stories came during a software upgrade for their district’s financial system. “They told me I had a month to get a security update installed across the district. I told them, ‘Give me 30 minutes.’ It was done the same afternoon.”

Even the district’s onboarding strategy for FileWave was seamless. “We didn’t try to eat the whole elephant at once. We started with iPads, spent a few months mastering that, then moved to Windows,” said Fuller. “It probably took a full year to be completely self-sufficient, but that’s because I wanted to learn it the right way.”

The Features That Made the Biggest Difference

When asked what feature he couldn’t live without, Fuller didn’t hesitate: “The iOS management is crucial. Every iPad in our system goes through FileWave. We have age-based app configurations, and staff can access everything they need through the FileWave kiosk. They can’t break it—and I don’t have to log into each device.”

Advice to Other School Districts

Fuller is passionate about helping other districts get the most out of limited IT resources. “If you’re considering FileWave, just buy it. You’re dumb not to,” he said. “It’s going to save you money. It’s going to save you time. It’s like hiring two extra technicians.”

He also emphasizes that FileWave isn’t just a plug-and-play tool—it’s something you grow with. “There is a small learning curve, but you have to ignore the daily noise and commit to learning it. If you do that, it’ll be the best investment you make.”

He shares FileWave regularly in listservs, at regional IT events, and through informal referrals. “I tell everyone in Alabama to buy it. We did a multi-year deal so I wouldn’t have to worry about losing FileWave if funding changed.”

And if you’re still unsure? Fuller has one last offer: “If you’ve got someone on the fence, give them my number. I’ll talk to them personally. I’m that sold on it.”