Systems Administration | Device Management | Microsoft Cloud | Automation

Introduction

Hello!

My name is Brady Widener, and I'm a systems administrator based in Maryville, TN with seven years supporting school districts. This website serves as a resume and portfolio for myself, to document my experiences and expertise and turning it into a applicable tech project. Throughout this website you will see I have a strong passion for technology and learning. My expertise revolve around System Administration, Device Management, Cloud Technologies, and Automation. Thank you for taking the time to learn about me and my career.

With Gratitude,
- Brady Widener

Email me Call (865) 964-1787 Download resume

8+ yrs

K-12 IT experience

10,000+

Devices under management

6,500+

End users supported

What I do

Microsoft 365 administration
Entra ID identity & access
Intune & Mosyle Device Management
PowerShell, Bash, and Python Automations
Device compliance & security baselines
Virtualization (Hyper-V, VMware, Proxmox)
Other duties as assigned

Achievements

Throughout my career, I've been fortunate enough to be honored with some awards and have recieved great opportunities as well.

            Inducted into the PDQ System Adminsitrator Hall of Fame in 2026
Awarded the 'Technology Support Execllence Award' of 2025 from the Tennessee Educational Technology Association
Featured on four seperate occasions in the popular 'Intune Newsletter' by Microsoft MVP, Andrew Taylor
Spoke about API Fundamentals to K12 Technology Leaders at TETC 2024
CompTIA A+
CompTIA Network+
CompTIA Security+
Microsoft AZ-900 (Azure Cloud Fundamentals)
Microsoft MD-102 (Intune Endpoint Administrator)

          

Experience

System Administrator Jul 2023 - Present

Maryville City Schools

Leading modernization across Microsoft 365, Entra ID, and Intune; automating provisioning with Autopilot, policies, and app delivery.
Spearheaded our transition from Windows to Apple, implementing the entire infrastructure to continue operations on iPads and Macs
Hardening identity and devices with compliance baselines while improving day-to-day experience for staff and students.
Supporting VMware and Hyper-V server infrastructure and daily operations for nine schools.

Lead Technician Aug 2021 - Jul 2023

Maryville City Schools

Provided top-level technical support for nine schools and guided technicians through escalations.
Managed MDM servers and Azure infrastructure during the transition to cloud identity services.
Coordinated device lifecycle work and troubleshooting to keep classrooms moving.

Head Elementary Technician Nov 2019 - Aug 2021

Maryville City Schools

Led support for three elementary schools' one-to-one iPad program using FileWave MDM.
Trained and guided three assistants on device workflows, repairs, and support playbooks.
Maintained inventory and repair processes to keep classrooms running smoothly.

Traveling Technician Aug 2019 - Nov 2019

Central Technologies

Delivered third-party technology support across 28 Sevier County schools.
Coordinated pickup/drop-off of repair devices and resolved on-site issues quickly.
Handled a wide range of network and device issues in diverse school environments.

IT Technician Jun 2017 - Aug 2019

Maryville City Schools

Re-imaged devices, troubleshot issues, and supported the iReach team during deployments.
Worked with IT staff and volunteers through temporary roles and community service.
Helped prepare labs and classrooms for rollouts, patching, and upgrades.

EdTech IRL

Featured articles and walkthroughs.

Recent posts with quick takeaways and visuals from EdTechIRL.com.

App Packaging 101 on MacOS

A look under the hood of .pkg installers and how to bend them to your needs, covering pkgutil, install receipts and .bom files, and GUI helpers like Suspicious Package and Packages. It also breaks down what to do when a vendor hands you a .dmg or .app instead of a package.

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Tools for your K12 MacAdmin Toolbelt

A field-tested roundup of Mac administration tools for school districts, from profile and package inspectors to wallpaper enforcement, package building, and virtualization. Each pick includes where to get it and the K-12 problem it actually solves.

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Zero Touch USB Imaging - New and Improved in 2025

A refreshed zero-touch USB imaging workflow that replaces the older WinPE method with a faster, more customizable process. It walks through building the drive, imaging with FFU, and tuning apps, drivers, and enrollment for K-12 rollouts.

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Advanced Tips and Tricks for Win32 Application Packaging in Intune

Practical guidance for leveling up Win32 packaging in Intune with a focus on making installs more reliable. The post highlights real-world troubleshooting strategies and workflow improvements for stubborn apps.

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RebootRemind: A custom application to remind your Intune users to reboot

A custom reboot reminder tool built for environments where standard PowerShell-based prompts are blocked. It covers the why, the UX, and how to deploy the app through Intune to reduce uptime-related tickets.

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Getting started with Postman

A friendly entry point to using APIs without writing code, centered on Postman. It covers core concepts, making requests, and why Postman is a great on-ramp for IT workflows.

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Device Logs for Anything and Everything using Intune and Logspace Analytics

A template-driven approach for capturing custom device data and sending it to Logspace Analytics. The article shows how to centralize telemetry for flexible KQL queries and better fleet insights.

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Getting Graphy with Grafana

An approachable introduction to Grafana for folks who find it intimidating at first. It explains what Grafana does, how dashboards come together, and how to get started.

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Level Up: Creating a Professional IT Resume Website and Email Address

A step-by-step guide to building and hosting a polished resume website, plus setting up a professional email address. It frames the project as a practical skill builder and a personal branding win.

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Mass Deployment of AutoPilot From Scratch (Zero Touch USB - Updated for 2023)

An end-to-end walkthrough for creating a zero-touch USB that wipes, installs Windows, provisions, and enrolls devices into Autopilot. It includes update notes and context on how the process evolved.

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Let's talk

Based in Maryville, TN - serving K-12 teams.

If you're looking for a hands-on systems admin to modernize Microsoft cloud services, automate workflows, and support your schools, I'm ready to help.

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