What happens when IT leaders have to choose between safety and innovation? In New Jersey, one teacher proved that the biggest obstacles to transformation often come from inside our own departments.  Chris Aviles started Garden State eSports during COVID with borrowed laptops and a spreadsheet. Today, it's the largest scholastic eSports league in the country, serving 12,000 students across 400+ schools—and it just became New Jersey's first new varsity activity in 20 years.  In this episode, you'll discover:  How eSports went from basement hobby to legitimate varsity activity with scholarships and college recruiting  Why IT departments are now the biggest barrier to program launches (and how to overcome security concerns safely)  The student success stories that prove inclusive competition changes lives  How schools are turning gaming computers into dual-purpose STEM labs that drive attendance and grades  Chris Aviles, Founder of Garden State eSports, joins host Ed McNamara along with SHI's Jeff Prudente to reveal how this movement is opening doors for students who never participated in school activities before—including 25% with IEPs or autism spectrum diagnoses.  Guest: Chris Aviles, Founder & Executive Director, Garden State eSports Also Featuring: Jeff Prudente, Mobility Manager, SHI International  Learn more: shi.com/esports #eSports #EdTech #Innovation #DigitalTransformation #STEMEducation #InclusiveEducation #SchoolTechnology #GamingForGood    Show Notes & Resources  Organizations & Programs:  Garden State eSports - New Jersey's official scholastic eSports league  SHI eSports Solutions - Equipment, infrastructure, and program support  Interstate Scholastic eSports Alliance - National network spanning 20+ states  Contact: esports@shi.com  Resources for Schools:  Garden State eSports Varsity Certification Program  SHI eSports IT Infrastructure Guide  Equipment recommendations and setup best practices  Network security guidance for school IT departments  Timeline:  00:01:00 - Introduction to eSports growth and impact  00:02:00 - Jeff Prudente on early days of NJ eSports partnership with SHI  00:08:00 - Chris Aviles' origin story and COVID catalyst  00:13:00 - How eSports became a varsity activity (not sport)  00:16:00 - Biggest misconceptions: IT departments as unexpected barriers  00:21:00 - What it's like to attend an eSports championship event  00:26:00 - The critical role of teacher-coaches  00:32:00 - Student success stories: Tyler Sims and Jack's journeys  00:40:00 - How to launch a program in your school  Guest Bios: Chris Aviles is a 17-year teaching veteran and founder of Garden State eSports, which has grown from 100 schools during COVID to become the largest scholastic eSports league in the United States. Under his leadership, New Jersey became the first state to recognize eSports as an official varsity activity.  Jeff Prudente is SHI International's Mobility Manager for Intel and Windows devices. A lifelong gamer and former competitive Halo player, Jeff helped pioneer SHI's eSports education initiative and has been instrumental in bringing programs to school districts nationwide—from 5-computer setups to hundred-workstation arenas.