K12 Tech Talk

Join Josh, Chris, and Mark for Episode 219! We dive into the latest news, including the State of Maine's Yubikey deployment, the reintroduction of KOSA, and Google's Gemini and NotebookLM now available for K12. Plus, we'll cover the ongoing E-rate decision. Our main topic for this episode: How are you deploying AI in your district now that major LLMs are available for K12? We'll discuss what districts should consider before turning on Gemini or CoPilot, whether to deploy to all grades, and the necessity of having an AI policy in place. Don't miss this essential discussion for K12 tech leaders! For questions, email us at info@k12techtalkpodcast.com. 00:00:00-Intro 00:06:00-Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) 00:09:21-Gemini is now K-12 00:11:26-MFA for Maine! 00:19:12-Enabling AI for all ages -------------------- Eaton - What does an IT pro do? A children's book. K12 IT pros like you have been sharing Eaton's What does an IT pro do? children's book with their school's teachers and libraries. Inspire tiny IT pros interest in STEM with Eaton's first children's tale where Honey, the badger, teaches her classmates how an IT pro can be like a doctor, a detective, a teacher and so much more! Grab your free copy at https://forms.office.com/r/JPaKdQptjU. Eaton - Lower Kuskokwim School District Success Story Fortinet VIZOR VIZOR - Strafford R-VI (Missouri) Case Study Extreme Managed Methods -------------------- Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com OR info@k12techtalkpodcast.com Call us at 314-329-0363 Join the K12TechPro Community Buy some swag X @k12techtalkpod Facebook Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

On this week's episode, Chris and Josh discuss guest WiFi, in particular whether or not to offer it to students during the school day, new employees (training, accounts, and more), and tech dept vacation days. https://www.the74million.org/article/school-districts-unaware-boarddocs-software-published-their-private-files/ https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/critical-fortinet-flaws-now-exploited-in-qilin-ransomware-attacks/ -------------------- Eaton - What does an IT pro do? A children's book. K12 IT pros like you have been sharing Eaton's What does an IT pro do? children's book with their school's teachers and libraries. Inspire tiny IT pros interest in STEM with Eaton's first children's tale where Honey, the badger, teaches her classmates how an IT pro can be like a doctor, a detective, a teacher and so much more! Grab your free copy at https://forms.office.com/r/JPaKdQptjU.  Fortinet VIZOR Extreme Lightspeed -------------------- Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com OR info@k12techtalkpodcast.com Call us at 314-329-0363 Join the K12TechPro Community Buy some swag X @k12techtalkpod Facebook Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

On this week's episode, hosts Josh, Chris, and Mark discuss the Dept of Education's proposed budget and what the cuts could mean for K-12 education. Many of the programs may seem distant from our world but the trickle-down effects could be felt immediately for many districts. We also dive into some additional changes at the FCC as well as MS-ISAC, as districts are learning that some services will now have an annual fee. Our main topic this week is the RFP process - the good, the bad, and the ugly side of RFPs as well as how you can improve your RFPs with 5 simple tips. We break down our recommendations for your next RFP into this simple template that you can use to create a proposal that your vendors will want to respond to! https://docs.google.com/document/d/11435vbxeVSTWntTGFxTkzWlBatyEHlCfYEcmlgE6V4w/edit?usp=sharing   00:00:00-Introduction 00:11:30-More changes in the FCC and MS-ISAC 00:15:24-Dept of Ed's proposed budget 00:28:07-Writing a GOOD RFP -------------------- Eaton - What does an IT pro do? A children's book. K12 IT pros like you have been sharing Eaton's What does an IT pro do? children's book with their school's teachers and libraries. Inspire tiny IT pros interest in STEM with Eaton's first children's tale where Honey, the badger, teaches her classmates how an IT pro can be like a doctor, a detective, a teacher and so much more! Grab your free copy at https://forms.office.com/r/JPaKdQptjU.  Fortinet Prey - They are offering a 15% discount on the first year for customers referred by K12 Tech Talk! Visit https://preyproject.com/. NTP ManagedMethods -------------------- Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com OR info@k12techtalkpodcast.com Call us at 314-329-0363 Join the K12TechPro Community Buy some swag X @k12techtalkpod Facebook Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

Tune in for an engaging chat about the latest educational AI updates from Microsoft, which include new tools and changes, such as Microsoft co-pilot chat features for students aged 13 and up. The discussion also touches on the dynamics of summer school technology mishaps. The hosts also discuss how to handle students' tech misadventures, exploring the delicate balance between discipline and education, and the importance of communication between educators and tech-savvy students. k12sysadmin post we talk about https://dayofai.org/families/day-of-ai-common-sense-media-ai-literacy-toolkit-for-families/ - link Mark mentions https://help.lightspeedsystems.com/s/article/Current-Agent-Versions-for-Lightspeed?language=en_US - Lightspeed V3 Manifest Chris mentions   00:00:00-Introduction 00:09:00-AI Updates from Microsoft & Day of AI 00:13:25-Supreme Court Decisions 00:21:20-Dealing with Student Misbehavior 00:30:32-A buggy Smartboard 00:34:50-Conversations with Students -------------------- Eaton - PLAY THE GAME! Fortinet Prey - They are offering a 15% discount on the first year for customers referred by K12 Tech Talk! Visit https://preyproject.com/. NTP Lightspeed - Check out SIGNAL!!! -------------------- Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com OR info@k12techtalkpodcast.com Call us at 314-329-0363 Join the K12TechPro Community Buy some swag X @k12techtalkpod Facebook Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

Josh and Mark dive into the arrest of the notorious PowerSchool hacker, revealing the unexpected identity of the mastermind behind one of the year's biggest cyber breaches. Join them as they speak with cybersecurity expert Michael Klein, who provides insights into the hacker's profile and discusses the implications for school districts and policymakers moving forward. The discussion doesn't stop there. The hosts also examine two contrasting approaches to school security: one from a Texas startup using drones equipped with pepper spray and flashbangs, and another from Virginia employing AI for weapons detection. The episode explores the effectiveness and potential consequences of these tech-driven safety solutions. Texas deploys DRONES to combat school violence   00:00:00-Intro 00:04:37-PowerSchool Hacker Arrest Details 00:12:57-AI Weapons Detection? 00:17:45-KILLER DRONES!!!! 00:26:30-Interview with Michael Klein -------------------- Eaton - Meet the new Eaton 9PX G2 UPS Managed Methods - 30 Day Trial CTL - Check out the CTL Chromebook Plus 141GXT on K12TechPro with Hayden's Hot Deal for May Fortinet Prey - They are offering a 15% discount on the first year for customers referred by K12 Tech Talk! Visit https://preyproject.com/. -------------------- Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com OR info@k12techtalkpodcast.com Call us at 314-329-0363 Join the K12TechPro Community Buy some swag X @k12techtalkpod Facebook Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

In this week's episode of the K12 Tech Talk podcast, join the team as they delve into two states moving closer to banning cell phones in schools, exploring how such bans are enforced at the state level. The discussion also covers Congress's recent changes to the E-Rate program, analyzing the implications these changes have on school funding and internet accessibility. Additionally, the hosts talk about summer device collections, including the processes involved and the challenges faced. Tune in to hear about a significant lawsuit against PowerSchool by Memphis Shelby Public Schools, and the impact of TikTok trends on school technology. Memphis. vs PowerSchool Lawsuit Congress vs. Wifi Hotspots in E-Rate End of Student Privacy Pledge Missouri vs. Maine Cell Phone Laws   00:00:08-Intro 00:03:25-MSPS vs. PowerSchool 00:10:39-Student Privacy Changes 00:12:04-Maine & Missouri Cell Phone Bans 0027:35-Chromebook Collection Strategies 00:43:52-TikTok Trends -------------------- NTP Eaton Play eaton.com/PathsToPower  Lightspeed VIZOR Fortinet -------------------- Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com OR info@k12techtalkpodcast.com Call us at 314-329-0363 Join the K12TechPro Community Buy some swag X @k12techtalkpod Facebook Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

This week, we discuss CoSN's initiative to train educators in AI readiness, aiming to scale AI adoption in K12 schools nationwide. The program features expert trainers and a K12 Gen AI Maturity Tool to help districts navigate the opportunities and risks of AI integration. Additionally, over 250 tech CEOs, including leaders from companies like Adobe, Microsoft, and IBM, have signed an open letter calling for mandatory AI education in all US schools, highlighting the growing importance of computer science education. It's not all positive news!!! We'll also cover the troubling issue of PowerSchool districts receiving an extortion attempt from the attackers. Finally, we touch on a viral TikTok trend that is causing widespread panic in schools as students are damaging Chromebooks, leading to shortages and disruptions in learning.   00:00:00-Intro 00:04:33-CoSN's AI Trainers 00:05:53-Tech CEOs call for AI Education 00:13:40-PowerSchool Extortion Letters 00:25:10-TikTok Chromebook Trend 00:37:00-Powergistics Interview -------------------- PowerGistics PowerGistics Buddy Photo Eaton Managed Methods VIZOR Fortinet -------------------- Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com OR info@k12techtalkpodcast.com Call us at 314-329-0363 Join the K12TechPro Community Buy some swag X @k12techtalkpod Facebook Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

Join us live from the Indiana CTO Clinic, where tech and education experts come together for a vibrant discussion on the latest trends in tech integration in K12 education. The episode captures candid conversations with guests from various school districts across Indiana, spotlighting challenges and solutions in educational technology. Listen in as tech directors and educators share their experiences on navigating AI integration, cybersecurity, and the pivotal role of collaboration between tech and curriculum departments. Discover how Indiana schools are addressing teacher absenteeism, one-to-one device models, and legislative changes impacting education technology. Don't miss the discussion on app approval processes and the strategic partnerships that are driving effective tech implementation in schools. Interviews are with: Brad Hagg Josh Craig Christi Carmel Bill Stein Darlene Kennedy Nick Williams Matt and Ali Pete Just -------------------- PowerGistics NTP Lightspeed Managed Methods Extreme Networks Fortinet -------------------- Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com OR info@k12techtalkpodcast.com Call us at 314-329-0363 Join the K12TechPro Community Buy some swag X @k12techtalkpod Facebook Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

Join us in this episode as Josh, Mark, and special guest K12TechPro's Jason Rooks dive into two compelling stories surrounding curriculum opt-outs and the complex position schools find themselves in. They explore a recent Supreme Court case impacting parental rights in curriculum choices and how this trend affects K-12 institutions nationwide. The discussion shifts to a significant executive order from Trump focusing on integrating AI education into school curriculums. The hosts debate the potential benefits and concerns raised by the educational community regarding the implementation and funding of such initiatives.   00:00:00-Intro 00:03:21-Curriculum Opt-Outs: A Legal Battle 00:14:23-Updates on COPPA Regulations 00:21:24-Classroom Technology: Future Considerations 00:36:48-Trump's AI Executive Order Discussion 00:59:16-Interview with Lightspeed Systems

In this episode, we dive into the current issues surrounding technology tariffs and their impact on K-12 education. We explore how these tariffs affect school budgets and procurement processes, providing insights into recent changes and what schools should anticipate moving forward. A segment is dedicated to addressing the complex topic of managing individual teacher requests for technology upgrades or changes. We share strategies for handling these situations at a district level while balancing the needs of staff and budgetary constraints. Additionally, the episode features a discussion about a significant lawsuit against Google, where parents accuse the tech giant of tracking students. We analyze the implications of this lawsuit for schools, data privacy, and the responsibilities of districts in safeguarding student information. End User on k12sysadmin   00:00:00-Intro 00:01:35-New Security Watch Newsletter 00:04:04-Google Lawsuit Overview 00:08:47-Tariffs and Electronics Update 00:15:54-Food in Schools 00:23:43-Teacher Requests for Technology 00:48:20-Events and Conferences Announcement -------------------- NTP ClassLink Lightspeed (Learn about Signal!) PowerGistics (Get Hayden's Hot Deal on K12TechPro!) -Charging Station Goals -Needs Assessment Survey Example for Students -Needs Assessment Survey Example for Teachers -Goal Resource for IT/Administrators Fortinet ManagedMethods -------------------- Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com OR info@k12techtalkpodcast.com Call us at 314-329-0363 Join the K12TechPro Community Buy some swag X @k12techtalkpod Facebook Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

Episode 209 covers a range of topics, including a recap of the PowerSchool interview, news on a UC Irvine study about AI usage among teens, potential cuts to K12 cybersecurity funding, and a humorous moment involving the Secretary of Education (A1!). The main focus is on exploring the potential impacts of the Department of Education's closure on K12 technology, examining the roles of key divisions like the Office of Educational Technology, the Institute of Education Sciences, grant-making offices, the Student Privacy Policy Office, and the Office for Civil Rights. The episode discusses how the closure could affect national policy, research funding, student privacy, and digital equity in schools. News Articles: UC Irvine releases study on AI usage amongst teens. 4 things to know about Trump cuts to K-12 cybersecurity Linda McMahon thinks that A1 steak sauce is being taught in schools 00:00:00-Intro 00:07:10-News 00:11:40-A1 Steak Sauce??? 00:18:31-Job Titles 00:26:04-Impact of the DoE Closure on K12 Tech -------------------- Lumu Chromebookparts.com PowerGistics Classlink Fortinet Extreme Networks -------------------- Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com OR info@k12techtalkpodcast.com Call us at 314-329-0363 Join the K12TechPro Community Buy some swag X @k12techtalkpod Facebook Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

Join Josh, Chris, and Mark as they host an exclusive interview with Mishka, the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) of PowerSchool, following a significant cyber incident that changed the landscape of K-12 cyber-security. Discover the human side of crisis management, starting with Mishka's initial reaction to the attack and learn about the rapid response to contain the damage. The discussion delves into PowerSchool's decision to be transparent with affected districts and hear practical advice on vendor assessments and the importance of internal security measures to minimize future threats. Reflecting on the lessons learned, Mishka discusses the steps PowerSchool has taken to bolster its security infrastructure and maintain an open communication channel with its clients. 00:00:00-Introduction to the Incident 00:08:21-Timeline Overview and Communication Strategy 00:24:08-Evaluating Third-Party Vendors 00:34:45-Future Security Measures and Improvements -------------------- Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com OR info@k12techtalkpodcast.com Call us at 314-329-0363 Join the K12TechPro Community Buy some swag X @k12techtalkpod Facebook Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

We travel to the Emerald City this week to hang out with the great folks at CoSN! This podcast episode, recorded live at the CoSN conference in Seattle, offers interviews with participants, organizers, and presenters. Topics centered around the human aspect of AI, cybersecurity, and some amazing innovations from school districts around the county! 00:00:00-Introduction 00:02:00-Edward McKaveney 00:09:15-Adam Garry 00:15:04-Dr. Richard Charles 00:23:19-Pete Just 00:30:25-CTL 00:35:20-Jason Eyre 00:43:05-Lightspeed 00:45:16-Keith Krueger CoSN AI Readiness Lightspeed Signal -------------------- A special thanks to our sponsors... NTP, Lightspeed, ClassLink, VIZOR, Fortinet, PowerGistics -------------------- Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com OR info@k12techtalkpodcast.com Call us at 314-329-0363 Join the K12TechPro Community Buy some swag X @k12techtalkpod Facebook Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

The big court case has finally arrived! We break down the oral arguments that were presented this week to the Supreme Court that will ultimately determine the fate of E-Rate. Will we see this essential program carry on or will the lower court's ruling strike down this key program? We discuss the arguments for and against with clips from the hearing this week. We also discuss the potential for student MFA and what the K12TechPro Community thinks will be the timeline for us to implement MFA on student accounts. Spoiler alert - it will take a while. The episode concludes with an interview with VIZOR. -------------------- 00:00:00-Intro 00:05:46-Student MFA? 00:13:20-E-Rate in the Supreme Court 00:45:45-Interview with VIZOR -------------------- Classlink Managed Methods Fortinet Extreme Networks VIZOR -------------------- Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com OR info@k12techtalkpodcast.com Call us at 314-329-0363 Join the K12TechPro Community Buy some swag X @k12techtalkpod Facebook Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

In this week's episode, Chris and Mark delve into a recent massive data breach that has had significant repercussions for hundreds of thousands of educators in Pennsylvania. They explore the startling details of the breach, discussing its implications and the timeline of the response. The episode features an interview with Terry Loftus, the CIO of San Diego County and chair of the MS-ISAC Executive Committee. Loftus provides insight into the recent funding cuts to MS-ISAC, explaining the potential impacts on education technology and the broader context of these changes. Additionally, the guys address the latest news on tech tariffs, examining how these tariffs are beginning to affect K-12 district budgets and procurement processes via K12TechPro survey. 00:00:00-Intro 00:03:25-Pennsylvania Data Breach 00:09:20-Tariff Survey Results 00:17:11-Interview with Terry Loftus -------------------- NTP CTL Classlink Lightspeed Fortinet -------------------- Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com OR info@k12techtalkpodcast.com Call us at 314-329-0363 Join the K12TechPro Community Buy some swag X @k12techtalkpod Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

In this episode of the K12 Tech Talk podcast, hosts Josh, Chris, and Mark delve into the recent challenges facing K-12 technology in light of new tariffs and significant budget cuts. They discuss the potential impact of these economic and political changes on school services, with a specific focus on the technology and cybersecurity landscapes. A key highlight of this episode is an in-depth analysis of the MS-ISAC funding cuts announced this week. As a member of the MS-ISAC Executive Committee, Josh shares insights on the repercussions these cuts could have on cybersecurity measures and services provided to schools. The hosts also explore the broader impact of tariffs on technology purchases, from student devices to school infrastructure, and discuss alternative strategies that schools may need to adopt. They consider the potential domino effects on construction, transportation, and food services within schools due to tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China. Throughout the episode, there's also a segment about the enduring presence of fax machines in schools, reflecting on how some traditional technologies remain integral despite advancements. MS-ISAC Cybersecurity Report https://learn.cisecurity.org/2025-k12-cybersecurity-report-download   PowerSchool Summary Report https://www.powerschool.com/security/sis-incident/   MS-ISAC Loses Federal Support https://statescoop.com/ms-isac-loses-federal-support/   00:00:00-Introduction 00:00:32-Post-Security Symposium Reflections 00:05:17-MS-ISAC Cybersecurity Report Overview 00:10:16-Tariffs Impacting K-12 Technology 00:25:15-We still use fax machines??? 00:32:30-Understanding Recent MS-ISAC Funding Cuts   -------------------- Classlink Managed Methods VIZOR Extreme Networks Fortinet -------------------- Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com OR info@k12techtalkpodcast.com Call us at 314-329-0363 Join the K12TechPro Community Buy some swag X @k12techtalkpod Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

Join Chris and Mark as they hit the highlights of the recently concluded MidwestTechTalk Security Symposium. The conference tackled crucial topics surrounding incident response planning and cybersecurity preparedness in K-12 schools. Then, the show wraps up with insights from an informative interview with SaferWatch. -------------------- SaferWatch NTP Classlink Lightspeed Fortinet -------------------- Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com OR info@k12techtalkpodcast.com Call us at 314-329-0363 Join the K12TechPro Community Buy some swag X @k12techtalkpod Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

Tune in to hear insights on how some states are ramping up cell phone bans in schools and the implications this has for students and staff alike, including the extension to smartwatches, beepers, and pagers! The guys also delve into a pivotal Supreme Court case regarding the E-rate program, unpacking the ramifications of the recent ruling that classifies E-rate as federal dollars. Consider how this may influence the next critical case questioning the constitutionality of E-rate itself. The episode also covers pressing cybersecurity issues, such as Google's upcoming changes to MFA, and explores the liability surrounding personal data stored on school-issued devices—a must-listen for understanding what districts need to consider to protect both themselves and their staff. -------------------- Classlink SaferWatch Managed Methods VIZOR Fortinet -------------------- 00:00:00-Intro 00:04:45-E-Rate Win in the Supreme Court 00:08:20-Impacts of DOGE on CISA 00:14:23-Beeper Bans! 00:20:30-Google's MFA Changes 00:25:45-Data Breach Liability Discussion 00:41:20-Upcoming Events in K-12 Tech -------------------- Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com OR info@k12techtalkpodcast.com Call us at 314-329-0363 Join the K12TechPro Community Buy some swag X @k12techtalkpod Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.  

In this week's episode of the K12 Tech Talk podcast, the team dives into some pressing issues. We start with a discussion on how tariffs might affect project pricing for the coming year, exploring potential impacts on schools' budgets and strategies they might employ to mitigate these effects. The conversation then shifts to Google's new Chrome security feature powered by AI. We debate the implications of this feature in terms of privacy and security, particularly in school environments, and whether or not to implement this at a district level. The centerpiece of the episode is a concerning discussion about the potential threat to the E-Rate program. With pending litigation that could have significant impacts on funding and tech infrastructure in schools, we provide insights into how schools are preparing for potential outcomes. -------------------- NTP Lightspeed ClassLink SaferWatch Fortinet -------------------- Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com OR info@k12techtalkpodcast.com Call us at 314-329-0363 Join the K12TechPro Community Buy some swag X @k12techtalkpod Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

Join us in episode 201, as we dive into the intricate world of cybersecurity breach coaches. We start with a deep analysis of the latest cybersecurity reports from Clever and CoSN, highlighting critical vulnerabilities and the evolving landscape of K12 cybersecurity challenges. In an exclusive interview, journalist Mark Keierleber from The 74 explores the clandestine operations of "breach coaches"—the hired guns who control the narrative and management of school cyberattacks. Keierleber sheds light on the ethical and operational conflicts schools face when deciding between transparency and self-preservation during a ransomware crisis. 00:00:00-Introduction 00:04:30-The 74: ”Hired Guns” 00:08:40-PowerSchool Breach Update 00:11:14-CoSN Cybersecurity Briefing 00:16:14-Clever's Cyber Secure Report 00:23:48-Interview with Mark Keierleber -------------------- ManagedMethods VIZOR ClassLink SaferWatch Fortinet -------------------- Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com OR info@k12techtalkpodcast.com Call us at 314-329-0363 Join the K12TechPro Community Buy some swag X @k12techtalkpod Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

The 200th episode of the K12 Tech Talk podcast was packed with special guests, laughs, and big announcements. Musician Colt Ball kicked things off with a live performance, and David Wren from NTP discussed K12TechPro's cybersecurity deals for schools. Tom Ryan shared insights on AI, while Chris Illingworth from Fortinet talked about security solutions. The K12 Tech Talk and K12TechPro team celebrated milestones, including 1,000 K12TechPro members across 50 states and nine countries. The guys did dad jokes with Josh's son, Jackson, and an exciting giveaway from ChromebookParts—200 free toolkits and $1,000 in repairs! (Email k12techtalk@gmail.com NOW!) Tonia Haddix, known from Chimp Crazy, joined for a lively discussion on exotic animal laws. The episode wrapped up with lessons from a ransomware attack featuring Episode 31's Denzel. Colt Ball closed us out with some tunes. It was crazy. It was great. Thank you all for listening and supporting us over these 200 episodes. We are K12 Tech Talk—and so are you. THAT'S RIGHT! ChromebookParts is giving a free tool kit for every episode we have done! That's 200 tool kits to the first 200 listeners to reach out to us via k12techtalk@gmail.com. SUBJECT LINE: FREE TOOL KIT. CONTENT: YOUR NAME AND SHIPPING ADDRESS.  BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE! One of those lucky 200 people will receive $1000 in free repair services for their school district too! NTP Lightspeed ClassLink SaferWatch Fortinet -------------------- 00:00:00-Intro 00:00:25-Colt Ball performs our intro live! 00:07:11-David Wren (NTP) 00:16:45-Tom Ryan 00:26:15-Josh's Kid! 00:30:56-Chris Illingworth (Fortinet) 00:36:32-K12 Tech Pro crew 00:42:50-Josh goes Chimp Crazy! 00:55:45-"Denzel" 01:01:06-Outro with Colt Ball -------------------- Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com OR info@k12techtalkpodcast.com Call us at 314-329-0363 Join the K12TechPro Community Buy some swag X @k12techtalkpod Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

We did this episode for about 45 minutes and realized we didn't hit record. It happens. This is a redo. It's a disaster. Really. Next week is a SPECIAL episode as we hit 200. Get ready for that. We promise next week will be better. In the meanwhile, we discuss: Who pays for Chromebook repairs? What will chip tariffs do to 25-26 purchases? Cybersquaters! Origin stories! FCC Cybersecurity Pilot Info -------------------- 00:00:00-Intro 00:03:58-Tariffs?? 00:11:21-Forti-updates 00:13:33-Domain Squatting 00:18:30-How did you get started in K-12 technology? 00:29:30-Episode 200 is coming! VIZOR SaferWatch ManagedMethods ClassLink Fortinet -------------------- Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com OR info@k12techtalkpodcast.com Call us at 314-329-0363 Join the K12TechPro Community Buy some swag X @k12techtalkpod Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

In this lively episode of the K12 Tech Talk Podcast, a significant portion of the discussion focuses on recent updates regarding the PowerSchool data breach. The hosts shed light on the critical changes necessary for enhancing cybersecurity in school districts, including expanding MFA, moving away from outdated FTP to modern solutions, and embracing a culture of data reduction. They stress the importance of improving school district and vendor practices to mitigate security risks. 00:00:02-Intro 00:04:36-Chris' Disney Adventure 00:09:03-AI Prompt Security Risks 00:11:03-PowerSchool Breach Update 00:16:31-K12TechPro & 200th Episode 00:24:30-Top 10 K12 Cybersecurity Recommendations 00:57:12-Upcoming Events -------------------- NTP Lightspeed CTL ClassLink Fortinet -------------------- We're presenting 2 sessions at SecurED Virtual Conference on Jan. 28th -------------------- Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com OR info@k12techtalkpodcast.com Call us at 314-329-0363 Join the K12TechPro Community Buy some swag X @k12techtalkpod Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.  

In this episode of the K12 Tech Talk Podcast, the team dives into the recent PowerSchool breach. Mark, who was recently featured on Canadian national news (Eh!), shares updates and insights into the breach's technical aspects, along with a breakdown on an article he published on K12TechPro. The discussion also highlights the roles and responsibilities of K12 tech leaders in managing data breaches and emphasizes the importance of transparency and communication with parents, staff, and state agencies. The team talks through the ethical considerations and the potential implications on data privacy agreements and industry standards like SOC 2 and ISO certifications. The episode also discusses the unusual breach by a furry hacker targeting Scholastic, the potential policy priorities of Linda McMahon at the Department of Education, and an update on AI deepfake incidents affecting educators. 00:00-Intro & PowerSchool Update 06:30-What is the impact? 12:59-The Bigger Picture 17:40-Scholastic Breach Discussion 20:27-Political Landscape Changes 26:23-Curriculum Transparency 28:51-Legal Implications of Deepfakes 41:53-Obligations After a Breach 42:57-Final Thoughts on Data Privacy   -------------------- VIZOR ManagedMethods Lumu ClassLink Fortinet -------------------- Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com OR info@k12techtalkpodcast.com Call us at 314-329-0363 Join the K12TechPro Community Buy some swag X @k12techtalkpod Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

In this episode, we explore humorous/serious use of AI joke writing (PowerSchool jokes), we have a discussion on cell phone bans being implemented across various school districts this new year, touching on one policy that involves fines. The main focus, however, is a captivating story where a teacher was terminated for allegedly sharing her password, leading to students tampering with electronic records and facing charges. We tackle tough questions about accountability: Should a teacher lose their job for password sharing? Are students facing reasonable repercussions? Who bears the blame in cases of security breaches like this? We discuss the essential measures for cybersecurity in schools, emphasizing the necessity of multi-layered security approaches. https://www.al.com/news/2025/01/alabama-could-soon-fine-students-who-repeatedly-violate-classroom-cell-phone-restrictions.html https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-11-13/lausd-strict-school-cellphone-ban-to-begin https://www.koin.com/news/portland/pps-bans-cell-phones-adopts-off-and-away-all-day-policy/ https://www.wistv.com/2025/01/07/cell-phone-ban-begins-south-carolina-schools/ https://www.comparitech.com/news/ransomware-roundup-2024-end-of-year-report/#The_top_5_biggest_ransom_demands_in_2024 https://www.yahoo.com/news/liverpool-high-school-staff-member-215453485.html 00:00-Introduction 04:53-Cell Phone Bans! 18:36-2024 State of Ransomware 23:05-Teacher fired for sharing her password 38:29-Reducing the risk of shared passwords 46:39-Closing and more AI jokes -------------------- NTP Lightspeed Lumu ClassLink Fortinet -------------------- Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com OR info@k12techtalkpodcast.com Call us at 314-329-0363 Join the K12TechPro Community Buy some swag X @k12techtalkpod Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

This special episode of the K12 Tech Talk Podcast dissects the recent cybersecurity incident involving PowerSchool, a major provider of Student Information Systems (SIS) in the United States. Hosts Josh, Chris, and Mark discuss the details of the breach that saw PowerSchool send notifications to its customers about the possibility of sensitive data exposure. We discuss the details of the breach that have been released by PowerSchool and discussed by customers on K12TechPro and Reddit (/k12sysadmin) within the first 24 hours.   00:00-Introduction 01:04-What happened? 04:10-Who is PowerSchool? 7:30-Data Exfiltration 11:48-How the attack happened 18:54-The attackers were paid to destroy the data 22:41-What should districts do right now?   For more information, check out K12TechPro where you can find a special section on the PowerSchool breach with resources you need, including sample letters to families, instructions to download your system logs, and relevant news articles. https://community.k12techpro.com Questions, comments? Reach out to us! info@k12techtalk.com

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year from Josh, Chris, and Mark!   This is a re-release of Episode 31. It is an interview with Denzel. Denzel is the Tech Director at a school that was hit with ransomware. He shares details of the attack, from waking up and realizing over his morning coffee that they had major issues, to the day he realized the "bad guys" posted data they harvested online. His story drives home a few major points including the one we all know... the best prepared department can fall victim.

On this episode of the K12 Tech Talk podcast, we talk about AI misuse in schools, we recap 2024's hot topics, and we spend time discussing our predictions for 2025. Oh, and we talk about Chimp Crazy and Mark's recent interactions with Tonia Haddix on TikTok. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year - We're ready for break! https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/2024-12/guidance-mobile-communications-best-practices.pdf https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/12/10/character-ai-lawsuit-teen-kill-parents-texas/ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/deepfake-pornography-victim-congress/ https://www.kjzz.org/education/2024-12-18/new-arizona-charter-school-will-use-ai-in-place-of-human-teachers -------------------- Extreme Networks - Email dmayer@extremenetworks.com Fortinet - Email fortinetpodcast@fortinet.com HPE/Aruba - Email jeff.cobb@hpe.com NTP -------------------- Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com Call us at 314-329-0363 Join the K12TechPro Community Buy some swag X @k12techtalkpod Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

This week we take a listener email and dive into managing district assets and how to wrangle the budget. Should schools supply headphones to all students? Should the tech dept have a headphones budget? Should parents pay for broken headphones? Josh, Chris, and Mark discuss the tech dept's responsibility with headphones (and other consumables) at length. The guys also talk about software purchases. Should we have a candy man mentality? Plus, the latest on E-Rate funding, school cyber risks, and student cell phone policies. Also, Chris talks about pizza math. Josh talks about his arm pits. https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/billions-of-school-tech-dollars-at-risk-as-supreme-court-takes-up-e-rate-case/2024/11 https://statescoop.com/rhode-island-schools-malicious-domain-protection-service/ https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-calls-states-districts-and-schools-adopt-policies-student-use-of-cell-phones-and-personal-devices https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/4-things-to-know-about-the-literacy-lawsuit-targeting-lucy-calkins-and-fountas-pinnell/2024/12#:~:text=The%20lawsuit%20claims%20the%20curricula,guess%E2%80%9D%20words%20based%20on%20context%2C https://www.k12dive.com/news/moodys-rates-education-sector-high-cyber-risk-2024/733342/ -------------------- VIZOR Extreme Networks - Email dmayer@extremenetworks.com Verkada Fortinet - Email fortinetpodcast@fortinet.com HPE/Aruba - Email jeff.cobb@hpe.com NTP -------------------- Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com Call us at 314-329-0363 Join the K12TechPro Community Buy some swag X @k12techtalkpod Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

Join Josh, Chris, and Mark for a lively discussion on the future of ChromeOS and Android in the K-12 landscape. We kick things off with Josh's latest tech frustrations (proxy problems, anyone?) before diving into some recent headlines, including a fascinating AI case in Massachusetts and a timely warning from the FBI about SMS messaging. But the main event? We tackle the swirling rumors surrounding ChromeOS and Android! Will Google really sell off its Chrome browser? What would that mean for Chromebooks in schools? And is there any truth to the whispers of a ChromeOS-Android merger? Tune in as we dissect the possibilities, explore the potential impact on K-12 education, and offer our expert insights on what the future holds for these dominant operating systems. -------------------- Verkada Fortinet - Email fortinetpodcast@fortinet.com HPE/Aruba - Email jeff.cobb@hpe.com NTP -------------------- Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com Call us at 314-329-0363 Join the K12TechPro Community Buy some swag X @k12techtalkpod Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

In this episode Chris does a deep dive on the new Google Workspace license structure. Mark has an extended News section with stories about an IXL lawsuit, Goolge's anti-trust fallout, Docusign impersonation attacks, and more.   -Linda McMahon's background as Trump's pick for education secretary -Significant surge in DocuSign impersonation attacks: hackers mimicking government -IXL class-action suit advances amid student data harvesting claims -U.S. Antitrust Regulators Want Google to Sell Chrome Browser -Prepare your institution for the new Education Fundamentals licensing model & license types - Google Workspace Admin Help -https://www.ed.gov/media/document/avoiding-discriminatory-use-of-ai -------------------- Scale Computing Scale Computing - northcentral@scalecomputing.com Verkada Extreme - Email dmayer@extremenetworks.com Fortinet - Email fortinetpodcast@fortinet.com NTP -------------------- Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com Call us at 314-329-0363 Join the K12TechPro Community Buy some swag X @k12techtalkpod Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

Chris, Josh, and Mark discuss an update on the cybersecurity pilot, an FCC court case, and the future of E-Rate. Most of the episode is an interview with Tony Sager. Tony is a Senior VP & Chief Evangelist for the Center for Internet Security (CIS).  FCC Cybersecurity Pilot Receives $3.7B in Funding Requests Supreme Court Weighs High-Stakes Fraud Issue for E-Rate Program What a Trump win means for the Universal Service Fund -------------------- Scale Computing Scale Computing - northcentral@scalecomputing.com Verkada Extreme - Email dmayer@extremenetworks.com Fortinet - Email fortinetpodcast@fortinet.com ManagedMethods VIZOR -------------------- Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com Call us at 314-329-0363 Join the K12TechPro Community Buy some swag X @k12techtalkpod Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

Chris and Mark are traveling this week and try to record an episode next to a rowdy party of librarians at Vita-Learn's Vermont Fest. We give a brief intro and then flashback to episode 132 where we cover the CIS Controls, a set of cyber security frameworks to help districts evaluate and improve their cyber security. -------------------- ManagedMethods Extreme - Email dmayer@extremenetworks.com Fortinet - Email fortinetpodcast@fortinet.com Scale Computing Scale Computing - northcentral@scalecomputing.com Verkada -------------------- Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com Call us at 314-329-0363 Join the K12TechPro Community Buy some swag X @k12techtalkpod Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

Chris, Josh, and Mark get political - they discuss their thoughts on the impact of this year's election on the K12 technology landscape (E-Rate, cybersecurity, DoE, and AI). They also discuss new AI guidance, spooky edtech apps, Halloween costumes, and the latest in k12 tech news. Education Department releases highly anticipated AI toolkit for schools  Scary Apps -------------------- ManagedMethods Extreme - Email dmayer@extremenetworks.com Fortinet - Email fortinetpodcast@fortinet.com Scale Computing Scale Computing - northcentral@scalecomputing.com -------------------- Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com Call us at 314-329-0363 Join the K12TechPro Community Buy some swag X @k12techtalkpod Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

Chris, Josh, and Mark talk about the MOREnet conference, an update on the student misuse of AI case, a security report showing a decline in ransomware, and most of the episode is spent discussing how to handle requests from leadership that may cross the line. Bethalto superintendent Jill Griffin's email sparks public outrage The Telegraph obtains Bethalto superintendent's email to staff What's behind the 51% drop in ransomware attacks? Nevada AI At Risk Students Parents of Hingham student disciplined for using AI await federal judge's ruling -------------------- NTP ManagedMethods Extreme - Email dmayer@extremenetworks.com Fortinet - Email fortinetpodcast@fortinet.com Blocksi - get demo, mention K12TechPro or K12 Tech Talk! -------------------- Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com Call us at 314-329-0363 Join the K12TechPro Community Buy some swag X @k12techtalkpod Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

Mark is on an autonomous road trip, so Chris and Josh hold down the fort. They discuss the latest hot topics on K12TechPro, including smishing, the NCSR survey, tech dept staffing, a student getting in trouble for AI, Chromebook forced reboots, and more. NTP is going to MOREnet next week and Vita Learn Vermont Fest in November with K12TechPro and us! VIZOR - get a demo, get a free K12 Tech Talk hoodie ManagedMethods Extreme - Email dmayer@extremenetworks.com Fortinet - Email fortinetpodcast@fortinet.com Blocksi - get demo, mention K12TechPro or K12 Tech Talk! -------------------- Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com Call us at 314-329-0363 Join the K12TechPro Community Buy some swag X @k12techtalkpod Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

This week on K12 Tech Talk, we unpack the latest developments in education technology, including Governor Newsom's veto of California's AI accountability bill and its implications for K12 schools. We also delve into a critical E-Rate case, Wisconsin Bell vs. the United States, currently before the Supreme Court, and discuss its potential impact on school districts nationwide. Ever wrestled with out-of-warranty parts and device repair? We offer practical advice and solutions for this common challenge. Plus, we sit down with John, a school maintenance director, to explore the crucial need for better collaboration between Facilities and IT departments within K-12 environments. NTP dwren@ntp-inc.com Extreme dmayer@extremenetworks.com Fortinet fortinetpodcast@fortinet.com VIZOR Blocksi ManagedMethods -------------------- Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com Call us at 314-329-0363 Join the K12TechPro Community Buy some swag X @k12techtalkpod Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

Josh, Chris, and Mark provide updates on E-Rate, dive into October cybersecurity awareness month, break down new NIST password guidelines, and then Josh tells a story... a long story... the longest story.  CISA Cybersecurity Awareness Month Chimp Crazy -------------------- NTP dwren@ntp-inc.com Extreme dmayer@extremenetworks.com Fortinet fortinetpodcast@fortinet.com VIZOR Blocksi ManagedMethods -------------------- Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com Call us at 314-329-0363 Join the K12TechPro Community Buy some swag X @k12techtalkpod Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

In this episode, we talk CISA's Cybersecurity and Safety Summit, Verkada's FTC issues, and we spend most of the time talking about Ed-Fi - the good, the bad, and the ugly. Linux Bug Verkada FTC Article Chimp Crazy Ed-Fi -------------------- NTP dwren@ntp-inc.com Extreme dmayer@extremenetworks.com Fortinet fortinetpodcast@fortinet.com VIZOR Blocksi ManagedMethods -------------------- Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com Call us at 314-329-0363 Join the K12TechPro Community Buy some swag X @k12techtalkpod Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

In this episode, we talk about California's new AI legislation, CoSN's State of EdTech Leadership, and an interview Frank Murray of Belton ISD and David Waugh with ManagedMethods. OH!!! We now have a phone number you can call and leave us voicemails! Do it! 314-329-0363 California AI Providence Schools Ransomware Philadelphia School Cyber Incident Meat Church BBQ -------------------- NTP dwren@ntp-inc.com Extreme dmayer@extremenetworks.com Fortinet fortinetpodcast@fortinet.com Blocksi ManagedMethods -------------------- Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com Call us at 314-329-0363 Join the K12TechPro Community Buy some swag X @k12techtalkpod Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

In this episode, we talk about emails we received from listeners as rebuttals to topics from last week (Ring cameras and bugs in Chromebooks). Mark hosts a SIS Conversion Debrief and asks Chris and Josh 5 soul searching questions about their SIS Conversion experiences. The Cybersecurity Pilot opens next week and we talk about it in the news. OH, AND BIG NEWS!!! We now have a phone number you can call and leave us voicemails! Do it! 314-329-0363 -------------------- NTP dwren@ntp-inc.com VIZOR vizor.cloud/k12techtalk Listeners get special pricing and a free podcast shirt or hoodie. ClassLink https://www.classlink.com/ Prey https://preyproject.com/solutions/education Extreme dmayer@extremenetworks.com Fortinet fortinetpodcast@fortinet.com -------------------- Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com Call us at 314-329-0363 Join the K12TechPro Community Buy some swag X @k12techtalkpod Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

Josh, Chris, and Mark discuss several listener emails. Ring Cameras are discussed. Bed bugs in devices makes the news. Oh, and Josh isn't wearing any pants. Bed bugs in Chromebooks at Riverside High School in Durham, North Carolina FCC Cybersecurity Pilot CISA Services Portal CIO in New Haven was fired after a recent breach -------------------- Prey --Device Loan Management --Security Actions Extreme Networks - Email dmayer@extremenetworks.com Fortinet - Email fortinetpodcast@fortinet.com ManagedMethods NTP -------------------- Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com Join the K12TechPro Community Buy some swag X @k12techtalkpod Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

Chris and Eric talk about AI, collecting devices from students, and discuss "When you are technically right, but you're wrong."   AI Bill in California Will AI Make Standardized Tests Obsolete? -------------------- Prey --Device Loan Management --Security Actions Extreme Networks - Email dmayer@extremenetworks.com Fortinet - Email fortinetpodcast@fortinet.com ClassLink NTP -------------------- Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com Join the K12TechPro Community Buy some swag X @k12techtalkpod Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

Josh, Chris, and Mark discuss the opening of school, student password resets, and student screen time (again). Prey Short video: https://prey.wistia.com/medias/fdwb048xxj Demo: Get a demo from @Nicolas Bascoli. You will get in depth information! Free Trial: Experience by yourself how it works and how easy the deployment process is. You can start here: https://preyproject.com/get-started.  ManagedMethods Extreme Networks - TechByte Tuesdays: Networking 101 for Education Fortinet -------------------- Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com Join the K12TechPro Community Buy some swag X @k12techtalkpod Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

Josh, Chris, and Mark discuss Back to School Week and dealing with issues, an ACT study on internet access, screen time, cell phone bans, and we talk to Fortinet about the FCC Cybersecurity Pilot.   NPT Prey Short video: https://prey.wistia.com/medias/fdwb048xxj Demo: Get a demo from @Nicolas Bascoli. You will get in depth information! Free Trial: Experience by yourself how it works and how easy the deployment process is. You can start here: https://preyproject.com/get-started.  VIZOR ClassLink Extreme Networks Fortinet -------------------- Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com Join the K12TechPro Community Buy some swag X @k12techtalkpod Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

Josh, Chris, and Mark record an episode live from the K12TechPro Virtual Meetup.     Richmond, VA K12TechPro Southeast Region Meetup is September 20th   ManagedMethods Extreme Networks Fortinet Prey -------------------- Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com Join the K12TechPro Community Buy some swag X @k12techtalkpod Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

Josh, Chris, and Mark discuss E-Rate, pay raises, and the Olympics.   Special "Back to School" Virtual K12TechPro Meetup is August 7th Richmond, VA K12TechPro Southeast Region Meetup is September 20th NPT VIZOR ClassLink Extreme Networks Fortinet -------------------- Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com Join the K12TechPro Community Buy some swag X @k12techtalkpod Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

Josh, Chris, and Mark record an episode live from MidwestTechTalk2024 for the opening day keynote. Buckle up, it's a good time.   Special "Back to School" Virtual K12TechPro Meetup is August 7th Richmond, VA K12TechPro Southeast Region Meetup is September 20th MidwestTechTalk2024 -------------------- Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com Join the K12TechPro Community Buy some swag X @k12techtalkpod Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

In the latest episode of K12 Tech Talk, Josh, Chris, and Mark discuss Infinite Campus woes, FBI security audits, and Mark's reflections.   Special "Back to School" Virtual K12TechPro Meetup is August 7th Richmond, VA K12TechPro Southeast Region Meetup is September 20th MidwestTechTalk is July 22nd and 23rd (Our friends VIZOR, KCAV, Extreme, Fortinet, and more will be there!) NTP ClassLink Fortinet - Email fortinetpodcast@fortinet.com Extreme Networks - Email dmayer@extremenetworks.com -------------------- Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com Join the K12TechPro Community Buy some swag X @k12techtalkpod Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

In the latest episode of K12 Tech Talk, Josh, Chris, and Mark dive into the latest news in the education technology world. They discuss Instructure's annual "EdTech Top 40" report, LAUSD's "Ed" initiative making headlines, and the US Department of Education releasing guidance for AI developers in education. They also address listener emails regarding FOIA requests for staff email addresses. The main topic focuses on summer account maintenance and how schools are handling staff accounts during this time.   News Stories: 1. Instructure EdTech Top 40 report 2. LAUSD's "Ed" initiative 3. LAUSD's AI meltdown and ways to avoid mistakes 4. US Dept of Ed guidance for AI developers in education 5. Listener email about FOIA requests for staff email addresses   Special "Back to School" Virtual K12TechPro Meetup is August 7th Richmond, VA K12TechPro Southeast Region Meetup is September 20th MidwestTechTalk is July 22nd and 23rd (Our friends VIZOR, KCAV, Extreme, Fortinet, and more will be there!) ManagedMethods ClassLink -------------------- Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com Join the K12TechPro Community Buy some swag X @k12techtalkpod Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

Josh, Chris, and Mark discuss a variety of topics including cell phone bans and prepping for the FCC pilot. They also address listener feedback on the garage door conversation from a few weeks back. The main topic of the episode focuses on why one of the hosts is leaving their district - but you're going to have to listen to the episode to find out who's leaving and why!    VIZOR -  Do a demo and get a pod shirt/hoodie along with it. Oh, and VIZOR will be at MidwestTechTalk next month.   ManagedMethods - Check out managedmethods.com   Extreme - Email dmayer@extremenetworks.com   Fortinet - Email fortinetpodcast@fortinet.com -------------------- Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com Join the K12TechPro Community Buy some swag X @k12techtalkpod Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.