In the latest episode of the K12 Tech Talk Podcast, hosts Josh and Mark discuss the recent Klein ISD DDOS attack that disrupted STARR testing, leading to an 18-year-old student facing felony charges. They also delve into a Google Blog post about phishing tests and the adoption of a “fire drill” approach. The main topic of the episode focuses on Google, ChatGPT, and Microsoft Copilot at the enterprise level, exploring the details of each plan and considering their use for school districts. NTP...

In the latest episode of the K12 Tech Talk Podcast, hosts Josh, Chris, and Mark discuss the new CISA reporting requirements, the details of the E-Rate cybersecurity pilot, and the rumored PowerSchool buyout by Bain Capital. They also address listener questions about Manifest V3 and summer school preparation. CISA reporting requirements (CIRCIA) Consortium for School Networking PowerSchool buyout by Bain Capital Manifest V3 information NTP - [email protected] K12TechPro - Join the...

This is a re-release episode! We sit down with Scott Elder, the Superintendent of Albuquerque Public Schools. We talk about the ransomware attack they experienced in January 2021.  This discussion is from the perspective of the Superintendent during the attack.  Scott is wildly candid and honest about the experience. iDoc ManagedMethods Extreme Networks Fortinet Oh, and... Email us at [email protected] Tweet us err X us @k12techtalkpod Visit our LinkedIn page HERE

In the latest episode of the K12 Tech Talk Podcast, hosts Josh and Mark delve into the latest tech news, including the malicious hacker behind the Kaseya ransomware attack being jailed and the introduction of the Protecting Kids on Social Media Act and the Eyes on the Board Act. They also address listener emails about the proper disposal of old computer hard drives and the use of Google Takeout. The main topic explores the use (or misuse) of AI over the last year of school, discussing both...

Chris and Mark attend the PESC-A4L Summit. They learn about A4L's mission to support lifelong learning through interoperability, privacy, and security across PK20W+ - breaking down the silos and ensuring the data seamlessly follows the learners from PK though K12 into Post-secondary, into the workforce, and into retirement. Interviews: Steve Smith, Executive Director of A4L... The Godfather Steve Setzer, Loop Data Wes Sims, Snap Mobile Connie Coy, MOREnet Ramah Hawley, A4L Co-Chair, The...

In the latest episode of the K12 Tech Talk Podcast, Chris and Mark discuss a variety of news stories, including the COPS SVPP grant focusing on security measures in schools such as notification systems and security cameras. They also address concerns around Primavera's investment in Tutor.com and the rise of AI-generated plagiarism in student papers. Listener emails reveal discussions on firewall ratings and more. - - - - - https://www.youtube.com/@k12techtalk Join the K12TechPro.com...

In this insightful episode of K12 Tech Talk, Josh and Mark delve into recent events and hot topics within the sphere of school technology. Triggered by a recent cyber-attack on the Clark County, the hosts debate whether schools should be held accountable for such breaches and discuss the potential nation-wide implications of legal cases in this regard. The guys discuss the importance of robust cybersecurity measures in school environments. They discuss how end-of-year school activities impact...

This is Part 2 of K12 Tech Talk's engaging journey through the trending topics from CoSN in Miami! Highlights are discussions about AI readiness and CoSN's AI maturity matrix, Secure by Design, enhancing data security in schools, and the dynamic evolution of technology within educational institutions. Interviews include: Josh Olstad - Technology Director, SAU #5, New Hampshire Shahryar Khazei - retired CIO of Los Angeles Unified Jim and Melissa - Future of Privacy Forum Tom Ryan - the man,...

Part 1 of 2 In this exciting episode of K12 Tech Talk, Chris, Josh, and Mark deliver a front-row experience of the CoSN Conference in Miami. Interviews include: Susan Enfield - CoSN Keynote Richard Culatta - CEO ISTE/ASCD Don Ringelestein - CoSN Board, DEI subcommittee Megan Gretzinger - Friend of K12TechPro and K12 Tech Talk Will Brackett - "After Action Reports" session - - - - - https://www.youtube.com/@k12techtalk Join the K12TechPro.com Community. Buy our merch!!! * NTP * Howard - Email...

Josh, Chris, and Mark discuss several listener emails and K12TechPro posts. They talk about POTS lines with elevators, fire alarms, and fax machines. They talk about password managers. They talk about how to obtain technical knowledge and skills when you have a position that isn't necessarily specializing in a certain area. They talk about LMS options and the tech dept's support role. And then there's some sideways talk about elevator inspections and dead rodents. Oh, and an interview with...

This is a special episode. Josh and Chris interview Mohit Gupta, Director of Product at Clever. We discuss student MFA, the teacher Clever Library, student data privacy, the history of Clever, and more. ----more---- https://www.youtube.com/@k12techtalk Join the K12TechPro.com Community. Buy our merch!!! * NTP * Howard * Email Seth Shockley - [email protected] * Extreme - email [email protected] * VIZOR - Would you like a free K12 Tech Hoodie and reduce your workload? Then check...

Josh, Chris, and Mark discuss the recent cyberattack where hackers compromised two critical systems of CISA using vulnerabilities in Ivanti products. Josh derails the conversation after receiving some "hate" mail recently, though. They also touch on the future of VR in education, reflecting on past experiences with Google Expeditions and the shift towards AI in K12. The episode features an interview with Absolute. Reddit article about future of VR in...

In this episode, the guys discuss a security bulletin from Papercut, the launch of the digital SAT, and the release of an artificial intelligence framework for district leaders by ILO Group. They also address listener emails, including a question about parental access to web filters. The main topic focuses on tips for preparing for online testing season and large-scale assessments, prompted by a listener's story about a failed testing attempt in a cafeteria. News Stories:1. Papercut Security...

Josh and Mark discuss the decline in edtech investments after the pandemic and the impact it may have on the industry. They also touch on the renewal costs for VMware customers and the opportunity it presents for competitor Nutanix. The episode explores the importance of team growth in a school district, highlighting the benefits of knowledge sharing, proactive vs. reactive work, and shared responsibilities. Additionally, listeners inquire about erate efforts in smaller districts and the...

Hosts Josh, Chris, and Mark discuss a range of tech news stories, including articles on AT&T cell phone service outages, teachers avoiding AI tools, and the use of panic buttons for school safety. They also address a listener email about handling personal documents in district collaboration tools. The main topic focuses on holding a tabletop cybersecurity exercise with district leadership, with Chris sharing his experience leading a drill. Important lessons highlighted include making the...

Josh takes a few minutes to remind everyone to patch your systems, firewalls, servers, Veeam, VPNs, etc. He also talks about the importance of looking at your logs, especially those public facing devices. Finally, he brags that he submitted four 471s to E-Rate and all four of them went to "Wave Ready" status in less than six hours after upload. The majority of this episode is spent talking with Eric the Intern from K12TechPro. He left the K12 world recently and went to private industry. A few...

In the latest episode of the K12 Tech Talk Podcast, hosts Josh, Chris, and Mark discuss various news stories including a CISA alert about a former employee account compromise and Greenwich CT’s request for $600k to fix poor cell service at a high school. They also address listener emails regarding their dislike of Teams and feedback on the Principal’s Episode. The main topic of the episode centers around preparing for a virtual snow day, prompted by the recent blizzard in New York City that...

In this episode, we dive into the latest news in the K-12 technology world. We discuss who hacked into Fulton County, Georgia schools' computer systems, we touch on the FCC's Affordable Connectivity Program, and we trade thoughts on a Maine school that will begin biometric scanning for student attendance. We debrief the Clever MFA roadmap and how a student-friendly MFA could work. The main topic of the episode is an interview with the CEO of Rise Vision, Brian Loosbrock, where we discuss...

This is a special episode where we talk to principals and share our advice, or the advice we received from the K12 tech community, for how principals can better understand and work with their IT staff. Our tips and tricks were compiled based on feedback from /r/K12sysadmin and K12TechPro along with a few emails from listeners. We all recognize the importance of our school principals and we hope this episode will help improve the lives of both techs and principals by sharing four important...

In this episode, Josh, Chris, and Mark discuss the recent discovery of the largest data breach in history, with 26 billion records compromised. They also review Clever's newly released cyber security report, which includes information on student multi-factor authentication. They address listener emails regarding IT documentation software. The main topic of the episode is the National Education Tech Plan, which focuses on the digital access divide, digital design divide, and digital use divide...

In this episode, hosts Josh, Chris, and Mark discuss recent exploited vulnerabilities with Citrix, Google Chrome, and Sonicwall. They also delve into a proposed bill in the Federal government that could fund AI education in K-12 districts. They discuss a Reddit post about the dangers of shadow IT. The main topic of conversation revolves around the recent Raptor Technologies data breach and the role of school districts in reducing the risk of data breaches. News Links: CISA Pushes Federal...

In the this episode of the K12 Tech Talk Podcast, hosts Josh, Chris, and Mark discuss a range of news stories related to technology in education. They delve into the efforts made by Meta (Facebook) to make it harder for teens to access harmful content and the FTC's proposed strengthening of children's privacy rules. The hosts also address a staff member falling victim to a smishing attack. In the main topic of the episode, they explore a Reddit thread on budgeting for expensive but infrequent...

In this episode of the K12 Tech Talk Podcast, co-hosts Josh, Chris, and Mark discuss their return to school after the holiday break and share updates on their winter vacation projects. Mark presents a news story about a Minot woman charged with poisoning her boyfriend and they also discuss the "State of Ransomware" report from Emsisoft. They address listener emails, focusing on teachers who are tired of multifactor authentication (MFA) and offer strategies for dealing with complaints. The...

In the latest episode of the K12 Tech Talk Podcast, co-hosts Josh, Chris, and Mark dive into various topics. They start with a listener email about a teacher using nickel-based paint to block cell and WiFi signals in their classroom (as posted on the K12TechPro Community). They also discuss a Reddit thread about allowing a Nintendo Switch on the school network. They highlight the top stories of 2023, including artificial intelligence usage and readiness, cybersecurity concerns and the shift...

In the latest episode of the K12 Tech Talk Podcast, host Josh is joined by Mark and guest host Eric. W discuss a cyberattack on a school district in Butte and the recent Google outages. We then discuss a question regarding FERPA and the inclusion of student names in emails. The main topic of discussion is censorship, with the hosts sharing their practices and considerations when deciding to remove or censor content. Chris wasn’t able to join because this episode was too spicy, but Intern Eric...