K12 Tech Talk

In episode 268, Josh, Chris, and Mark break down the Federal Communications Commission's newly published proposed rule changes to the E‑Rate program. The conversation explains the scope of the public comment period, where the proposals came from, and what districts, consortia, and vendors should watch for over the… Read more

On this week’s episode, the guys test whether artificial intelligence can replace a person - with AI‑cloned "Josh" sprinkled through the episode. Chris and Mark cover the rapid early success of Apple’s new MacBook Neo, including Kansas City Public Schools’ plan to replace roughly 30,000 Windows PCs and Chromebooks… Read more

Episode 266 of the K12 Tech Talk podcast finds Josh, Chris and Mark diving into the summer school circus, national policy, guidance on watching movies in schools, and screen time. This week’s guest is Amy Bennett, Chief of Staff at Lightspeed Systems, who joins to unpack the screen time debate, data-driven monitoring,… Read more

On Episode 265, Josh, Chris, and Mark discuss the end‑of‑year scramble in K‑12 technology and a growing cultural moment - the Class of 2026’s strong reaction to AI at college commencements. The guys dive into several stories affecting schools - cybercriminal deep‑fake sextortion attacks using student photos from… Read more

On this episode, the guys discuss Google's announcement of the new "Googlebook" (a reported merge of Android and Chrome OS), growing controversy and litigation around iReady and screen time in schools, and a debrief of the recent Canvas/Instructure security incident with guest Michael Klein from the Institute for… Read more

Episode 263 covers the unfolding Instructure/Canvas breach by the threat group ShinyHunters. Josh, Chris, and Mark discuss the timeline, the potential scope of compromised data, and immediate steps schools should take. The episode also examines a new bill aimed at restricting AI companion chatbots for minors and… Read more

On Episode 262, Josh, Chris, and Mark discuss the risks of edtech tools that add generative AI without age checks or strong guardrails, share a new K12 SIX resource and rubric for security essentials, and cover email security best practices. For the main topic, the guys talk about "secure email." Districts are being… Read more

In episode 261 of K12 Tech Talk, the hosts are back from CoSN Chicago and revisit the P3 breach story that has been ongoing for the last few weeks. The latest reports show the stolen records have now been listed for sale, while the company has not issued a full public disclosure. On the screen time front, the hosts… Read more

Live from CoSN 2026 in Chicago, this episode brings quick conversations with leaders across K12. Guests include: Earl Franks, NAESP Jean-Claude Brizard, Digital Promise Global CTL (Jason and Michelle) Dr. Kari Murphy, Deer Park Joey Wender, SHLB Amanda Lanicek ("Amanda from LinkedIn") Joan Wade, AESA Jim Rowan, ASBO… Read more

The guys discuss the rising AI-driven security risks facing school districts, including convincing deepfake video and voice scams, advanced phishing, and the implications of new AI research such as Anthropic’s Mythos and Project Glasswing. They cover recent news items that affect K12 cybersecurity: proposed federal… Read more

Josh, Chris, and Mark debrief last week’s Infinite Campus interview, explaining new findings about the leaked support data - what was in the release, how directory-level information and PII were involved, and what districts can do to check and respond. They discuss vendor ticket practices, district ticket practices,… Read more

On this episode of the K12 Tech Talk podcast, Josh, Chris, and Mark interview Charlie Kratsch, CEO of Infinite Campus, about a confirmed cyber incident involving the company’s Salesforce instance. Charlie explains how attackers used a fast, professional vishing campaign and an imposter login domain to harvest… Read more

On this episode, the guys discuss how students are using AI and how districts are responding with pilots, policy lessons, and content controls. They share real pilot data showing most AI chats were educational, while a smaller portion involved attempts at academic dishonesty or flagged content. The conversation also… Read more

On Episode 255, Chris, Josh, and Mark return from the MidwestTechTalk Security Symposium to discuss several hot topics. They cover New Hampshire's recently revised data privacy law and the temporary fallout for school livestreams and events, plus a Chicago district using license plate data for residency enforcement.… Read more

On Episode 254 of K12 Tech Talk, Josh, Chris, and Mark break down Apple’s big announcement: the Mac Neo, a $499 laptop that many call a potential Chromebook killer. They compare specs, durability, repairability, management with Apple School Manager, resale value, and the extra operational costs and security… Read more

Live from the K12 SIX National Cybersecurity Leadership Conference in Albuquerque, Chris goes solo and interviews several attendees and leaders about practical K12 cybersecurity. Guests include Cory Rankin, a K12SIX member, who talks about community and membership benefits, Dr. Tim Tillman on building governance and… Read more

Josh, Chris, and Mark discuss Tennessee proposals that would severely restrict or ban classroom devices and online assessments for younger grades, and debate whether this is an overreaction or a needed reset on screen time. They discuss a widespread, sophisticated phishing campaign that hit many Midwest school… Read more

Chris, Josh, and Mark interview Mark Mark Keierleber from The 74 about his investigation into Flock license-plate cameras and how those camera networks are being queried by federal and out-of-state law enforcement. They then bring in cybersecurity expert Michael Klein to explain the impacts on schools, covering mass… Read more

Josh, Chris, and Mark discuss the 74 reporting that federal immigration agents have been tapping Flock license plate cameras, which leads to broader conversation about school and neighborhood cameras (Ring/Nest/home systems) balancing safety and privacy. The guys unpack a listener email about how K12 techs should… Read more

Episode 249 of K12 Tech Talk podcast has Josh, Chris, and Mark discussing their Olympic favorites, the latest news in K12, and the Snow Day Message winner: Option 3: Code Red - Montgomery County Public Schools (MD) The episode features an interview with Tyler Kingkade, national reporter at NBC News, about his recent… Read more

Episode 248 has a listener poll of viral snow-day announcement songs from districts around the country. Check out the videos below and tell us your favorite by emailing us at info@k12techtalkpodcast.com: Option 1: Benson Boone - Ozarks Schools (MO) Option 2: Extraordinary - Novi Community School District (MI) Option… Read more

On this episode we talk about free certifications, Google Gemini updates, and updates to Microsoft’s Copilot Teach and Study & Learn Agents. We discuss SSL certificate lifetime changes and ACME automation. Finally, we unpack and react to last week’s Senate hearing on screen time led by Senator Ted Cruz - including… Read more

Hosts Josh, Chris, and Mark unpack a week of wild headlines and K12 tech policy: viral AI images that complicated a search for wild vervet monkeys in St. Louis, Denver Public Schools’ decision to block ChatGPT for students, and a preview of a Senate hearing on kids and screen time. They discuss a Texas district… Read more

And we're back! We discuss the New Year spike in cyber attacks on schools over the holiday break and practical strategies for vacation periods - automated alerting, third‑party monitoring, suspending or shutting down non‑critical services. Other topics include what to look for when hiring technician, the rise of… Read more

Josh, Chris, and Mark close out the year on Episode 244 with a fast-paced, candid recap: reviewing last year’s predictions, unpacking the biggest 2025 themes, and making bold calls for 2026. Chris shares a story about Missouri-flavored smoked ribs and a district core switch outage. Key topics include the mainstreaming… Read more

Josh, Chris, and Mark discuss students and screen time - including Australia’s ban on social media accounts for under 16, a NTIA listening session on excessive screen time in schools, and proposed Missouri legislation limiting K‑5 screen use and tech‑required homework. They dig into enforcement and equity concerns,… Read more

Episode 242 digs into the messy rollout of ChatGPT for Teachers and what it means for districts. We discuss the first‑in admin problem, educator verification (pay‑stub/DNS issues), SSO/SAML concerns, the 18‑month trial/pricing uncertainty, and whether OpenAI rushed the launch to capture market share. We also cover… Read more

Episode 241 covers ChatGPT’s new free teacher tier (available through June 2027), Google’s Gemini 3.0 release, and Wired’s investigation into bathroom vape detectors (aka “snitch boxes”) that raise serious privacy and microphone concerns. The guys also discuss the Canadian Privacy Commissioner’s findings on the… Read more

On this episode of K12 Tech Talk, we cover a busy week in school tech: Linewize and Google outages, handling suspicious Google logins, parental pushes to tighten cell phone rules, and worries about AI being used to draft IEPs and 504 plans. We discuss reports of malware tied to Teachers Pay Teachers and discuss the… Read more

Join Josh and Mark on this week’s K‑12 Tech Talk as they break down the real-world effects of the federal government shutdown on schools, walk through a new federal AI bill (the GARD Act) and discuss major service outages that disrupted classrooms — including Chromebook/Google login problems, recent AWS and Entra… Read more

Holy MFA, Batman! This week, the guys discuss the sentencing of the individual behind the PowerSchool data breach, the recent AI weapons detection system that mistook a bag of chips for a gun and prompted police response, and Mark's Batman mask. Yes, it's Halloween time! The main segment is an interview with the tech… Read more

In this episode, we debrief last week’s Campus Guardian Angel interview, dig into Google’s new policy to delete inactive accounts after two years, and reflect on the recent AWS/DNS outage that impacted services. Then, K12TechPro's Hayden the New Guy brings multiple on‑site interviews from the MOREnet conference! Tech… Read more

On Episode 236 of K12 Tech Talk, we discuss California’s new law to protect students using AI chatbots and revisit Campus Guardian Angel, a startup building drone-based responses for active shooter scenarios. The episode features an in-depth interview with Justin Marston (CEO/co-founder) and Bill King (Chief Tactical… Read more

In this episode, Josh and Chris discuss the impact of personal device bans, noting increased Google Docs traffic and the creative ways students attempt to access unblocked games. Chris shares insights into managing content filtering and the ongoing battle with unwanted websites. Finally, Chris interviews Brian… Read more

This episode covers significant developments including the confirmed merger of Chrome and Android, the FCC's proposed changes to the E-rate program affecting school bus Wi-Fi and hotspots, and a critical discussion on controlling student account spamming and its associated risks like internal spam, data exfiltration,… Read more

Episode 233 discusses the newest tensions between AI and schools: teenagers using AI companions and alarming incidents tied to platforms like Character.ai that have drawn federal attention. Josh talks about his student MFA pilot using Clever, how onboarding works (and how MFA can be network-aware to reduce classroom… Read more

On Episode 222, we unpack a busy week in school tech: a nationwide Google outage that disrupted Chromebook logins, new Sophos data showing improving ransomware recovery and falling ransom payments, and CETA’s annual report putting AI at the top of state priorities. The conversation dives into the controversial campus… Read more

On this episode, Josh, Chris, and Mark unpack their top five back-to-school trends shaping K-12 technology in 2025. Topics include shifting budgets and funding pressures, rising costs for materials and software, widespread school cell phone policies and bell-to-bell enforcement, the rapid expansion of AI tools in… Read more

On this episode, the guys are back together with Mark sharing a story about a tech emergency during his recent Alaskan cruise vacation. This episode covers current events, including a potential cut in federal Title 1 funding and the elimination of all Title 2, 3, and 4 funding in a proposed House of Representatives… Read more

Josh and Chris recap the hectic second week of school, covering Chromebook rollouts, Clever headaches, cell‑phone bans, and a recent ChromeOS update rollback. They also ask the question "Is Esports a sport?" The episode highlight? A candid interview with Adeel Khan, founder and CEO of MagicSchool. Adeel shares… Read more

Josh and Chris talk about the first week back to school - Smartboard repairs, missing classroom printers, tech tickets, moving equipment, and more. They also share anecdotes about Mark’s Alaska trip (send pics for prizes). They also discuss vendor DPAs, the fallout from bell‑to‑bell cell phone bans, and creative MFA… Read more

Josh, Chris and Mark dive into the chaos of the back‑to‑school rush and the latest K‑12 tech headlines. Topics include Ohio’s new requirement that districts adopt AI policies, the pros and cons of writing evergreen AI regulations, and how that mandate could interact with existing tech agreements. The trio also covers… Read more

In this episode, we talk about AI (and other things)! We discuss the growing concerns surrounding school surveillance tools, examining case studies where innocent student jokes have led to harsh outcomes due to automated threat detection. Shifting gears, we look at the availability of AI tools like Gemini Pro and… Read more

This week, we're covering some hot topics making headlines, including the recent unfreezing of billions in education funds, new disability policies being considered in Louisiana that involve cameras in classrooms, and the rise of AI-powered instruction in a Texas private school. Beyond the news, our main topic is a… Read more

Join us this week as we welcome our new AI co-host and delve into the unique challenges and opportunities of vendor support in small districts. From the highlights of the MidwestTechTalk conference to the intricacies of tech support for small schools, we cover it all. Hear about the latest AI updates in education with… Read more

Josh, Chris, and Mark dive deep into the latest product and licensing changes announced by Google this summer. The trio discusses how Google's updates could impact schools, highlighting essential decisions IT Directors and educators need to make regarding AI tools like Gemini and NotebookLM. Special emphasis is placed… Read more

Join us for an exciting episode recorded live at the GAMEIS Conference in beautiful Savannah, Georgia. Our hosts dive into the world of education technology and cybersecurity with insights from key players in the field. Listeners will hear from prominent figures in the Georgia ed-tech scene, including Rusty Boone from… Read more

Join Josh and Mark on the K-12 Tech Talk Podcast as they tackle pressing issues impacting the education sector. This week, they delve into the Supreme Court's decision to preserve E-Rate funding, celebrating a 6-3 vote victory that aligns with predictions. Listen in as they break down the implications of dissenting… Read more

Welcome to this week's episode with Chris and Mark (Josh is on vacation!). We give a sneak peek of ISTE and its EdTech index and the five quality indicators that are setting new standards for EdTech vendors. This episode also examines the timely topic of staff transitions over the summer, unpacking the challenges… Read more

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… Read more

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.… Read more

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… Read more

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'… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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.… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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!… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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.… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

WARNING - This episode does have some "spicy" humor and language. Be aware if listening around children and/or small animals. Chris is gone, so Mark and Josh do their best to hold down the fort. They take a listener email from James about prepping for extreme heat and keeping datacenters cool. Mark and Josh play a… Read more

The studio is still under construction, but we do have a new logo and music! The news room will return soon (and Mark too). And we're still making adjustments. Josh and Chris discuss Android versus Apple, third party patching options, garage doors and sprinkler systems on the school's wifi, and the FCC's cybersecurity… Read more

The studio is under construction! Josh and Chris talk about student cell phone usage and give a shout out to Jason at K12TechPro, they discuss the FCC's approval of the cybersecurity pilot, Microsoft ditching Flip, and Chris' Infinite Campus woes. NTP is helping K12TechPro with the Meetups. Join us Virtually on August… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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.… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

In this episode, the guys 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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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.… Read more

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"… Read more

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… Read more

In the latest episode of the K12 Tech Talk Podcast, host Josh is joined by Mark and guest host Eric (AKA Eric the Intern). We 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… Read more

In this episode, hosts Josh, Chris, and Mark discuss various topics in the tech world. They start off by sharing news about a former K12 tech being charged with a cyberattack on the high school he worked for. They also talk about the tech they are thankful for. In the listener emails segment, they address a Reddit… Read more

In this episode, hosts Josh, Chris, and Mark dissect the latest in educational tech, covering the CRDC's revealing report on student tech access and the FCC's $200M cybersecurity pilot for K-12 schools. Listener emails bring forward challenges from the K12sysadmin subreddit, exploring the purpose in K-12 tech work.… Read more

We had a really nice agenda worked up for this episode, but right before we hit record, Mark dropped a bomb... Eventually, we got to the following agenda... In the latest episode of the K12 Tech Talk Podcast, Josh, Chris, and Mark discuss various news stories including an update on the recent data breaches in… Read more

In the latest episode of the K12 Tech Talk Podcast, co-hosts Josh, Chris, and Mark discuss their Halloween plans in the intro segment. In the news segment, they highlight two major data breaches, including hackers stealing student data from Clark County and directly emailing parents, as well as a data breach in… Read more

Sorry for the delay. We had major audio/video issues with our recording platform. Also, due to that issue, only audio again this week. In the latest episode of the K12 Tech Talk Podcast, hosts Josh, Chris, and Mark discuss several news stories related to technology in schools. They start by covering the ban on facial… Read more

Eric recounts the story of how his district was hit with ransomware in 2019 but narrowly escaped a major cyber attack. He describes the early days of the attack, including the response from his team and district, and then recounts how they recovered with only a very small grazing from the attack. His story is filled… Read more

In the latest episode of the K12 Tech Talk Podcast, co-host Chris shares an update on his SIS implementation struggles, highlighting some mistakes along the way. In the news segment, they discuss a recent ransomware attack on 14 Pinal County school districts and the shift towards data exfiltration in cyber threats.… Read more

In this episode, Mark and Josh sit down with the Godfather of Student Data Privacy, Steve Smith. Steve tells us how student data privacy became "a thing" for his district 15 years ago due to questions from parents, and it morphed into a national organization. He offers tips and pointers on how to get started if your… Read more

In this special episode we pay tribute to Pate Hogan, a special friend of the K12 Tech Talk Podcast. Pate appeared on the podcast multiple times over the last few years and we wanted to share some of our favorite moments with Pate. Thank you for the laughs and memories, Pate.

Chris starts the episode with a story about his bad day, talks for 10 minutes, then Mark realizes he didn't press the record button. For the remainder of the episode, Chris is mad at Mark and upset with the day he's had. He does attempt to tell the story again. The guys discuss 3 listener emails and the following:… Read more

Mark, Josh, and Chris discuss two listener emails, Google's third party apps, Google's 10 year announcement on Chromebooks, and they talk at length about contracts, terms of service, and how to handle agreements. Listen Here or on all major pod platforms Join the K12TechPro.com Community. Buy our merch!!!… Read more

This is a special episode - We sat down with Alaina Clark, the Assistant Director of Stakeholder Engagement at CISA. We were very happy she agreed to come on and chat with us about all things CISA. She talked about what CISA can help your district accomplish related to your cyber posture, the White House event, and… Read more

Every week we say this, but here we go again... It's been a rough few days for Mark and Josh. Mark started school this week and is tired and worn. From power outages to heatwaves, Mark experienced it during his first day of school. Josh had 3 days in a row with major SIS outages ranging from a half day to 20 minutes.… Read more

This is a wild one. We start out recapping our first two weeks of school, but quickly realize Josh is doing all the talking. We talk about a few news stories of cyber incidents at school districts in Connecticut and Maryland. While talking about these incidents, Mark takes offense that Josh and Chris thought Maryland… Read more

It was past Josh's bed time when this episode was recorded, so he let's Mark do all the talking. Mark shows off his Google Sheet skills by walking us through the CIS controls, specifically IG1. IG1 was mentioned at the White House Convening on K12 Cybersecurity a few weeks ago and we thought it was a good idea to… Read more

In this episode, we are happy to have a special guest with us, Josh from New Hampshire AKA "The Other Josh." He was one of approximately 15 K12 CIO's invited to last week's White House Convening. Josh gives us a bit of a behind the scenes look at everything from the e-vite to the event itself. We also have more "hot… Read more

In this episode, Chris recaps his trip to the Annual ISAC Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah last week. We talk about a new Papercut Vulnerability, a study that shows 47% of schools paid ransom groups, and Zoom's abrupt change to their TOS and Privacy Policy to include AI training. However, the majority of this… Read more

In this episode, Chris leads us off with sad stories about storms, power outages, dead UPSs, and dead servers. Mark leads us in a discussion about a new report from CISA titled "2022 Top Routinely Exploited Vulnerabilities." It is an interesting report on the top leveraged vulnerabilities for 2022 and methods to… Read more

The guys discuss the woes of new employees, employees changing positions, and employees leaving. They do a couple listener emails and discuss K12TechPro. Oh, and they try out a LIVE STREAM of the podcast via K12TechPro (more of that coming down the road probably!). Finally, Chris gives a bit more clarity on the… Read more

We are tired and worn out! Mark and Chris spent the early part of the week at MidwestTechTalk and they are worn out. Josh is tired from working a full week after being gone for 2 weeks to ALASKA. Mark and Chris recap the MidwestTechTalk conference and Mark shares his observations about Missouri. We talk about the… Read more

In this episode, Josh talks about Alaska. The guys talk about other things too, but mostly Josh talks about Alaska. Chris was probably supposed to post some additional links in the description, but he doesn't remember them... he only remembers Josh talking about Alaska. FCC Announcement about Cyber Security Funding AI… Read more

This is a special episode. We interview Christy Wyatt, the CEO of Absolute. Listen here (and on all major podcast platforms). Join the K12TechPro.com Community. K12 Tech Talk Absolute Resource Links Absolute Research Reports Absolute for Education/K12 Oh, and... Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com Tweet us… Read more

Chris, Josh, and Mark discuss the recent news that Fairfax County Public Schools sent teachers an appreciation email that ended up being a phishing test (Washington Post article), and they debate on if it was right or wrong to do. Too far maybe? Chris talks about setting up restricted Google access as well as doing… Read more

In this episode, we talk about the MoveIT vulnerability and the recent Fortinet SSL VPN vulnerability. The majority of the episode is spent covering the various versions of MFA, including a deep dive into what Passkeys are. If you are a Google Workspace school district, you should take note and enable the option for… Read more

Josh is on vacation, so it's the Chris and Mark Show! We discuss Microsoft OneDrive being down, the upcoming MidwestTechTalk conference, and most of the episode is spent taking the K12 Six cybersecurity self-assessment. Listen here (and on all major podcast platforms). Join the K12TechPro.com Community. Buy our… Read more

In this episode, we talk about the possibility of requiring Student MFA (thanks to a k12sysadmin post). We also talk about Chris prepping for his network admin to retire and the "brain dump" process they are undertaking. Finally, we talk about the recently announced change to "3rd Party Apps" authentication with… Read more

Chis is off napping somewhere so it is the Mark and Josh show. They recap the recently released "CoSN 2023 State of EdTech Leadership Survey" that was released this week. They go over 11 key findings and trends that came out of the study. Some might surprised you. Mark talks about figured out how to block… Read more

We quickly talk about the SchoolDude breach and Keepass's newly announced CVE. The majority of the episode is an interview with Lucas from PIRG. Lucas is the author of the study we referenced a few weeks ago in the episode "Chromebooks are Evil?." The study looks at "Chromebook Churn" and e-waste created by device… Read more

🎶Together and it feels so good...🎵 We are all together for the first time at the New Hampshire CTO Clinic! First and foremost, we thank Barbara and the committee for inviting us and making the trip possible - We had a blast! We got to hang out with the fine folks of the "Live Free or Die" State and talk all things… Read more

This is a bit of a special episode. We are in New Hampshire for the NHCTO Clinic, so we prerecorded a few interviews. The first interview you will hear is with Andrew and George from Lakota Local School District. George is a student in high school and is completing their Cyber Academy program and gaining Industry… Read more

Mark is worked up this week, but first... Chris asks us how to keep printers from getting to bad websites, we talk about the big PaperCut vulnerability announced last week, we compare Chris' personality and mannerisms to Ted Lasso, we talk about the new pending Federal Legislation to enhance K12 Cyber Security, and… Read more

In this episode, Josh is really confused about the artist known as SZA and CISA, Mark reads a listener email, Chris talks about the tabletop exercise he did with his district administration team, and the guys banter about Missouri's proposed Senate Bill 4 that could affect website access. Listen here (and on all major… Read more

We have a number of listener emails that we address tonight. One is about shutting down SIS during off hours in an effort to protect it from attacks, one is about the Chrome net-export exploit, and the final one is about our retrospective on the COVID Years. We talk about CISA's new tabletop exercise template and how… Read more

In this episode, the guys talk about key things to keep in mind when working with vendors to get Student Data Privacy Agreements signed. They also talk about the Clever outage on 4/6/2023. Josh also talks Chris into changing a Google Admin WiFi setting while riding in the car. Listen here (and on all major podcast… Read more

Chris is back after a suspension and traveling to the CoSN conference. He recaps some of the discussion and overall trending topics from the CoSN conference. He also discusses the fact that he did not appreciate Eric the Intern's love for walking everywhere in Austin (and other Eric antics). Josh talks about the 3CX… Read more

On this special episode (brought to you by ClassLink), Chris and Eric the Intern take a trip to Austin and spend the week at the CoSN conference! Because they interviewed so many and got such good content, we’ll be breaking this into two parts. You’ll hear from: -Eric Nicklas, Program Manager, MOREnet -Don… Read more

On this special episode (brought to you by ClassLink), Chris and Eric the Intern take a trip to Austin and spend the week at the CoSN conference! Because they interviewed so many and got such good content, we’ll be breaking this into two parts. You’ll hear from: -Eric Nicklas, Program Manager, MOREnet -Don… Read more

In tonight's episode Josh, Mark, and Eric the Intern chat about CISA's new K12 Cyber Report and their 3 fundamental items that all districts should be tackling... *hint, hint* one is MFA. Josh talks about his 3 internet outages that took place in the last 10 days and how that is causing him to look at backup WAN… Read more

Chris is on leave again this week, so Mark and Josh do their best to proceed without him. Mark recaps the K12 SIX Conference that was held in Austin, Texas. Josh talks about trying to change a SSID over to WPA3 and it did not go well. They also talk about a new method students are using to attempt to crack WPA2… Read more

This is the second part of the interview with Soheil Katal, the CIO for LAUSD. In Episode 108 Interview Part One, we set the stage and talk through the first few days of the cyber incident that took place in September 2022. Go back and listen to Part One if you have not already. In this episode Soheil talks about… Read more

In part one of our exclusive 2-part interview on K12 Tech Talk, we sat down with Soheil Katal, the Chief Information Officer (CIO) at Los Angeles School District, to discuss the recent ransomware attack that rocked the district's systems and caused disruption for students and staff alike. Katal shared his firsthand… Read more

BIG NEWS! In this episode, we set up Episode 108, an interview with Soheil Katal, the CIO of Los Angeles Unified School District. We are pretty certain this is the first one on one interview he has given, and we got it! As you can tell, we're excited. But first, in this episode, we mention a cheating scandal at a High… Read more

Our influx of listener emails continues, and we field a question about esports, one about recovering from COVID challenges, and we say G'day to a listener from Australia. We also spend a good amount of time talking about rolling out MFA requirements and a few settings in Google Admin Console that might make that… Read more

We had so many listener emails that we can't get to them all this week. We will save a few for next week, but keep 'em coming! A few weeks ago, we talked about Sh1mmer, the new shim package that was released that allowed individuals to remove Chromebooks from Google Admin Console, etc. We received an email from the… Read more

Mark is absent (AKA suspended for his actions last week), so Eric fills in for him. We have two listener emails; one about Chromebook rotation and one about interactive boards/panels. We talk about ChatGPT's Terms of Service requirement of 18 years old for use. We talk about Google Meet and Zoom supporting each… Read more

The guys are off the rails tonight. They have a listener email that asks some tough questions, they talk about the sh1mmer vulnerability affecting Chromebooks, and they talk about going down rabbit holes and spending time to address issues. Chris and Josh talk about an Extreme Networks boot camp they went to, and then… Read more

In this episode, Chris, Josh, and Mark talk details on their upcoming session at the SecurED Schools conference, they unpack two listener emails, give the latest on ChatGPT in their schools, and Mark shares an article about students viewing pornography at school and the tech dept's responsibility. The Fortinet… Read more

The guys are back from the holiday break and they are ready to go! ChatGPT is in the news and the guys talk through their stances on whether to block or allow, and valid uses for ChatGPT. In fact, during the episode, Mark used ChatGPT to write a policy about the use of personal devices at work... and it's amazing.… Read more

Last week the guys asked all the guests to look back at 2022, and give a forecast for 2023. In this episode, it's the guys' turn. They each take an assessment of 2022, and look forward to see what 2023 might hold. Also, Chris rants about being required to fill out the NCSR. Visit our sponsors: ClassLink Fortinet… Read more

Tonight we celebrate Episode 100 with a retrospective of sorts with visits from former guests, loyal listeners, former hosts (Cory), a sponsor, and one you won't believe. Somehow Chris convinced Jack Rhysider from Darknet Diaries to come on and help us celebrate episode 100. All of our guests (including Jack) talk… Read more

We took the week off for Thanksgiving to rest and relax, but we are back and hitting it hard! We as in Josh and Mark; Chris is in a Christmas parade at the time of this recording lolol. If you have not listened to Episodes 97 and 98, STOP NOW and go listen to those episodes first. 99 is the third episode in this… Read more

TELL ME I HAVE AN UGLY BABY!!! This is the second episode in our three part series about enhancing school district cybersecurity posture. Last week we spoke with Scott Elder, the Superintendent of Albuquerque Public Schools about their ransomware attack. This week we speak with Tom Ryan and Lenny Schad. Tom is the… Read more

Tonight 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. This is the first… Read more

In this episode the guys cover the E-Rate admin window, filling out the 2022 NCSR, and getting verified Twitter accounts for schools. Also, Josh talks about getting rid of an obsolete records system still running on Windows XP. Mark teases our upcoming 3 episode series with MEGA-sized district leaders examining… Read more

In this episode the guys tell their own Scary IT Stories that they have experienced. Josh and Chris recap the MOREnet conference and also talk about their struggles with e911. Mark talks about getting DKIM and DMARC set up on his email. Josh quickly talks about the FortiGate vulnerability that was announced a few… Read more

This week Chris and Josh hit the road! They are in Osage Beach, Missouri at the MOREnet Conference. They interview random K12 techs from across the state and ask them to tell their scary IT stories. Oh, and there might be a former K12 Tech Talk host that comes out of retirement and joins us for a few minutes. We talk… Read more

In this episode Chris talks about his new documentation project. Josh talks about his rough week with a fiber cut, a fender bender, and an intercom going belly up. Chris updates us on his e911 project and his frustrations with telco carriers. And there is also entirely too much discussion of crab rangoon. We are K12… Read more

In this episode Josh and Mark are concerned with Chris' dinner choices. Mark talks about Killnet and the current threat to government websites and schools. Josh shares a story about a weird Smartboard issue, a funny Seesaw story, and recent incidents at a few schools. Chris tells us about a UPS failing on the day his… Read more

In this episode we answer a few listener emails, Josh talks about the newly approved FEMA Cyber Grant, Mark talks about surfing his school WiFi while at Fenway Park, and Chris and Josh argue over WiFi on their baseball fields. Also, Chris' WiFi is terrible. Visit our sponsors: Rise Vision SomethingCool.com HPE/Aruba… Read more

Josh is gone; he said he had homework. Chris and Mark discuss some listener emails about hall passes and 2 factor. The guys talk about the podcast tweeting and emailing the FCC concerning E-Rate funding. They discuss 911 laws and requirements for schools. And then they talk about pizza. Visit our sponsors: Rise Vision… Read more

In this episode, Josh is sick and it shows. The guys talk a bit more about LAUSD and Josh takes issue with some of the talking heads throwing LAUSD IT leadership under the bus. Mark tells us about his horrific Seesaw experience. Chris talks about enabling Google 2 Factor in his district. Finally, Josh talks about a… Read more

It has been a busy week in the realm of K12 cybersecurity. News broke earlier in the week about LA Unified School District being hit with a ransomware event. Mark and Josh discuss LAUSD's response and transparency shown via their Twitter account - Los Angeles Unified (@LASchools) / Twitter The majority of the episode… Read more

The title says it all! Josh takes major issue with Quizlet this week and the ads they are serving to teachers and students. We have a listener email from Idaho about a bus camera server issue. Chris complains about student data/roster syncing. Mark tells us about his new sailboat. Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com… Read more

It was the first week of school for Chris and Josh. We guess it didn't go well for Chris, because he is absent tonight. Josh and Mark go over their takeaways from the Infinite Campus/Tyler Tech interview, we have a listener email from James about a "I told ya so moment," Mark talks about using Zoom Events for the… Read more

This is the big episode we have been looking forward to for weeks. We sat down with the CEO of Infinite Campus, Charlie Kratsch, and Sean Marlow, Senior VP at Tyler Technologies. This entire episode is dedicated to the recently announced partnership between Tyler and Infinite Campus. We ask questions like, what does… Read more

In this episode, there are listener emails from Dan and Marcus. Dan had a question about naming phone extensions and Marcus had a question about personal devices on the "production" network. Dan went the extra mile and sent us a beautiful photo he edited of Mark riding a buffalo! Josh recaps his trip to the MS-ISAC… Read more

It is the first week of August, you know what that means... People are showing up to school! We aren't finished with summer projects yet, but teachers are coming back... trying to get classrooms set up and killing our summer vibe! Josh is still cleaning up from his switch project, Mark is worried about students making… Read more

Chris and Josh hang out with David and Jonathan from Infoblox and unpack their IPAM, DNS, and DHCP management options as well as talk security. The guys mention the upcoming Infinite Campus/Tyler Technologies interview as well. Oh, and Mark is missed. Infoblox DDI Buyer's Guide Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com Tweet… Read more

Chris and Josh have returned from MidwestTechTalk and share their experiences. Meanwhile, Mark is in Idaho sampling the finest potatoes and riding horses, but he takes time to join the episode and share his thoughts on sub accounts and service account security. The biggest item of the week is the news that broke on… Read more

Tonight's episode features an email from listener Bill about a recent DDOS attack on his school. The concerning thing about this attack is that it has happened twice in a week from the same IP address. He is worried they are trying to find his firewall's breaking point. The majority of this episode is dedicated to an… Read more

Everyone is back for this episode! Chris talks about a dead server, whose Veeam backups were bad as well. Mark talks about looking for Cory during ISTE. Finally, Josh leads us through a "choose your own adventure" troubleshooting adventure. Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com Tweet us @k12techtalkpod Visit our LinkedIn… Read more

Josh is back this episode after a vacation and recovering from COVID... However, Chris is now absent due to a family vacation. Mark and Josh discuss the upcoming ISTE conference, and Mark's panel. Mark also sent out his first phish to his staff, and Josh talks about some phishing emails they are seeing in the wild.… Read more