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 incidents, and how districts should respond. Topics include the shutdown’s impact on SNAP, Head Start and school nutrition programs, proposed age‑verification and disclosure rules for AI chatbots, Character.ai’s under‑18 ban, Jamf’s acquisition by Francisco Partners, and practical outage response tactics (status checks, communications, and redundancy thresholds). Expect hands‑on advice about managing departed staff accounts and shared Drive ownership, recommended tools and resources, plus sponsor shoutouts and listener contact info. A concise, actionable episode for district tech leaders and educators navigating policy, reliability, and student safety. Our new Swag Store is OPEN - Buy some swag (tech dept gift boxes, shirts, hoodies...)!!! -------------------- NTP Lumu ChromebookParts.com YouTube Channel Jurassic Parts with ChromebookParts.com Extreme Networks Fortinet Managed Methods -------------------- Join the K12TechPro Community (exclusively for K12 Tech professionals) Buy some swag (tech dept gift boxes, shirts, hoodies...)!!! Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com OR our "professional" email addy is info@k12techtalkpodcast.com Call us at 314-329-0363 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.

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 team from Tahoe-Truckee Unified School District. They share their lessons learned from a highly ambitious project: rolling out multi-factor authentication (MFA) to every student. Learn how they tackled user experience and training to ensure stronger identity security for their entire K12 population. Our new Swag Store is OPEN - Buy some swag (tech dept gift boxes, shirts, hoodies...)!!! -------------------- ChromebookParts.com YouTube Channel Jurassic Parts with ChromebookParts.com Extreme Networks Fortinet Lightspeed Systems -------------------- Join the K12TechPro Community (exclusively for K12 Tech professionals) Buy some swag (tech dept gift boxes, shirts, hoodies...)!!! Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com OR our "professional" email addy is info@k12techtalkpodcast.com Call us at 314-329-0363 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.   VbucsvzZvpCvsgyEZcur

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 Department Salary Survey View the Dashboard Our new Swag Store is OPEN - Buy some swag (tech dept gift boxes, shirts, hoodies...)!!! -------------------- NTP ChromebookParts.com VIZOR Fortinet Managed Methods -------------------- Join the K12TechPro Community (exclusively for K12 Tech professionals) Buy some swag (tech dept gift boxes, shirts, hoodies...)!!! Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com OR our "professional" email addy is info@k12techtalkpodcast.com Call us at 314-329-0363 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 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 Officer/co-founder) from Campus Guardian Angel, covering drone design, networking, AI safeguards, operational tactics, digital twins of school layouts, integration with existing panic systems, and safety and ethical concerns. Chris, Josh, Mark, and the guests discuss technical details as well as broader policy questions about scaling, costs, and the role of legislators versus schools in preventing gun violence. Our new Swag Store is OPEN - Buy some swag (tech dept gift boxes, shirts, hoodies...)!!! -------------------- Lightspeed - K12TechPro Signal Review ChromebookParts.com Fortinet Extreme Networks -------------------- 00:00:00-Introduction to K12 Tech Talk 00:01:19-Jury Duty and Travel Tales 00:06:06-California AI Legislation 00:10:56-New York’s Lawsuit Against Social Media 00:13:58-Drones for School Safety 00:27:13-Drone Technology and Safety Features 00:33:17-Incident Response Protocol 00:55:29-Addressing the Root Problem -------------------- Join the K12TechPro Community (exclusively for K12 Tech professionals) Buy some swag (tech dept gift boxes, shirts, hoodies...)!!! Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com OR our "professional" email addy is info@k12techtalkpodcast.com Call us at 314-329-0363 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 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 Edwards, Director of Educational Streaming, with Swank Motion Pictures to discuss copyright, performance licensing, and streaming in K12.   Our new Swag Store is OPEN - Buy some swag (tech dept gift boxes, shirts, hoodies...)!!! -------------------- NTP Managed Methods VIZOR ChromebookParts.com Fortinet -------------------- Join the K12TechPro Community (exclusively for K12 Tech professionals) Buy some swag (tech dept gift boxes, shirts, hoodies...)!!! Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com OR our "professional" email addy is info@k12techtalkpodcast.com Call us at 314-329-0363 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 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, and privilege escalation.   Referenced Links: https://chromeunboxed.com/its-official-google-says-the-android-and-chromeos-merger-is-coming-next-year/ https://www.k12dive.com/news/fcc-erate-hotspot-school-bus-wifi-carr/759432/ https://statescoop.com/cisa-confirms-its-ending-ms-isac-support/ https://k12six.org/compromise 00:00:00-Intro 00:03:52-ChromeOS & Android Update 00:05:11-Federal Funding Shifts 00:14:49-Compromised Student Accounts   Our new Swag Store is OPEN - Buy some swag (tech dept gift boxes, shirts, hoodies...)!!! -------------------- Lightspeed - Chris' Signal Review Arista Fortinet -------------------- Join the K12TechPro Community (exclusively for K12 Tech professionals) Buy some swag (tech dept gift boxes, shirts, hoodies...)!!! Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com OR our "professional" email addy is info@k12techtalkpodcast.com Call us at 314-329-0363 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 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 friction), and using student-led help desks to test the rollout. The guys discuss a post from Jay on K12TechPro asking about IT leadership background (educators and non‑educators in K12 tech dept roles). The episode’s guest is Peter Kaplan from Fortinet, an E‑Rate expert. He breaks down why E‑Rate matters, outlines the FCC’s cybersecurity pilot (challenges with procurement, reporting, and evaluating success), and discusses gaps left by potential MS‑ISAC funding changes. He also highlights CISA's K12 resources and Fortinet’s no‑cost cybersecurity awareness materials for schools. Our new Swag Store is OPEN - Buy some swag (tech dept gift boxes, shirts, hoodies...)!!! -------------------- NTP Managed Methods Arista VIZOR Fortinet -------------------- Join the K12TechPro Community (exclusively for K12 Tech professionals) Buy some swag (tech dept gift boxes, shirts, hoodies...)!!! Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com OR our "professional" email addy is info@k12techtalkpodcast.com Call us at 314-329-0363 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 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 drone pilot approved in Florida (non‑lethal pepper‑ball drones and on‑demand airborne security) and the AI Whack‑A‑Mole challenge as AI features appear inside search engines and become hard to block. We also discuss promising advances in live, voice‑to‑voice translation for K12 meetings and classrooms. Our new Swag Store is OPEN - Buy some swag (tech dept gift boxes, shirts, hoodies...)!!! 00:00:00-Intro 00:09:46-Swag Store Update 00:12:59-Cybersecurity Trends 00:20:30-Killer Drones in Schools 00:30:53-AI Search 00:41:10-Real-Time Language Interpretation -------------------- Arista Lightspeed Systems Fortinet -------------------- Join the K12TechPro Community (exclusively for K12 Tech professionals) Buy some swag (tech dept gift boxes, shirts, hoodies...)!!! Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com OR our "professional" email addy is info@k12techtalkpodcast.com Call us at 314-329-0363 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 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 classrooms (including Notebook LM and Gemini), and growing school safety technology demands. The episode also highlights practical use cases for Notebook LM (flashcards, handbook summarization) and discusses vendor and licensing concerns. Our new Swag Store is OPEN - Buy some swag (tech dept gift boxes, shirts, hoodies...)!!! Josh talking about schools banning phones - The New York Times Notebook LM Flash Cards   00:00:00-Intro 00:01:41-School Year Kickoff 00:02:18-New Notebook LM Features 00:05:03-AI’s Role in Education 00:12:47-Top 5 Trending Topics in Education -------------------- NTP Managed Methods Arista VIZOR Fortinet -------------------- Join the K12TechPro Community (exclusively for K12 Tech professionals) Buy some swag (tech dept gift boxes, shirts, hoodies...)!!! Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com OR our "professional" email addy is info@k12techtalkpodcast.com Call us at 314-329-0363 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 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 budget. Chris, Josh, and Mark celebrate the news that Google will not be forced to sell off Chrome, as a judge ruled against this measure in a recent antitrust case. They delve into the challenges of managing both Office 365 and Google Workspace within the same school district. Finally, Chris interviews Greg Purcell, a customer of Prey.   00:00:00-Intro 00:06:24-Federal Funding Cuts (Again) 00:11:02-Google's Antitrust Conclusion 00:19:30-Managing Google & Office365   -------------------- Lightspeed Arista Fortinet Chromebookparts.com -------------------- Join the K12TechPro Community (exclusively for K12 Tech professionals) Buy some swag (shirts, hoodies...)!!! Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com OR our "professional" email addy is info@k12techtalkpodcast.com Call us at 314-329-0363 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 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 MagicSchool's origin story, how MagicSchool uses AI models with human‑in‑the‑loop evaluations, its focus on K12 privacy, and its plans for customizable district tools and an AI operating system for schools. -------------------- NTP Managed Methods Arista Fortinet -------------------- Join the K12TechPro Community (exclusively for K12 Tech professionals) Buy some swag (shirts, hoodies...)!!! Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com OR our "professional" email addy is info@k12techtalkpodcast.com Call us at 314-329-0363 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 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 options. -------------------- Lightspeed Extreme Networks CTL VIZOR Fortinet -------------------- Join the K12TechPro Community (exclusively for K12 Tech professionals) Buy some swag (shirts, hoodies...)!!! Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com OR our "professional" email addy is info@k12techtalkpodcast.com Call us at 314-329-0363 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, 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 recent news like ChatGPT‑5’s launch and integrations, a Fortinet vulnerability alert, and San Francisco Unified’s payroll/ERP struggles. Between updates they share candid stories from the frontline: ticket surges as staff return, construction and classroom rollouts, recovering deleted Google accounts, and practical coping strategies for IT teams (from daily planning tricks to quick wellness tips). Expect first‑hand anecdotes, real‑world advice for managing summer‑to‑school transitions and a light‑hearted finale — the improvised children’s story “Grumpy Josh and the Magical Gummies.” Tune in for an episode that blends policy debate, troubleshooting war stories, and a little comic relief. Referenced Links: https://marketbrief.edweek.org/regulation-policy/ohio-is-requiring-ai-policies-for-all-k-12-schools-will-other-states-follow/2025/08 https://www.govtech.com/education/k-12/sfusd-payroll-software-prompts-teachers-union-labor-complaint Grumpy Josh Storybook: https://g.co/gemini/share/477028792b1c 00:00:00-Intro 00:12:44-AI Policies in Education 00:17:00-Summer Woes 00:42:55-Grumpy Josh -------------------- NTP Managed Methods CTL VIZOR Fortinet -------------------- Join the K12TechPro Community (exclusively for K12 Tech professionals) Buy some swag (shirts, hoodies...)!!! Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com OR our "professional" email addy is info@k12techtalkpodcast.com Call us at 314-329-0363 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 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 ChatGPT for college students, including student discount programs. Also, we analyze a recent Common Sense Media report on AI teacher assistants, discussing their moderate risk rating, potential for invisible influence, concerns about novice teachers taking content as fact, and the risks associated with using AI for high-stakes circumstances like IEP creation or grading.    Much of the episode is spent unpacking Jay's K12TechPro survey regarding Gemini and NotebookLM in classrooms, revealing current district policies on AI use for staff and students, and the presence (or absence) of board policies.   Referenced URLs: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/08/07/ai-school-surveillance-gaggle-goguardian-bark/473cb556-737e-11f0-84e0-485bb531abeb_story.html https://apnews.com/article/ai-school-surveillance-gaggle-goguardian-bark-8c531cde8f9aee0b1ef06cfce109724a https://gemini.google/students/ https://help.openai.com/en/articles/10986084-student-discounts-for-chatgpt-terms-of-service https://www.commonsensemedia.org/sites/default/files/featured-content/files/csm-ai-risk-assessment-ai-teacher-assistants-final.pdf 00:00:00-Intro 00:14:21-Gemini & ChatGPT Student Promo 00:16:00-Surveilling Students 00:19:15-Common Sense Media - Bias in AI 00:25:43-Are you enabling AI for students? -------------------- PowerGistics Lightspeed (Check out Signal!) Fortinet -------------------- Join the K12TechPro Community (exclusively for K12 Tech professionals) Buy some swag (shirts, hoodies...)!!! Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com OR our "professional" email addy is info@k12techtalkpodcast.com Call us at 314-329-0363 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'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 deep dive into how states and schools are currently handling cell phone bans. We'll explore different approaches, from school-by-school discretion to bell-to-bell bans and even complete prohibitions on possession. We'll discuss the implications of these policies and what they mean for students and educators in the digital age.   News articles discussed: https://www.chalkbeat.org/2025/07/25/trump-administration-unfreezes-billions-in-education-funds-for-schools/ https://www.nola.com/news/education/la-schools-must-update-disability-policies-under-new-law/article_2951749d-d2ce-47d1-ae45-81b8d48237f9.html https://www.foxnews.com/us/ai-running-classroom-texas-school-students-say-its-awesome https://malegislature.gov/PressRoom/Detail?pressReleaseId=231   00:00:00-Intro 00:11:23-Controversial LA Law 00:16:43-Texas AI School 00:18:30-State Cell Phone Bans -------------------- PowerGistics NTP -------------------- Join the K12TechPro Community (exclusively for K12 Tech professionals) Buy some swag (shirts, hoodies...)!!! Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com OR our "professional" email addy is info@k12techtalkpodcast.com Call us at 314-329-0363 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 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 Midwest Tech Talk conference to the intricacies of tech support for small schools, we cover it all. Hear about the latest AI updates in education with Canvas integrating ChatGPT and the DOE's new AI guidelines. We also discuss the importance of vendor relationships, pricing transparency, and the impact of federal funding freezes. This episode features discussions with Chris and Mark about their experiences at the Midwest Tech Talk conference, what makes it a favorite among tech directors, and how small districts can improve their vendor interactions. 00:00:00-Introduction00:06:14-News 00:19:00-Vendor Support for Small Districts

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 on Google's move to enhance the classroom experience, with standalone products like Google Vids and other classroom management tools. Listeners can expect an exploration of Google's strategic updates in their offerings, along with insights on managing these changes effectively, especially in context with budget considerations and licensing shifts. Whether you're a tech director or a classroom teacher, this episode is packed with valuable information to help navigate the evolving educational technology landscape. News articles discussed:Supreme Court allows DoE layoffs - https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-trump-education-layoffs-9370415531185092341b16a6bfea9344 District sued by parent over digital hall pass software - https://www.oregonlive.com/education/2025/07/oregon-parent-takes-school-district-to-court-over-digital-hall-pass-privacy-issues.html ISTE EdTech Index now available in Clever, Classlink, and SchoolDay - https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/helping-schools-make-safer-smarter-edtech-connectionsnow-with-trusted-quality-indicators-302494504.html Google's Summer Updates - https://workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/2025/06/gemini-google-classroom-all-edu-editions.html   00:00:00-Intro 00:05:50-National Education News Update 00:08:25-Privacy Concerns in Schools 00:12:35-ISTE Edtech Index 00:14:40-Google Updates 00:17:20-Gemini & Notebook LM 00:24:38-Google Vids 00:26:36-Google Classroom 00:35:32-Google Meet 00:36:40-Class Tools 00:48:00-Licensing Changes Explained 00:55:08-Episode Wrap-Up and Next Steps -------------------- PowerGistics Luma 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.  

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 McIntosh County, who shares innovative Chromebook management strategies and the benefits of involving students in device care. Roman Gattis and Logan Evans discuss the growing importance of AI in schools, while Geekender makes a special appearance to talk about the role of the Reddit K12sysadmin community. From addressing challenges such as ransomware and cybersecurity to networking with peers and learning about the latest tech trends, this episode offers a comprehensive look at the opportunities and issues facing educational technology today. Tune in to experience the camaraderie, culinary delights, and cutting-edge content that defined the GAMEIS Conference 2023.   00:00:00-GAMEIS Conference 00:03:17-Rusty Boone 00:24:19-Chromebookparts.com 00:25:56-Craig Dinn 00:32:50-Clint & Holly 00:38:10-Logan Evans 00:48:50-Geekender! 00:53:10-Closing

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 voices seeking stricter non-delegation doctrines. The hosts shift gears to dissect the White House’s newly announced AI and Education Pledge, questioning the sustainability of funding pledges amid a federal education funding freeze affecting vital programs across 33 states. They detail the monetary impact this pause could have, reporting on fears of cuts following a pocket rescission. Riding the wave of announcements, Josh and Mark explore Google's latest suite of enhancements, including Gemini in Google Classroom, promoting advanced functionality in lesson planning and personalized learning tools. They highlight the innovative classroom management features now possible, particularly for English Language Learners, showcasing real-time translations and AI-driven assessments. However, the excitement is tempered by a deep dive into Google's new licensing structure, which clouds the atmosphere with costs rising. The changes demand strategic planning from districts, especially where financial constraints loom large following the expiration of ESSER funds. ----more---- 00:00:00-Intro 00:01:44-Supreme Court’s E-rate Decision 00:04:25-White House AI and Education Pledge 00:06:09-Federal Funding Pause Concerns 00:11:09-Google Announcements Overview 00:22:01-Google’s New Licensing Model 00:34:35-Closing Thoughts and Next Steps

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 associated with tech handovers, account management, and also the juggling act of summer vacations. A special highlight is the coverage of a recent study on the implementation of a cell phone ban in schools, exploring the profound impacts it has had on classroom culture, social interaction, and student focus. Additionally, we discuss... AI! We check out some highlights of Microsoft's 2025 AI and education report.   00:00:00-Intro 00:00:57-ISTE Preview 00:04:11-EdTech Rebranding 00:05:43-Cell Phone Ban Study Findings 00:11:04-AI in Education Report 00:18:17-Handling Employee Departures 00:36:10-Upcoming Events and Conferences -------------------- PowerGistics' favorite Chromebook damage excuses Fortinet Lightspeed Prey - Email k12tech@preyproject.com and/or click this link for info! 15% off first year! CTL CTL is introducing 3 new products this week and next: Updated: CTL Chromebook NL73 Gen 2, now with faster N150 processing, 2 clamshells and 1 touchscreen, 4/64 and 8/64 configurations New: CTL Chromebook PX121E, an 8/64 device with an expansive 12.2" screen for better immersive learning experiences Brand new: CTL Chromebox OPS device, which can breathe new life into existing interactive displays and bring them into the ChromeOS ecosystem for better classroom integration and simpler IT management They'll be showing these new products at ISTE starting June 30th, 2025... Booth #2049   -------------------- 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.