K12 Tech Talk

K12 Tech Talk

A K12TechPro Podcast. This podcast is about trending K12 technology topics and issues. Josh, Chris, and Mark have real conversations, real arguments, and real banter on IT issues and trends in K12 Schools. Current and Past Sponsors: Absolute, HPE Aruba Networking, Blocksi, ClassLink, CTL, Eaton, Extreme Networks, Fortinet, Howard Technology Solutions, iDoc, Infoblox, INVZBL, Jupiter Education, K12TechPro, Luma Technologies, Managed Methods, MidwestTechTalk, NTP, Papercut, Provision Data Solutions, Pondurance, PowerGistics, Prey, Rise Vision, Ruckus/Commscope, SaferWatch, Scale Computing, SHI, StatusGator, SomethingCool.com, Tripp Lite, Verkada, VIZOR

Episodes

April 24, 2025 60 mins

Join us in this episode as Josh, Mark, and special guest K12TechPro's Jason Rooks dive into two compelling stories surrounding curriculum opt-outs and the complex position schools find themselves in. They explore a recent Supreme Court case impacting parental rights in curriculum choices and how this trend affects K-12 institutions nationwide.

The discussion shifts to a significant executive order from Trump focusing on integrating...

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In this episode, we dive into the current issues surrounding technology tariffs and their impact on K-12 education. We explore how these tariffs affect school budgets and procurement processes, providing insights into recent changes and what schools should anticipate moving forward.

A segment is dedicated to addressing the complex topic of managing individual teacher requests for technology upgrades or changes. We share strategies ...

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Episode 209 covers a range of topics, including a recap of the PowerSchool interview, news on a UC Irvine study about AI usage among teens, potential cuts to K12 cybersecurity funding, and a humorous moment involving the Secretary of Education (A1!). The main focus is on exploring the potential impacts of the Department of Education's closure on K12 technology, examining the roles of key divisions like the Office of Educational Tec...

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Join Josh, Chris, and Mark as they host an exclusive interview with Mishka, the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) of PowerSchool, following a significant cyber incident that changed the landscape of K-12 cyber-security. Discover the human side of crisis management, starting with Mishka’s initial reaction to the attack and learn about the rapid response to contain the damage.

The discussion delves into PowerSchool's decision...

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April 3, 2025 56 mins

We travel to the Emerald City this week to hang out with the great folks at CoSN! This podcast episode, recorded live at the CoSN conference in Seattle, offers interviews with participants, organizers, and presenters. Topics centered around the human aspect of AI, cybersecurity, and some amazing innovations from school districts around the county!

00:00:00-Introduction 00:02:00-Edward McKaveney 00:09:15-Adam Garry 00:15:04-Dr. Rich...

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The big court case has finally arrived! We break down the oral arguments that were presented this week to the Supreme Court that will ultimately determine the fate of E-Rate. Will we see this essential program carry on or will the lower court's ruling strike down this key program? We discuss the arguments for and against with clips from the hearing this week.

We also discuss the potential for student MFA and what the K12TechPro Com...

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In this week's episode, Chris and Mark delve into a recent massive data breach that has had significant repercussions for hundreds of thousands of educators in Pennsylvania. They explore the startling details of the breach, discussing its implications and the timeline of the response.

The episode features an interview with Terry Loftus, the CIO of San Diego County and chair of the MS-ISAC Executive Committee. Loftus provides insigh...

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In this episode of the K12 Tech Talk podcast, hosts Josh, Chris, and Mark delve into the recent challenges facing K-12 technology in light of new tariffs and significant budget cuts. They discuss the potential impact of these economic and political changes on school services, with a specific focus on the technology and cybersecurity landscapes.

A key highlight of this episode is an in-depth analysis of the MS-ISAC funding cuts anno...

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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.

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SaferWatch

NTP

Classlink

Lightspeed

Fortinet

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Email us at k12techtalk@gmail...

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Tune in to hear insights on how some states are ramping up cell phone bans in schools and the implications this has for students and staff alike, including the extension to smartwatches, beepers, and pagers!

The guys also delve into a pivotal Supreme Court case regarding the E-rate program, unpacking the ramifications of the recent ruling that classifies E-rate as federal dollars. Consider how this may influence the next critical c...

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In this week's episode of the K12 Tech Talk podcast, the team dives into some pressing issues. We start with a discussion on how tariffs might affect project pricing for the coming year, exploring potential impacts on schools' budgets and strategies they might employ to mitigate these effects.

The conversation then shifts to Google's new Chrome security feature powered by AI. We debate the implications of this feature in terms of p...

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Join us in episode 201, as we dive into the intricate world of cybersecurity breach coaches. We start with a deep analysis of the latest cybersecurity reports from Clever and CoSN, highlighting critical vulnerabilities and the evolving landscape of K12 cybersecurity challenges.

In an exclusive interview, journalist Mark Keierleber from The 74 explores the clandestine operations of "breach coaches"—the hired guns who control the nar...

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The 200th episode of the K12 Tech Talk podcast was packed with special guests, laughs, and big announcements. Musician Colt Ball kicked things off with a live performance, and David Wren from NTP discussed K12TechPro's cybersecurity deals for schools. Tom Ryan shared insights on AI, while Chris Illingworth from Fortinet talked about...

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January 30, 2025 31 mins

We did this episode for about 45 minutes and realized we didn't hit record. It happens. This is a redo. It's a disaster. Really. Next week is a SPECIAL episode as we hit 200. Get ready for that. We promise next week will be better. In the meanwhile, we discuss:

Who pays for Chromebook repairs?

What will chip tariffs do to 25-26 purchases?

Cybersquaters! Origin stories!

FCC Cybersecurity Pilot Info

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00:00:00-Intr...

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In this lively episode of the K12 Tech Talk Podcast, a significant portion of the discussion focuses on recent updates regarding the PowerSchool data breach. The hosts shed light on the critical changes necessary for enhancing cybersecurity in school districts, including expanding MFA, moving away from outdated FTP to modern solutions, and embracing a culture of data reduction. They stress the importance of improving school distric...

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In this episode of the K12 Tech Talk Podcast, the team dives into the recent PowerSchool breach. Mark, who was recently featured on Canadian national news (Eh!), shares updates and insights into the breach's technical aspects, along with a breakdown on an article he published on K12TechPro.

The discussion also highlights the roles and responsibilities of K12 tech leaders in managing data breaches and emphasizes the importance of tr...

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In this episode, we explore humorous/serious use of AI joke writing (PowerSchool jokes), we have a discussion on cell phone bans being implemented across various school districts this new year, touching on one policy that involves fines.

The main focus, however, is a captivating story where a teacher was terminated for allegedly sharing her password, leading to students tampering with electronic records and facing charges. We tackl...

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This special episode of the K12 Tech Talk Podcast dissects the recent cybersecurity incident involving PowerSchool, a major provider of Student Information Systems (SIS) in the United States. Hosts Josh, Chris, and Mark discuss the details of the breach that saw PowerSchool send notifications to its customers about the possibility of sensitive data exposure.

We discuss the details of the breach that have been released by PowerSchoo...

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Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year from Josh, Chris, and Mark!   This is a re-release of Episode 31. It is an interview with Denzel. Denzel is the Tech Director at a school that was hit with ransomware. He shares details of the attack, from waking up and realizing over his morning coffee that they had major issues, to the day he realized the "bad guys" posted data they harvested online. His story drives home a fe...
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On this episode of the K12 Tech Talk podcast, we talk about AI misuse in schools, we recap 2024's hot topics, and we spend time discussing our predictions for 2025. Oh, and we talk about Chimp Crazy and Mark's recent interactions with Tonia Haddix on TikTok. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year - We're ready for break!

https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/2024-12/guidance-mobile-communications-best-practices.pdf

https://www.washi...

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