K12 Tech Talk

Hosted by k12techtalk

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Episodes

200

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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About the show

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, Arista, HPE Aruba Networking, Blocksi, Chromebookparts.com, ClassLink, CTL, Eaton, Extreme Networks, Fortinet, Howard Technology Solutions, iDoc, IncidentIQ, Infoblox, INVZBL, Jupiter Education, Lightspeed Systems, Luma Technologies, Managed Methods, Meter, NTP, Papercut, Provision Data Solutions, Pondurance, PowerGistics, Prey, Rise Vision, Ruckus/Commscope, SaferWatch, Scale Computing, SHI, StatusGator, SomethingCool.com, Tripp Lite, Verkada, VIZOR ™ K12 Tech Talk

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60 recent

October 23, 2026Episode 28958 min

Episode 31 (Rerun) - Inside a School District’s Ransomware Nightmare

In this episode (Rerun), K12 Tech Talk shares an in‑depth interview with an anonymous school IT leader who goes by "Denzel" about a ransomware attack on his district. The conversation covers the full timeline - from first signs and containment to recovery, forensics, and the long tail of remediation. The episode features Josh, Chris, CORY and a guest identified as... Denzel. Denzel represents a mid‑sized district of roughly 3,000 students and 300 staff (1:1 Chromebooks for students and 450 staff laptops). He agreed to tell the story with partial anonymity so listeners could learn the operational and technical details. ———— Sponsored by: Rise Vision Lightspeed Systems Fortinet NTP ———— 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 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.

October 16, 2026Episode 28850 min

Episode 287 - Wearable AI and Hacked Refrigerators

In episode 287, Josh, Chris, and Mark discuss OpenAI’s upcoming text watermarking feature (and how easy it can be to bypass) and the limits of AI-detection tools. The news concerning hacked refrigerators in France is unpacked! The guys also talk about Amazon’s recent acquisition of the wearable AI company "Bee" and the launch of inexpensive always-on recording devices (wrist-worn and phone-back forms). They debate how districts should respond to wearable recorders - considering state recording laws, IEP and parent meeting recordings, test security, and whether existing device policies cover these new tools. https://www.reddit.com/r/k12sysadmin/comments/1wzhygu/proxy_hiding_in_the_googleapiscom_domain/ ———— Sponsored by: Rise Vision ClassLink Lightspeed Systems Fortinet NTP ———— 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 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.

October 9, 2026Episode 2871 hr 6 min

Episode 286 - Vibe Coding, Canvas, & Bidets

Episode 286 dives into Josh and Chris' Google Education Leaders Series meeting in Atlanta, a Brookings study tracking student reactions to school cell phone bans across a full school year, and Common Sense Media’s evaluation of ChatGPT for Teens. The Google coverage centers on Gemini and the new Canvas feature. The guys describe creating polished Google Sheets dashboards and accessible tools in minutes and show how quick, whimsical vibe coding can generate games - but they warn that those same creative powers let students build distractions or bypass controls. Finally, Chris interviews Skip Cooley from Managed Methods (Skip is a former K12 tech) and he introduces Cloud Admin - a new admin tool for Google Workspace that exposes recent admin activity, simplifies bulk user/group/device operations, manages shared calendars and allowed domains, and offers easier remediation without command‑line tools. Articles discussed: Guidance to Educational Institutions on Swatting Threats (ED and DOJ Dear Colleague Letter GEN-26-04, September 25, 2026) A year later, what teens tell us about school cellphone bans (Brookings, September 10, 2026; Dan Silver, Amie Rapaport, Morgan Polikoff) ChatGPT for Teens Risk Assessment (Common Sense Media Youth AI Safety Institute, updated October 7, 2026) Play the Josh-the-Avenger Game! *Mark created this game... this game is NOT as good as the game Chris created... but it's still good lolololol... Vide code your own Josh game... lol Controls: Space = Say NO to teachers Alt = Smash the AI bots with a Googlebook E = Use the Magical Bidet ———— Sponsored by: IncidentIQ VIZOR ClassLink Fortinet Extreme Networks NTP 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 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.

October 2, 2026Episode 28645 min

Episode 285 - Googlebook Arrives, Gemini Gems Ends

Episode 285 dives into a fast‑moving week of K12 tech news. The guys discuss Hazel Health (a telehealth provider reportedly targeted by the Direwolf ransomware group) and a confirmed Frontline breach. Josh, Chris, and Mark break down Google's latest moves - an early consumer rollout of Googlebook, the timeline for education management controls, and Google’s decision to retire Gemini Gems and migrate functionality into cross‑platform "skills." They debate the need for more granular Google Admin Console controls so districts can toggle AI features selectively rather than adopting an all‑or‑nothing rollout. The episode also features an interview with Michael Marassa about adopting Lumu for K12 cybersecurity. ———— Sponsored by: Lumu - https://lumu.io/blog/instructure-canvas-breach-k12-supply-chain-security/ - https://lumu.io/blog/chromebook-visibility-school-cyber-stack/ Fortinet Lightspeed Insight 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 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.

September 25, 2026Episode 28553 min

Episode 284 - Be Friends with Your Facilities Dept

In this episode, Chris, Mark, and AI Josh discuss research studies about classroom technology, AI tutors, student-device use, and the alarming state of U.S. school facilities. The main segment examines the GAO’s nationally representative survey of over 400 districts that found 1 in 5 schools closed at least one day last year due to a facility emergency, with an estimated 3.5 million lost student days and major impacts on telecom, WiFi, power, and climate control. The guys talk about how aging infrastructure, lack of capital bonds, and construction or maintenance work can directly damage networking closets, cause overheating or water intrusion, and disrupt classroom technology. https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-26-107970 ———— Sponsored by: Lumu - https://lumu.io/blog/instructure-canvas-breach-k12-supply-chain-security/ - https://lumu.io/blog/chromebook-visibility-school-cyber-stack/ Fortinet Incident IQ - Register for Overcoming Skepticism: AI’s Place in K-12 IT Operations Managed Methods VIZOR Chromebookparts.com - Contact customersupport@chromebookparts.com with the code: WELCOME TO CHROME IMPROVEMENT for an additional 10% percent off your next order! ———— 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 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.

September 18, 2026Episode 28452 min

Episode 283 - Florida’s AI Opt‑Out: What It Means for Schools, Teachers, and EdTech

On this episode, Josh, Mark, and Chris break down Florida’s new law requiring districts to notify parents in plain language when AI tools are used in classrooms and to offer opt‑outs - a policy the hosts unpack for feasibility, operational impact, and how it might force edtech vendors to add more granular control or risk being blocked. The guys also cover OpenAI’s $5 million grant program to study how generative AI affects teens, the recent launch of a teen‑specific ChatGPT experience, and how large districts like New York City are tightening YouTube access (allowing teachers to share videos via links but otherwise restricting the app). They discuss real classroom implications - from Grammarly and Quizlet adding AI features to Canva’s built‑in generators - and the difficulty of implementing opt‑outs at scale without creating headaches for IT staff and teachers. ChatGPT for Teens: https://openai.com/index/chatgpt-for-teens/ ———— Sponsored by: Lumu - https://lumu.io/blog/instructure-canvas-breach-k12-supply-chain-security/ - https://lumu.io/blog/chromebook-visibility-school-cyber-stack/ Fortinet Lightspeed Systems Managed Methods Chromebookparts.com - Contact customersupport@chromebookparts.com with the code: WELCOME TO CHROME IMPROVEMENT for an additional 10% percent off your next order! ———— 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 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.

September 11, 2026Episode 28340 min

Episode 282 - What happens when districts adopt Agentic AI?

In episode 282, Josh, Chris, and Mark cover the controversy over the White House’s new arcade site, the major cyberattack that shut down Springfield (MA) Public Schools, and Josh's takeaways from Google’s AI Educator event in Austin. The main segment dives deep into agentic AI - autonomous AI agents that can act on systems instead of only returning chat responses. The trio walks through scenarios that K–12 tech leaders need to consider: agents updating SIS rosters, automating procurement and purchase approvals, rebooting classroom devices via help-desk automation, and security use cases where camera-detected threats could trigger lockdown procedures. They debate thresholds for false positives, legal and reporting risks, and where to require human oversight. Google training that Josh talked about ———— Sponsored by: Lumu Fortinet ClassLink Adira Extreme Networks Chromebookparts.com - Contact customersupport@chromebookparts.com with the code: WELCOME TO CHROME IMPROVEMENT for an additional 10% percent off your next order! ———— 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 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.

September 4, 2026Episode 28239 min

Episode 281 - When the Biggest Districts Say "No" to AI

Josh, Chris, and Mark discuss the PaperCut vulnerability, Anthropic’s Claude for Teachers, and then... AI and screen-time. Policy and pedagogy take center stage with two of the country’s largest districts making opposite moves - New York City’s one-year pause on student-facing generative AI in K-8 and recommended screen-time limits, and LAUSD’s district-wide ban and filter-based blocking of generative AI. The guys unpack what those decisions mean for teachers, students, vendors (toggles on/off and paid feature concerns), and equity - including how teachers view AI as a productivity tool but remain cautious about its role in learning. ———— Sponsored by: Lumu Fortinet Lightspeed World Wide Technology Chromebookparts.com - Contact customersupport@chromebookparts.com with the code: WELCOME TO CHROME IMPROVEMENT for an additional 10% percent off your next order! ———— 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 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.

August 31, 2026Episode 28127 min

Episode 280 - Dell Technologies Education Strategist Marlo Gaddis

In this special Dell‑sponsored episode of K12 Tech Talk, Chris sits down with Marlo Gaddis, a former educator and current K‑12 Education Strategist at Dell. Marlo shares explains Dell’s reinvestment in K‑12 (focused on support over sales), and frames the major challenges and opportunities facing school technology leaders today. The conversation explores what has remained constant in K‑12 tech and highlights the importance of intentional, purpose‑driven technology use. Screen time is unpacked with practical takeaways: audit current practice, collect data (minutes and active vs passive usage), focus on the quality of learning experiences, and communicate clearly with families and the community. Marlo emphasizes active, meaningful uses of devices (creating, collaborating) versus passive consumption like doomscrolling. On AI, Marlo urges context‑based decisions rather than blanket bans or unrestricted access. Districts should assess readiness, define guardrails, evaluate continuously, and adopt AI where it legitimately solves instructional or operational problems. Budget pressures and sustainability are central themes: build plans that prioritize purpose, sustainability, and staffing, and rely on inventories and gap analyses to make data‑informed choices. Marlo’s leadership advice for new and seasoned K‑12 tech directors is concrete - know your people and culture, form cross‑department partnerships (curriculum, CFO, facilities, transportation), start with manageable wins, and use distributed leadership to scale change. ———— Dell K-12 Marlo’s recent YouTube video The K–12 Tech Reckoning Is Here Three Priorities Driving K-12 Technology Decisions Today | Dell From Acquisition to Accountability: The New Era of K–12 Technology Decisions ———— 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 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.

August 28, 2026Episode 28058 min

Episode 279 - Meta's $18B Settlement & Microsoft's Move to Passkeys

Josh, Chris and Mark talk back-to-school anecdotes - Chromebook rollouts, teacher tickets, and custodial tech onboarding, then dig into the news headlines of the week. First, Meta’s landmark $18 billion settlement with dozens of states over youth mental health concerns tied to Facebook and Instagram. The guys talk settlement terms, default safety measures for 13–17 year-olds (two-hour daily limits, night/school modes, restricted notifications), content-moderation defaults, and uncertainty about age verification. Next, they review the growing pushback in New York City public schools against AI adoption. Next, the guys dive into Microsoft’s move to make passkeys the default for Entra ID authentication. What is a passkey? How does it differ from SMS or authenticator codes? Microsoft's timeline? Finally, Chris interviews Amy Bennett, Chief of Staff at Lightspeed Systems, about screen time visibility and the product Insight. Amy demonstrates how districts can use screen-time analytics to benchmark usage by grade and app, drill down to school - and student-level views, and share transparent data with parents and boards to inform policy decisions. FULL VIDEO OF THE INSIGHT DEMO PORTION IS HERE --> https://youtu.be/zoT2qGJonSg ———— Sponsored by: Meter Lumu Fortinet Manged Methods Extreme Incident IQ Chromebookparts.com - Contact customersupport@chromebookparts.com with the code: WELCOME TO CHROME IMPROVEMENT for an additional 10% percent off your next order! ———— 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 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.

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