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.
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Lightspeed
Extreme Networks
CTL
VIZOR
Fortinet
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Join the K12TechPro Community (exclusively for K12 Tech professionals)
Buy some swag (shirts, hoodies...)!!!
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OR our "professional" email addy is [email protected]
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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
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NTP
Managed Methods
CTL
VIZOR
Fortinet
--------------------
Join the K12TechPro Community (exclusively for K12 Tech professionals)
Buy some swag (shirts, hoodies...)!!!
Email us at [email protected]
OR our "professional" email addy is [email protected]
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?
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PowerGistics
Lightspeed (Check out Signal!)
Fortinet
--------------------
Join the K12TechPro Community (exclusively for K12 Tech professionals)
Buy some swag (shirts, hoodies...)!!!
Email us at [email protected]
OR our "professional" email addy is [email protected]
Call us at 314-329-0363
X @k12techtalkpod
Facebook
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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
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PowerGistics
NTP
--------------------
Join the K12TechPro Community (exclusively for K12 Tech professionals)
Buy some swag (shirts, hoodies...)!!!
Email us at [email protected]
OR our "professional" email addy is [email protected]
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 MidwestTechTalk 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.
Articles Referenced:
https://mashable.com/article/open-ai-education-canvas-partnership
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250708034741/en/PowerSchool-Announces-Antonio-Pietri-as-Next-CEO-Effective-October-6-2025
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/22/microsoft-sharepoint-chinese-hackers.html
https://www.k12dive.com/news/gop-senators-letter-trump-omb-frozen-education-funds/753366/
https://www.k12dive.com/news/states-sue-over-frozen-education-funds-Linda-McMahon-Trump-OMB/752995/
https://thejournal.com/articles/2025/07/23/ed-grant-portal-target-of-phishing-campaign.aspx?admgarea=News1
https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-issues-guidance-artificial-intelligence-use-schools-proposes-additional-supplemental-priority
 
00:00:00-Introduction00:06:14-News
00:19:00-Vendor Support for Small Districts
--------------------
PowerGistics
Lightspeed Systems
Managed Methods
Fortinet
Extreme Networks
NTP
--------------------
Email us at [email protected]
OR [email protected]
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.

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
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PowerGistics
Luma
Fortinet
Extreme Networks
VIZOR
--------------------
Email us at [email protected]
OR [email protected]
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 Gaddis 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 2025.
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
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PowerGistics' favorite Chromebook damage excuses
Fortinet
Lightspeed
Managed Methods
VIZOR
NTP
--------------------
Email us at [email protected]
OR [email protected]
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 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.