The CoSN Podcast

As K–12 school districts grow increasingly dependent on always-on, secure, and high-performing networks, IT leaders face mounting challenges in managing complexity, ensuring security, and supporting digital learning at scale. With a surge in connected devices, cloud-based applications, and IoT infrastructure, the traditional approach to network operations continues to be tested. To track how distr...

How does a school district know whether it is prepared for a cybersecurity incident? Cybersecurity Awareness Month provides an opportunity to ask that question—and build practices that last throughout the year. In this episode of the CoSN podcast, the discussion explores how districts can assess their readiness, prioritize improvements, protect essential services, and prepare people to respond whe...

How can school districts turn change management into a consistent leadership practice? In the final episode of our three-part series, we explore the leadership recommendations in CoSN’s  2026 Blaschke Report,  Change Management for Education Technology: A Practical Guide for District Leaders , authored by  Jesse Davis, CoSN’s 2026 Blaschke Fellow . Building on Part 2’s discussion of ADKAR, this co...

When people struggle with a technology change, another training session may not address what they need. In Part 2 of this three-part CoSN podcast series, we explore ADKAR, the change management framework used in the 2026 Blaschke Report. Developed by Jeff Hiatt, founder of Prosci, ADKAR focuses on what individuals need to adopt and sustain a change. The conversation explains each outcome and consi...

A new system is up and running. Training is complete. But are the people expected to use it prepared for the change? In the first episode of this three-part CoSN podcast series, we explore the human and organizational side of education technology adoption through the 2026 Blaschke Report,  Change Management for Education Technology: A Practical Guide for District Leaders . The conversation examine...

How can schools make their technology last longer while spending less and creating less waste? In this episode of the CoSN Webinar Series, Louis McDonald, CETL, shares the work of CoSN’s K–12 Technology Environmental Sustainability Committee and walks through the practical decisions behind its best practices playbook. Louis examines six areas districts can act on: energy efficiency, sustainable ma...

Leading technology in a K–12 school system can be complex—and sometimes isolating. Technology leaders are expected to navigate cybersecurity, student data privacy, artificial intelligence, infrastructure, digital equity, budgeting, policy, and instructional needs, often at the same time. In this episode of the CoSN Podcast, two education technology experts discuss how CoSN membership connects lead...

School filtering is more than a technical setting—it is part of the infrastructure that helps districts provide safe, reliable access to digital learning. In this episode, we explore CoSN CIRCUITS’ brief,  Closing the Digital Safety Gap: E-Rate and the Evolution of School Filtering. The discussion looks at the filtering requirements connected to E-Rate, why school-managed devices offer stronger pr...

What does purposeful technology look like when a school district sustains a clear vision for more than a decade? In this episode of the Consortium for School Networking Podcast, we explore Dr. Stacy Hawthorne’s recent CoSN article, “Recognized: Sixteen Years of Purposeful Technology in Meriden Public Schools.” Meriden’s story demonstrates that meaningful technology integration is not defined by de...

For nearly three decades, E-Rate has helped schools and libraries afford the broadband and internal networks that support teaching, learning, communication, cybersecurity, and daily operations. Now, the Federal Communications Commission is reviewing whether the program should be narrowed, restructured, or potentially ended. This episode examines CoSN’s position, why being connected is not the same...

As districts begin the 2026–27 school year, education technology leaders face a demanding mix of responsibilities—from cybersecurity and artificial intelligence to screen-time concerns, procurement, professional learning, and federal funding. In this episode of  The CoSN Podcast , we examine ten practical CoSN resources designed to help K–12 leaders address immediate needs while building a stronge...

District leaders are being asked to respond to growing concerns about screen time while protecting the technology students rely on for learning, accessibility, assessment, intervention, and future readiness. This episode of the CoSN Podcast explores CoSN’s new resource,  ⁠From Screen Time Mandates to Purposeful Technology Policies and Guidance: A CoSN Guide for District Leaders—Extended Executive...

Schools are preparing students for a future they cannot fully predict—and asking educators to lead that work with technologies that can change almost as quickly as they arrive. In the third and final episode of the CoSN Podcast’s series exploring Cooper Sved’s work, the focus shifts from today’s devices to the skills, judgment, and professional support needed for what comes next. Drawing from Coop...

Cell phones are being removed from classrooms across the country, yet school-issued laptops, tablets, and other digital tools remain central to teaching and learning. Is that a contradiction—or an important distinction schools need to make? In Part 2 of the CoSN Podcast’s three-part series exploring Cooper Sved’s work, we examine the difference between limiting personal-device distractions and usi...

Welcome to the first episode of a new three-part Consortium for School Networking Podcast series exploring the work of Cooper Sved , CoSN’s 2025 Blaschke Fellow . As both a practicing public school teacher and an education researcher and analyst, Cooper brings research, policy, family perspectives, and classroom experience into one of education’s most complicated conversations: screen time. This s...

The future of learning is being written now. In this opening keynote from CoSN2026, two of K-12 education’s most influential voices look beyond today’s challenges to envision what thriving schools could and should become. Moderated by Eva Rodriguez, CETL , the conversation features David R. Schuler, Ph. D. , and Jean-Claude Brizard, M.S.Ed. , discussing how superintendents and education technology...

In this episode of the Consortium for School Networking Podcast, we explore key insights from the 2026 CoSN Network Meetup and the growing importance of fostering a true culture of belonging across K–12 education. The conversation examines how district leaders are moving beyond simple inclusion to create environments where students, staff, and community members feel valued, heard, and connected. F...

In Part 2 of this special two-part CoSN Podcast series, we move beyond the research presentations and into the engaging moderated discussion led by  Keith Krueger , CEO of CoSN. Rebecca Winthrop of the Brookings Institution and Andreas Schleicher of the OECD compare their findings, discuss where their research aligns, and explore what K–12 leaders should prioritize as artificial intelligence becom...

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping K–12 education, but what does the latest global research actually tell us? In Part 1 of this special two-part CoSN Podcast, we explore the key findings from the CoSN webinar  Perspectives on AI in K–12: Implications of New Global Research.  CoSN CEO  Keith Krueger  is joined by two of the world's leading education researchers: Rebecca Winthrop  of the B...

How do K-12 technology leaders communicate the value of their work in an era of increasing expectations, tighter budgets, and rapidly evolving technologies? In this episode of the Consortium for School Networking Podcast, we explore key insights from the recent CoSN webinar,  Unlocking the Value of EdTech Investments , led by Frankie J. Jackson, CETL®, RTSBA. Joining Frankie for the discussion wer...

In this special episode, recorded live at CoSN2026, Dr. Candice Odgers, Associate Dean and Chancellor's Professor at the University of California, Irvine, shares insights from more than 25 years of research on adolescent mental health and digital technology. Drawing on decades of longitudinal research following thousands of young people, Dr. Odgers explores what the evidence actually tells us...

In Part 2 of this special CoSN podcast series, the conversation moves beyond policy and research into the realities of implementation. Building on the foundation established in Part 1 , education leaders, practitioners, and policy experts explore what happens when screen time legislation and technology policies reach classrooms, schools, and communities. Drawing from CoSN's webinar,  Screen Time i...

Across the country, state leaders are considering legislation that could significantly change how technology is used in K–12 schools. From cell phone restrictions to broader screen time limits, policymakers are grappling with questions about student well-being, academic outcomes, digital access, and workforce readiness. In Part 1 of this two-part CoSN podcast series, we explore the policy landscap...

What does it mean to lead technology in today’s K–12 schools? In this episode, we explore the growing importance of the CETL® (Certified Education Technology Leader) credential and why it has become one of the most respected certifications in education technology leadership. Drawing from insights shared by Yenny Caceres and Robin Gunter during the recent CETL® Basics webinar, this conversation exa...

Two Global Voices on the Future of AI in K–12 Education Two of the world’s most influential education policy leaders come together for a timely, unscripted conversation on what AI means for schools—now and next. Rebecca Winthrop  (Brookings Institution) and  Andreas Schleicher  (OECD), lead authors of newly released, high-profile global reports on AI in K–12 education, go beyond the headlines to u...