Chips and Chalk

A great software demo can make anything look easy, but the real work starts after the contract is signed. In this episode of Chips & Chalk , Adam explores why successful K-12 technology projects are not won by flashy features or polished presentations. They are won through leadership, clear project ownership, disciplined scope management, effective communication, and operational excellence. Us...

When technology fails, communication becomes your most important tool. In this episode of Chips & Chalk, we discuss how effective communication impacts every aspect of K–12 technology leadership. We'll explore why silence creates panic, how misinformation spreads faster than facts, and how technology leaders can build trust before problems occur. We'll also share practical communication framew...

When students leave for summer break, the real work begins. In this episode of Chips & Chalk, Adam takes listeners behind the scenes of what it takes to prepare a 4,000-student school district, five schools, two administrative buildings, and thousands of devices with a seven-person technology team in just 56 working days. From classroom maintenance and device refreshes to infrastructure upgrad...

Your district's technology operation may be working, but is it sustainable? We discuss hero culture, technical debt, staffing, business risk, technology audits, and why some school systems are only one resignation away from discovering their biggest operational vulnerabilities.

Document cameras may be the most overlooked — and most consistently effective — tool in modern classrooms. While edtech chases AI, dashboards, gamification, and the next flashy platform, document cameras continue quietly supporting instruction every single day with almost no friction, minimal support overhead, and enormous instructional flexibility. In this episode of Chips & Chalk , we break...

Modern schools run on digital systems, hosted vendors, cloud platforms, and nonstop expectations. But when something breaks, whether it’s a snow day notification, a vendor outage, a login issue, or a workflow failure, everything somehow ends up in IT. In this episode of Chips & Chalk , we break down how K–12 districts accidentally turn technology departments into operational black holes where...

From the PowerSchool breach to the Naviance settlement and growing AI concerns, this episode of Chips & Chalk explores the uncomfortable reality of modern K-12 technology: student data is everywhere. We discuss vendor risk, privacy certifications, breach notifications families may never actually see, cloud vs. on-prem debates, and why districts often have little leverage against massive EdTech...

Alignment isn’t guaranteed, but the work still has to get done. This episode explores how K–12 tech leaders navigate competing priorities, professional tension, and real-world friction to deliver results without letting disagreement derail the mission.

What happens when school filtering meets student ingenuity? In this episode of Chips & Chalk , we unpack the messy reality behind K–12 web filtering, AI workarounds, “unblocked” game mirrors, personal devices, parent controls, and why every control eventually gets pressure-tested by teenagers. Real talk about risk, layers, and why the filter didn’t fail… kids happened. 

EdTech sounds great—until it hits the classroom. In this episode of Chips & Chalk , we break down what actually works in K-12 technology. From cutting through the noise to planning with the right people, building reliable systems, and supporting teachers the right way—this is a real look at why initiatives succeed or fail. No fluff. No theory. Just practical insight from the field. Because at...