The Boyz of Edtech

In this episode of the Boys of EdTech, the crew is joined by Dr. Rick Surrency, Superintendent of Putnam County School District in Florida, for a powerful conversation on leadership, innovation, and what it takes to truly compete in today’s K-12 landscape. With nearly 50 years in education, Dr. Surrency shares his journey from coach and classroom teacher to an elected superintendent navigating one...

In this episode of the Boys of EdTech, the crew is joined by Tiffany Law, COO of the Institute for Education Innovation (IEI), for a candid conversation on what it really takes to build meaningful connections between district leaders and edtech partners. Tiffany shares her unconventional journey into education, transitioning from a 27-year career in the restaurant industry to helping build IEI fro...

In this episode of the Boys of EdTech, the crew flips the script and takes a step back to answer a question they have never fully addressed: who are they, what do they actually do, and most importantly, why do they care so deeply about K-12 education? From former superintendents and operators to go-to-market leaders and relationship builders, each member shares their journey into edtech and the un...

In this episode of the Boys of EdTech, the crew is joined by Jeff Patterson, Founder and CEO of Gaggle, for a deep dive into the origins of student safety technology and how the edtech landscape has evolved over the past two decades. Jeff shares his entrepreneurial journey—from starting businesses as a child to building early edtech tools in the late 90s—and the pivotal moment that led to Gaggle’s...

In this episode of the Boys of EdTech, Rick, Ryan, and Jeff are joined by Amanda Lanicek, CTO of Springtown ISD, for a candid and urgent conversation on navigating a major data breach in K-12 education. Amanda walks through her real-time response to the Instructure incident—from immediately disconnecting APIs and securing systems to communicating transparently with staff and families. She shares t...

In this episode of the Boys of EdTech, Matthew and Jacob are joined by Rob Dickson (Wichita Public Schools) and Kris Hagel (Peninsula School District) to explore the rise of “vibe coding” and what it means for the future of edtech. The conversation dives into how district leaders are increasingly building their own solutions using AI—often in hours instead of months—and why this shift is challengi...

In this episode of the Boys of EdTech, the crew is joined by Dr. Barbara Mullen, Superintendent of Rush-Henrietta Central School District, and Dr. Brittany Miller, leader of the Center for Outcomes-Based Contracting. Together, they unpack what it really takes to align edtech innovation with student success. Dr. Mullen shares her district’s “big rocks,” including facilities modernization, student w...

In this episode of the Boys of EdTech, the crew unpacks what’s actually happening on the ground—from AI overload and vendor noise to what truly cuts through when selling to school districts. The group breaks down why AI isn’t the differentiator anymore, how districts are thinking about build vs. buy decisions, and what vendors are getting wrong in their outreach. From cold email strategies that ac...

Join us for our inagruarl episode where the Boyz break down the ASU+GSV Summit, one of the most influential conferences in education technology in the world. The conversation covers everything from the wild networking opportunities and practical strategies for making the most of your conference experience, to the importance of genuine relationships and being intentional in connecting with leaders,...