2025 IN CTO Clinic

Come hear about an effective way to deploy access control on classroom doors and off-line locks to create a safer environment within your school. Door prize given at end of session. 

As artificial intelligence becomes a tool for both innovation and exploitation, the tactics of cybercriminals are evolving at an alarming rate. This session will explore how AI is supercharging traditional social engineering attacks—making them faster, more convincing, and harder to detect. From deepfake audio to AI-generated phishing emails and impersonation scams, we’ll examine real-world examples of AI-driven threats targeting schools, businesses, and individuals. Attendees will learn how to identify these sophisticated attacks, implement protective strategies, and strengthen their organization’s human firewall. Whether you're a tech leader or just curious about the new frontier of cyber threats, this session will leave you more alert, informed, and prepared.

In today's digital landscape, K-12 educational institutions are increasingly targeted by cyberattacks, underscoring the critical need for robust cybersecurity measures to mitigate increased exposure due to lack of safeguards, human and technical. By understanding the current cybersecurity landscape and adopting best practices, districts can significantly enhance their defenses against cyber threats.
This session aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current cybersecurity landscape in schools, offer best practices to protect sensitive data, and equip participants with a practical framework to enhance their district's cybersecurity posture.

The "Leadership Lessons from The Princess Bride" session offers a unique and engaging perspective on leadership through the lens of this beloved classic film. Attendees will explore key themes like servant leadership, where true leaders put the needs of others first, as demonstrated by characters like Westley and Inigo Montoya. The session also emphasizes the importance of transparency, as seen in the way characters build trust by being honest and open with one another. Additionally, the value of encouraging others and lifting them up, as showcased through the relationships between the characters, will be highlighted. Perhaps most importantly, the session will dive into the concept of finding joy and resilience in the face of hardships, a theme central to the movie’s story. With these powerful leadership lessons and more, attendees will gain fresh insights into how to lead with heart, authenticity, and a sense of purpose.

We will be exploring the different ways diverse teams can be built. Both by design and by selection of candidates through different methodologies with an importance on recognizing our own biases and what they mean. 

As technology continues to play an integral role in K-12 education, school IT teams face increasing challenges in maintaining reliable, secure, and efficient digital environments. This session will explore how modern tools and strategies, particularly AI and observability, can transform IT operations and support education goals. We’ll begin by discussing the evolving role of K-12 technology personnel and the unique demands they face in today’s schools, then dive into the concept of observability, highlighting how it, alongside AI and machine learning, provides deep insights to proactively address system issues, enhance performance, and boost security.

In the education system, a student’s future is shaped by five distinct yet interconnected groups. Guardians, who advocate for their children's well-being; teachers, who impart knowledge; administration, who ensure the safety of the educational environment; the community, which provides a supportive backdrop for learning; and district leaders, whom analyze data and strategize to create a pathway for success. Learn how Franklin Township is using Digital Learning Grant funds for an AI pilot among our special population groups. The pilot will be in progress so attendees will learn first hand the results in engagement and assessment thus far in our pilot. Attendees will also learn about how the plan was formed to best meet the needs of our students.