The Breakdown- Episode Archive:

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  Cyber Leadership Essentials: Cyber Hygiene that Works in K-12

  Caroline Lightfoot still remembers the first time Dickinson ISD tried to push a security control that touched every classroom. “MFA has been one of the easiest to implement,” she told us. “Our dedicated networking team took a very hands-on approach. They made it a priority to train each campus staff during faculty meetings.” Every teacher,…

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  The Geometry of Gratitude: Veterans’ Day 2025

  This weekend, I went to the Massachusetts National Cemetery to volunteer for Operation Flags for Vets. Since 2011, my husband (and sometimes family) and I volunteer together, placing flags on veterans’ graves or returning to collect them after holidays. It’s a tradition we’ve honored, done with care and reverence. But this time, it was just…

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  The K-12 Cybersecurity Threat Landscape

  If you’ve gone through any degree of cynbersecurity assessment, this is likely your experience: Once you have a snapshot of your current situation, how do you know what to do next? How do you compare to other schools or districts? And what should your highest priorities be. And then, how do you make any improvements…

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  Harborfields CSD – AI Workshop Resources

  Harborfields CSD  Date: November 4, 2025 SLIDES (PDF LINK) Welcome & Introductions KarAIoke Opening Challenge Learning Evolution: The New Era of AI in the Classroom Foundational AI Understanding Concerns & Roadmap Challenges around AI Bias Activity Deep Fakes/AI Literacy AI Literacy Challenge Responsible Use of AI Discussion/Reflection – Use of AI in the classroom Opportunities…

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  From Assessment to Action: A Practical Guide to K-12 Cybersecurity

  If you’ve gone through any degree of cynbersecurity assessment, this is likely your experience: Once you have a snapshot of your current situation, how do you know what to do next? How do you compare to other schools or districts? And what should your highest priorities be. And then, how do you make any improvements…

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  Student-First Security: Balancing Protection with Learning in K-12

  When Dickinson ISD Director of Technology Caroline Lightfoot describes her district’s approach to password resets, she captures the unique challenge of K-12 cybersecurity perfectly: “We know it’s a best practice to reset passwords regularly to improve security. However, because of the ‘students first’ approach, we’re not actually doing forced password resets for students in Pre-Kindergarten…

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  Growing Awareness, Practical Action: The K-12 Leadership & Cybersecurity Framework

  There’s a growing awareness among school and district leaders that cybersecurity isn’t just an IT issue. It’s a leadership issue. Every part of school operations now depends on technology, and when that technology is disrupted, so is learning. The K-12 Leadership & Cybersecurity Framework is an educator-led effort, built with input from IT and technology…

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  The TLDR Epidemic: When Reading Becomes Optional

  TLDR: We’re drowning in words but starving for attention. And it’s not just a personal shift. It’s a cultural one. Once upon a time, I read everything. Cereal boxes. Junk mail. The fine print on shampoo bottles. I inhaled books like oxygen. But six years ago, a series of strokes changed everything, damaging my optic…

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  Empower Educator Summit 2025 ~ Call for Proposals: September 28th Deadline

  Dear MASCD Members and Friends, We’re inviting YOU to take the stage at the Empowered Educator Summit 2025 on Saturday, November 1, 2025 (9:00 a.m.–1:30 p.m.) at the Four Points Sheraton in Norwood, MA. This is your chance to: Deliver a 10-minute Ignite Keynote Address to inspire our community Lead a 35–40 minute Discussion Session…

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  Enhanced Writing Experience on K12Leaders 2.0!

  We’re excited to announce a completely redesigned blogging platform that makes creating, managing, and sharing content easier than ever before! What’s New: 📝 Modern Writing Experience In-line editor – Write exactly as your readers will see it, with real-time preview Distraction-Free Interface – Clean, focused writing environment Mobile-Optimized – Create and edit posts seamlessly on any device Auto-Save – Never lose your work with automatic draft…