MAEDS 2024: Full Schedule

9:00am EDT

Accomplish More with Less with Microsoft Azure Hybrid Cloud for VDI, Containerized Apps, and AI at the edge. And leave VMware Behind!

Wednesday October 23, 2024 9:00am - 12:00pm EDT

Tower B

Speakers

DataON

DataON is a hybrid cloud computing company focused on delivering Microsoft Azure Stack HCI, on-premises compute and storage systems, intelligent edge AI/ML appliances and Microsoft Azure hybrid cloud services.Our company is helping enterprises and customers who have made the “Microsoft... Read More →

Wednesday October 23, 2024 9:00am - 12:00pm EDT
Tower B 153 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

Pre-Conference

9:00am EDT

Get Certified and Defend Your School Like a Pro: The Cybersecurity Rubric for Education is Thriving!

Wednesday October 23, 2024 9:00am - 12:00pm EDT

Mackinac

Speakers

Classlink

Wednesday October 23, 2024 9:00am - 12:00pm EDT
Mackinac 151 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

Pre-Conference

9:00am EDT

ISDs’ working together to provide streamlined security & cloud hosting services for local education agencies!

Wednesday October 23, 2024 9:00am - 12:00pm EDT

Peninsula

Speakers

Tammy Evans

Director, MiCH IT / MAISA

Tammy is currently the MiCH IT Director. She previously held the role of Assistant Superintendent / CIO role for Oakland Schools. Tammy has 30 years in educational technology and has led multiple regional and statewide integrations and enterprise system implementations.

MiSecure & MiCloud

Wednesday October 23, 2024 9:00am - 12:00pm EDT
Peninsula 150 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

Pre-Conference

9:00am EDT

PowerSchool - Are You AI Ready?

Wednesday October 23, 2024 9:00am - 12:00pm EDT

Tower A

Workshop for Evaluating AI Applications and Ensuring Organizational Readiness for your Classroom, School, or District.

With the unprecedented surge in AI solutions for education, it’s vital to consider factors to ensure that this new technology aligns with educational goals and benefits both students and educators and also incorporates the required guardrails for safety, ethics, and long-term sustainability.

Our Education Strategy Team will provide a 4-hour workshop to guide participants through Data Privacy and Security, Model Performance and Accuracy, Bias and Fairness, Interpretability and Explainability, Scalability and Sustainability as well as Interoperability and Training for implementing AI in a district. We will provide guidance on how can schools and districts be thoughtful and prepared for AI adoption and use.

This session will be workshop format and provide valuable materials for districts to use with teams back in their schools and districts.

This session will also feature
Aaron Baughman | Assistant Superintendent of Instruction at Northville Public Schools & AI Enthusiast
Joel Lathrop | Education Strategy Director (AI, Security, Data and Analytics) at PowerSchool

Speakers

Edward Dedic

VP Education Strategy, PowerSchool

Ed Dedic is Vice President of Education Strategy, PowerSchool student solutions and state data collection solutions. He helps helping drive thought leadership and direction for the market, districts states and PowerSchool. He is actively engaged in working groups for 1EdTech, CEDS... Read More →

PowerSchool

Marketing Events Lead, PowerSchool

PowerSchool (NYSE: PWSC) is the leading provider of cloud-based software for K-12 education in North America. Its mission is to power the education ecosystem with unified technology that helps educators and students realize their full potential, in their way. PowerSchool connects... Read More →

Wednesday October 23, 2024 9:00am - 12:00pm EDT
Tower A 152 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

Pre-Conference

1:40pm EDT

Journey to Datacenter 2.0

Wednesday October 23, 2024 1:40pm - 2:40pm EDT

Tower C

Synopsis: When NetApp announced the EOL for our Solidfire clusters in mid-2021, we faced a critical choice. The cost of replacing our SAN with new scale-out solutions was prohibitive, exacerbated by COVID supply chain issues and slow Cisco support. We needed a new approach to our datacenter strategy.

After exploring various scale-out HCI options, narrowing our focus on hypervisors that support VSAN and with the VMware acquisition by Broadcom announced in 2022, it only reaffirmed our need for a fresh start. That was when we were introduced to Verge.io.

In this session, we'll delve into the capabilities of VergeOS and discuss how it has reshaped our entire datacenter approach. We’ll feature a technical discussion with Verge.io’s SVP of Engineering, offering insights into the solution’s innovative virtualized datacenter infrastructure design which made our dream of datacenter 2.0 a reality.

Speakers

James Marsack

Senior Network Engineer, St. Clair County RESA

Wednesday October 23, 2024 1:40pm - 2:40pm EDT
Tower C 154 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

Cloud

1:40pm EDT

Ensuring Excellence: Michigan DataHub's Data Verification Tools in MiDataHub

Wednesday October 23, 2024 1:40pm - 2:40pm EDT

Tower B

Join us for an insightful session on "Ensuring Excellence: Michigan DataHub's Data Verification Tools." In this session, you'll discover the critical role data quality plays in the success of data integrations and legislative reporting. We will showcase MiDataHub’s robust data quality tools through a live demonstration, highlighting key features such as the Benchmark Assessment feature, the At a Glance Report, and Custom Exports. Learn how these tools are designed to ensure your data integrations are accurate and reliable, empowering you to achieve seamless and successful data management across your systems. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your data quality practices with Michigan DataHub!

Speakers

Melissa Tront

Senior Integration Analyst, MiDataHub

Hi there! I'm Melissa, a Senior Integration Analyst with MiDataHub. With over 15 years of experience in education, my passion lies in streamlining system integrations to support local districts in Michigan with their state initiatives through MiDataHub. As a lifelong resident of southwest... Read More →

Wednesday October 23, 2024 1:40pm - 2:40pm EDT
Tower B 153 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

Data

1:40pm EDT

Google Admin Console: new and improved!

Wednesday October 23, 2024 1:40pm - 2:40pm EDT

Peninsula

Keeping up with constant changes to the Google Admin console is challenging. This workshop is your shortcut to success! Get a rapid fire summary of the latest Google admin updates for Classroom, Meet, Drive, Chromebooks, and more. These new features and options will help you manage your users, services, and devices and improve learning in your district.

Speakers

John Sowash

IT Admin, Sowash Ventures

I taught high school English and biology and served as a high school principal in Michigan where I live with my wife and five kids. I am the author of The Chromebook Classroomand and founder of the Google Certification Academy. You can connect with me through my blog, podcast, and... Read More →

Wednesday October 23, 2024 1:40pm - 2:40pm EDT
Peninsula 150 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

Device Management

1:40pm EDT

New To EDU: Getting Started in K12 Tech Support

Wednesday October 23, 2024 1:40pm - 2:40pm EDT

Tower A

In this session we will be focused on content that can help those folks who are just starting their careers or who have switched their careers over to K12 educational technology support. Come discover all the things you didn't know you needed to know ... We'll talk about various services and platforms that you will want to become comfortable with. We will go over resources that you should keep handy as you settle into your role supporting K12 educators and learners. We'll share real-world examples of the 'fun ones' we've had over the years so that those situations don't catch you off guard.

Speakers

Chris Thomas

Desktop Engineer, Ingham Intermediate School District

Chris Thomas has supported technology in K-12 public schools for the last 23 years and now serves as the Desktop Engineer supporting Ingham Intermediate School District, Eaton RESA, and 5 local education associations. He is also an active member of the Configuration Manager community... Read More →

Wednesday October 23, 2024 1:40pm - 2:40pm EDT
Tower A 152 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

Leadership

1:40pm EDT

Incident Response Planning - Crawl, Walk, Run

Wednesday October 23, 2024 1:40pm - 2:40pm EDT

Mackinac

In an era of increasing cybersecurity threats, educational institutions must be prepared to respond effectively to incidents that could disrupt learning, compromise sensitive data, or damage reputations. This professional development session will introduce participants to the three Incident Response templates crafted by the members of the Cybersecurity TaskForce over the last year.

These templates have been developed to address the unique challenges faced by public school districts. The templates range from a Single Page (Crawl), Multi-Page (Walk), and In-Depth (Run) that are freely available on the MiSecure website.

Participants will leave with copies of the documents tailored to their organization.

Speakers

Nicholas Hay

Director of Information Services, Monroe County ISD

Matt McMahon

Director, MiSecure | MAISA

Former Associate Superintendent for Technology at Gratiot-Isabella RESD, Matt is now part of the MiSecure team established in 2023 to help defend K12 against cyber threats.

Nick Morse

Cybersecurity Consultant, Kent ISD

Wednesday October 23, 2024 1:40pm - 2:40pm EDT
Mackinac 151 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

Security

2:50pm EDT

Choosing the Right Cloud: Google Cloud vs. Microsoft OneDrive for File Storage

Wednesday October 23, 2024 2:50pm - 3:50pm EDT

Peninsula

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, moving file storage to the cloud is not just a trend—it's a necessity. This session brings together professionals with deep experience in both Google Cloud and Microsoft OneDrive to guide you through the pros and cons of migrating your organization's file storage to either platform. The discussion will provide an in-depth comparison of these leading options, covering key aspects such as security, scalability, and ease of integration. Whether you're considering a shift to the cloud or looking to optimize your current setup, this session will equip you with the insights needed to make an informed decision tailored to your organization's needs.

Speakers

Nicholas Hay

Director of Information Services, Monroe County ISD

Eric Krebill

Executive Board Member, MAEDS

Wednesday October 23, 2024 2:50pm - 3:50pm EDT
Peninsula 150 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

Cloud

2:50pm EDT

Better Together: Scaling Shared IT Services Across Michigan to Ensure Equity While Prioritizing Staff Retention (with a Smile)

Wednesday October 23, 2024 2:50pm - 3:50pm EDT

Tower C

Description:
Ready to geek out and empathize a little while solving big IT problems? This session will present key findings from our feasibility studies on consolidating and expanding shared IT services across Michigan's K-12 landscape to achieve more equitable services. We explored the potential for intermediate school districts (ISDs) to offer centralized services like Service Desk, network engineering, administration, Cloud storage, and more on a regional or statewide basis. Spoiler alert: we’re all about finding solutions that promote digital equity and make IT staff smile (yes, really!).

The studies analyzed current IT services, projected costs, implementation roadmaps, and benefits of a consolidated model. Our guiding principles? Ensuring equitable access, enhancing network reliability and security, leveraging shared services, and—you guessed it—improving staff retention rates and tackling the things that keep you up at night. Who doesn’t want to give their overworked staff a real vacation without having to log in?

We'll share real-world staffing and operational data from multiple ISDs, giving you the inside scoop. The session will cover our "working backwards" approach, starting with a vision for an equitable future state that provides engaging IT career paths, and then offering some nitty-gritty details of possible approaches to implementation.

Attendees will gain insights into:
-Potential for centralized services to provide enriching professional development opportunities (Ever thought about career coaching for IT ninjas?)
-Roadmap for phased implementation prioritizing underserved areas and staff wellbeing (Because who doesn’t love a good roadmap?)
-Identifying the indicators that help you recognize when the timing is right for collaboration efforts and start planning for increased stability (We all need indicators, even if we don’t all use our turn signals)
-Challenges faced and solutions for improving IT staff job satisfaction (Let’s face it, happy IT folks = happy schools)
-Opportunities for skills diversification and reduced burnout in a shared services model (Because variety is the spice of IT life)

Whether your district currently offers shared services or is simply interested in improving IT workforce retention, this session provides valuable data-backed insights. Come learn about collaborating across districts to create rewarding technology roles that attract and retain top talent for the benefit of all our schools and students.

Plus, we promise at least one bad tech joke. (Why do programmers prefer dark mode? Because light attracts bugs!)

See you there!

Speakers

Diane Talo

Director, Consolidation Grants, Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators

Diane Talo is an accomplished educator and program evaluation specialist with over 30 years ofexperience in transforming educational landscapes through innovative collaborations. As apassionate advocate for enhancing teaching and learning through strategic partnerships acrossISDs... Read More →

Wednesday October 23, 2024 2:50pm - 3:50pm EDT
Tower C 154 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

Data

2:50pm EDT

Proven Techniques for Deploying and Managing Chromebooks

Wednesday October 23, 2024 2:50pm - 3:50pm EDT

Mackinac

Get practical advice, tips, and tools for developing a successful Chromebook program at your school. Whether you are just getting started with Chromebooks, or are already managing thousands of them, you will learn essential tools, practices, and strategies for deploying, managing, monitoring, and protecting your devices. These tips will save you time and money and help ensure your devices are optimized for learning.

Speakers

John Sowash

IT Admin, Sowash Ventures

Wednesday October 23, 2024 2:50pm - 3:50pm EDT
Mackinac 151 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

Device Management

2:50pm EDT

Navigating Continuity of Operations Challenges Successfully

Wednesday October 23, 2024 2:50pm - 3:50pm EDT

Tower B

Speakers

Brandi Reynolds

Director of Technology, Northwest Education Services

I have been an educator for 24 years, beginning as a middle school teacher, then as an instructional tech coach, and as Technology Director for both a local district and now for Northwest Education Services. I am grateful to work with so many schools within our region to address... Read More →

Wednesday October 23, 2024 2:50pm - 3:50pm EDT
Tower B 153 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

Leadership

2:50pm EDT

Securing Active Directory with PowerShell & Other Tools

Wednesday October 23, 2024 2:50pm - 3:50pm EDT

Tower A

An overview of numerous tools (Ping Castle, Script Sentry, and more) and PowerShell strategies to secure your Active Directory and Windows Server environment(s). Approaching security from an assumed breach point of view, and utilizing the ACT Cycle to assess, configure, and test (pentest).

Speakers

James Tyler

Director of Technology, Niles Community Schools

Author of PowerShell for Systems Engineers (ISBN 979-8387045530), MAEDS Presenter (2022, 2023, 2024), Board Member, Watervliet Public Schools Board of Education

Wednesday October 23, 2024 2:50pm - 3:50pm EDT
Tower A 152 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

Security

4:10pm EDT

AV over IP technologies - Basics you should know

Wednesday October 23, 2024 4:10pm - 5:10pm EDT

Tower C

AV systems continue to evolve and call to ride on your production networks. What do you need to know as a technology director, network engineer, and technician about these systems and what practical steps do you need to take to prepare your networks to support these technologies? You'll learn this and how to take an IT-centric view of the AV industry.

Speakers

Steve Van Dyke

Data Center Systems Specialist, Portage Public Schools

I'm in my 18th year of serving the needs of Portage Public Schools - Not only as a key member of the technology department handing day-to-day operations of our systems, but also as a leader in the Southwest Michigan area of audio/visual/lighting design & engineering, and controls... Read More →

Wednesday October 23, 2024 4:10pm - 5:10pm EDT
Tower C 154 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

Audio/Visual

4:10pm EDT

The Cloud is More Than Just VMs!

Wednesday October 23, 2024 4:10pm - 5:10pm EDT

Mackinac

You're strongly considering moving to the cloud… but what are you getting? Is the cloud more than just "someone else's datacenter?" Is it more than just VMs? Oh yeah it is! Let's talk about all of the other things you get from the cloud - from management and monitoring to security to managed services. KRESA uses over 50 AWS services so we'll cover some of the things we're using and how we're using them to do things at scale we couldn't do in our datacenter.

Speakers

Michael Coats

Wednesday October 23, 2024 4:10pm - 5:10pm EDT
Mackinac 151 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

Cloud

4:10pm EDT

The Seams in your Seamless Integrations

Wednesday October 23, 2024 4:10pm - 5:10pm EDT

Tower B

In this roundtable, we’ll explore the promises and challenges of seamless integration with PowerSchool. How do you successfully get your data to your vendors? What works well, and what doesn’t? We’ll share the integrations we’ve implemented and walk through the setup process. Bring your questions about your own integrations, and together, let’s find the best way to get your data from Point A to Point B—and maybe even back again.

Speakers

Lukas Enciso

Student Information System Director, Van Buren ISD

Wednesday October 23, 2024 4:10pm - 5:10pm EDT
Tower B 153 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

Leadership

4:10pm EDT

So you've seen your VMware renawal cost, now what?

Wednesday October 23, 2024 4:10pm - 5:10pm EDT

Peninsula

Building on the discussions from the Spring PD session, this follow-up session delves deeper into the costs of VMware and the implications for your organization. We will analyze the recent developments, explore what these changes mean for your organization, and provide insights on how to mitigate the impact. The session will also cover multiple alternatives to VMware, helping you make informed decisions that align with your organization’s needs and budget. Whether you're considering transitioning to new platforms or optimizing your current infrastructure, this session offers practical solutions for everyone.

Speakers

Eric Krebill

Executive Board Member, MAEDS

Wednesday October 23, 2024 4:10pm - 5:10pm EDT
Peninsula 150 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

Networking

4:10pm EDT

Physical Security Marries IT

Wednesday October 23, 2024 4:10pm - 5:10pm EDT

Tower A

Physical Security & Technology form a united front to create a Secure Learning Environment

Speakers

Paul Mulder

Technology Director, Allendale Public Schools

Wednesday October 23, 2024 4:10pm - 5:10pm EDT
Tower A 152 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

Security

8:30am EDT

The Intersection of AI and Data in Schools

Thursday October 24, 2024 8:30am - 9:30am EDT

Tower C

Removing data silos is crucial for enabling AI to interact with all of an organization's data in one centralized location. By integrating data from various sources into a unified platform, organizations can unlock the full potential of AI by providing it with comprehensive and holistic datasets. Hear from a PowerSchool as well as a practitioner on how AI is enhancing education in a positive way.

This session will also feature:
Aaron Baughman | Assistant Superintendent of Instruction at Northville Public Schools & AI Enthusiast
Joel Lathrop | Education Strategy Director (AI, Security, Data and Analytics) at PowerSchool

Speakers

Edward Dedic

VP Education Strategy, PowerSchool

Thursday October 24, 2024 8:30am - 9:30am EDT
Tower C 154 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

8:30am EDT

Microsoft Azure and Windows Admin Center

Thursday October 24, 2024 8:30am - 9:30am EDT

Mackinac

During the last server replacement cycle, Mason Consolidated Schools decided to utilize Microsoft's Hyper-Converged Infrastructure (Azure HCI). This session will cover their journey from VMware and XenServer to Microsoft's Hyper-V and the Azure HCI solution. Technology Director Jason Burt will guide participants through the steps and lessons learned during the process, from data collection and system design to setup and implementation. The session will also highlight Windows Admin Center, Azure Arc, and the various tools the district currently uses to manage its new server infrastructure.

Additional topics will include mitigating disaster recovery with a headless server, the importance of PowerShell, troubleshooting Azure's resource groups, rights, and quirks, and implementing an automated hardware predictive failure response solution. The session will also emphasize the fun and educational aspects of working with this evolving technology. Whether you are considering HCI or just want to learn more about Windows Admin Center, both on-premises and in the cloud, this session will provide valuable insights.

Speakers

Jason Burt

Technology Director, Mason Consolidated Schools

Thursday October 24, 2024 8:30am - 9:30am EDT
Mackinac 151 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

Cloud

8:30am EDT

Shared Services: It's how we get IT done!

Thursday October 24, 2024 8:30am - 9:30am EDT

Tower B

Join our panel in a lively discussion about the art of IT support! There are many shared services models in our State and all of them are successfully supporting their LEAs in various ways. These models work because we share expertise and resources to meet the individual goals of districts, schools, and educators. Come talk to us about your ideas for collaborative IT support!

Speakers

Josh Hayes

Assistant Superintendent of Technology, Educational Technology Association

Thursday October 24, 2024 8:30am - 9:30am EDT
Tower B 153 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

Leadership

8:30am EDT

Email Security - Are you up to date on all things SPF, DKIM, & DMARC?

Thursday October 24, 2024 8:30am - 9:30am EDT

Tower A

This session covers the explanation and proper configuration of modern day email security delivery. You learn about how each of the technologies SPF, DKIM, and DMARC work and what are the proper setting for each to match your environment. Google and Yahoo have raised the bar with DMARC and we want to teach you how to prevent your user's emails from ending up in a spam folder.

Speakers

Kurt Torok

Network Integration Manager, Michigan Statewide Educational Network

Kurt K. Torok

Thursday October 24, 2024 8:30am - 9:30am EDT
Tower A 152 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

Networking

8:30am EDT

Kenowa Hills Public Schools "Our Journey to Cloud-Connected Cameras

Thursday October 24, 2024 8:30am - 9:30am EDT

Peninsula

See how one district was able to leverage existing on-prem cameras and migrate to a cloud-enabled VMS platform with analytics and cloud backup.

Speakers

Rick Webb

Director of Technology, Kenowa Hills Public Schools

Thursday October 24, 2024 8:30am - 9:30am EDT
Peninsula 150 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

Security

9:40am EDT

Microsoft Licensing – How to Maximize Your Investment

Thursday October 24, 2024 9:40am - 10:40am EDT

Tower C

• Latest Microsoft Licensing Updates
• M365 Subscription Comparison (A3 vs. A5)
o When and how to upgrade
(potential fireside chat with customer)

Speakers

Erin Richards

Thursday October 24, 2024 9:40am - 10:40am EDT
Tower C 154 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

Cloud

9:40am EDT

Data Visualization: Need a way to analyze and present Data?

Thursday October 24, 2024 9:40am - 10:40am EDT

Tower B

Need a way to analyze your data in Google Sheets? Let's look at the Google Looker tool to create a data dashboard and how to share data analytics.

Speakers

Merri Lynn Colligan

MiSEN Director, Michigan Statewide Educational Network

Thursday October 24, 2024 9:40am - 10:40am EDT
Tower B 153 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

Data

9:40am EDT

So You’re The Tech Director; Now What? Lessons Learned On the Job!

Thursday October 24, 2024 9:40am - 10:40am EDT

Tower A

In this session, the presenter will share insights from his role serving as the Director of Technology. He will discuss the importance of building a successful technology team, fostering relationships with stakeholders, collaborating effectively with contractors and vendors, and securing a place at the decision-making table. Throughout the session, we will brainstorm together, crowdsource best practices from participants, and share our collective findings with conference attendees.

Speakers

Nate Moore

Executive Director of Technology, Kearsley Community Schools

Thursday October 24, 2024 9:40am - 10:40am EDT
Tower A 152 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

Leadership

9:40am EDT

Open source alternatives and other free tools!

Thursday October 24, 2024 9:40am - 10:40am EDT

Peninsula

A reboot of the popular session 'Open Source Alternatives' from years past. This installment will focus on all kinds of free and low cost tools available to help schools save a little money. This session not only encourages audience participation, it demands it. Come ready to share your favorite tools!

Speakers

Eric Krebill

Executive Board Member, MAEDS

Thursday October 24, 2024 9:40am - 10:40am EDT
Peninsula 150 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

Networking

9:40am EDT

Diary of a Cyber Incident

Thursday October 24, 2024 9:40am - 10:40am EDT

Mackinac

Join the recent survivors of a cyber incident and hear a recount of beginning, middle, and end of every tech department’s worst nightmare.

Speakers

Evan OBranovic

Executive Director of Technology, Traverse City Area Public Schools

Thursday October 24, 2024 9:40am - 10:40am EDT
Mackinac 151 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

Security

10:50am EDT

Clear the haze around Copilot and Modern Management

Thursday October 24, 2024 10:50am - 11:50am EDT

Tower C

This session is aimed at providing an overview of the most effective strategies for managing and securing endpoints within an organization as well as dive into how you can be more effective with CoPilot and how to develop your rollout framework.

• Software deployment: how to automate device deployments, software configuration, and updates across different devices and platforms
• Security measures: how to protect endpoints from malware, ransomware, and other threats using antivirus, firewall, encryption, and other centralize tools
• Create hype and usage governance for your M365 Copilot rollout?
o Access link to a Launch Day kit to get started with your Copilot rollout goals.
o Calm the fear of using Copilot and secure access internal and external data.

Speakers

Jason Brown

Thursday October 24, 2024 10:50am - 11:50am EDT
Tower C 154 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

Cloud

10:50am EDT

Leveraging Free Solutions with osTicket and Snipe-IT for Streamlined Helpdesk and Asset Management

Thursday October 24, 2024 10:50am - 11:50am EDT

Tower B

Discover how to optimize your organization's helpdesk and asset management processes without breaking the bank. In this session, we'll explore the benefits of adopting osTicket and Snipe-IT, two powerful open-source platforms that offer robust capabilities at no cost. Based on our experience deploying these platforms in a multi-district environment, you can walk away with practical tips and best practices for seamless implementation, customization, and updates. Whether you're already using these products or interested in a change, this session has something for everyone!

Speakers

Peter Klein

Technology Services Director, Clinton County RESA

Thursday October 24, 2024 10:50am - 11:50am EDT
Tower B 153 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

Data

10:50am EDT

Lightning Talks

Thursday October 24, 2024 10:50am - 11:50am EDT

Peninsula

They’re baaaaaaack! Lightning Talks! If a regular MAEDS session is like a big sit down dinner, Lightning Talks is more like a trip through the buffet line. You’ll get 5 minute servings of various tech dishes – just enough to help you know what you might really like! A spoonful of PowerShell. A little scoop of InTune. Maybe a garnish of audio tips and tricks? Come see your colleagues give quick introductions to the cool things they’re using to get their jobs done, and take a doggy bag of new ideas back to your district.

Speakers

Ben Eggenberger

Technology Director, BEAL CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Thursday October 24, 2024 10:50am - 11:50am EDT
Peninsula 150 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

Leadership

10:50am EDT

Let's Talk All Things Documentation

Thursday October 24, 2024 10:50am - 11:50am EDT

Tower A

Imagine you have a problem and you need to bring in some external engineer to help you. Do you have all the things documented they will need to solve the issue? Let's talk about what documentation you're missing and how you can create it.

Speakers

Kurt Torok

Network Integration Manager, Michigan Statewide Educational Network

Kurt K. Torok

Thursday October 24, 2024 10:50am - 11:50am EDT
Tower A 152 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

Networking

10:50am EDT

Responding to a Cyber-Attack! What do you REALLY need to be prepared.

Thursday October 24, 2024 10:50am - 11:50am EDT

Mackinac

As a State and as districts we are investing hundreds of thousands of dollars in cyber-security tools, personnel, plans, etc... BUT when an attack actually happens, WHAT do you NEED. WHEN do you need it. HOW can you be best prepared.

In this session, the Lenawee Monroe Technology Consortium and MiSecure will outline the RESPONSE process from the time that you discover a bad actor has compromised your environment, through the time when, and if, it is ok to bring systems back online.

We will also outline critical areas of focus for districts to concentrate on in making sure your systems are as secure as possible. Just because you have all devices protected with an EDR or MDR solution does not guarantee you will prevent an attack.

Speakers

Chris Nelson

Director, LMTC

Mr. Chris Nelson has been part of the State of Michigan K-12 educational community for almost 25 years. Chris holds his MBA in leadership and enjoys playing hockey, riding bikes, playing golf, and other outdoor activities with his family.During his tenure, Chris has held many leadership... Read More →

Thursday October 24, 2024 10:50am - 11:50am EDT
Mackinac 151 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

Security

2:00pm EDT

AI in education roundtable

Thursday October 24, 2024 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT

Mackinac

Speakers

Damian Koob

Director of Technology Services, Van Buren ISD

Thursday October 24, 2024 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
Mackinac 151 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

2:00pm EDT

Moving to Hyper-V/Azure Stack HCI

Thursday October 24, 2024 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT

Tower C

Want to learn more about Hyper-V if you are still contemplating options if you are moving away from VMware? We migrated 6 years ago to Hyper-V, and we upgraded from Microsoft Storage Spaces Direct HCI to Azure Stack HCI cluster this summer. I will discuss licensing, options to leverage existing hardware vs considering new hardware/HCI options, show the management interface, and answer any questions about moving to Hyper-V.

Speakers

Nicholas Hay

Director of Information Services, Monroe County ISD

Thursday October 24, 2024 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
Tower C 154 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

Cloud

2:00pm EDT

Data integration made easy with the Michigan DataHub!

Thursday October 24, 2024 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT

Tower B

This session will provide an overview of what the Michigan DataHub is and how the functionality built into our ecosystem can help ease the effort it takes to safely and securely transfer data between systems.
Michigan DataHub is providing over 10,000 integrations to districts across the state. Join us at this session to learn more about how we can help with your data interoperability.

Speakers

Tony Howard

Sr Database Analyst, MiDataHub via Kalamazoo RESA

Tony is our Sr Database Analyst who lives in Mid-Michigan and has worked in K-12 Education for over 11 years. In his previous role he helped train districts from across the country on using their student information system while also assisting in managing their student data needs... Read More →

Thursday October 24, 2024 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
Tower B 153 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

Data

2:00pm EDT

Job security/satisfaction for the K12 IT professional

Thursday October 24, 2024 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT

Tower A

Thriving in the K-12 IT Jungle: Beyond the Tech Skills

IT professionals in K-12 are more than just tech wizards. To truly excel, you need a unique blend of technical expertise, soft skills, and strategic savvy. This session will equip you with practical strategies to build strong relationships, navigate complex political landscapes, and foster a thriving IT career. Discover how to enhance your influence, increase job satisfaction, and transform from surviving to thriving in the dynamic world of K-12 IT.

Speakers

Grant Wright

Tech Director, Glen Lake Community Schools

All I can say is I have lived a full life.I've had the priviledge of working in many vocations, living and traveling in many countries including living in five states in the USA, now have four degrees under my belt and find myself working in educational technology.Family, faith, and... Read More →

Thursday October 24, 2024 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
Tower A 152 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

Leadership

2:00pm EDT

MiSecure: past, present & future

Thursday October 24, 2024 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT

Peninsula

It's been a year since we embarked on our mission to safeguard our schools from cyber threats. Join us to celebrate our accomplishments, assess our current standing, and chart our path forward. We’ll deep dive into the statewide cybersecurity findings, shedding light on the most common issues, best practices, weaknesses and strengths. This is not just a presentation but a collaborative effort. We want to hear your experiences, challenges, and successes. Share your input to help us refine and enhance our cybersecurity strategies, ensuring we continue to support and protect our educational communities.

Speakers

Matt McMahon

Director, MiSecure | MAISA

Former Associate Superintendent for Technology at Gratiot-Isabella RESD, Matt is now part of the MiSecure team established in 2023 to help defend K12 against cyber threats.

Thursday October 24, 2024 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
Peninsula 150 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

Security

3:10pm EDT

Utilizing AI in School District IT Professional Positions

Thursday October 24, 2024 3:10pm - 4:10pm EDT

Tower C

The education landscape is evolving rapidly, and IT professionals in school districts need to adapt. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is poised to revolutionize how we manage technology in schools. This session will explore how to leverage AI to enhance your skillset and maximize efficiency in your IT role.
What you'll learn:
Demystifying AI: Gain a clear understanding of AI applications relevant to school district IT.
Automating the Mundane: Discover how AI can handle repetitive tasks, freeing up your time for strategic initiatives.
AI-powered Support: Explore how AI can personalize student experiences, proactively address problems, and provide IT staff with valuable insights.
Building a Future-proof Skillset: Understand the new skills and knowledge required to work effectively alongside AI in your IT role.
This session is designed for IT professionals in school districts who are curious about AI and its potential to transform how they approach technology management.
Join us and learn how to harness the power of AI to become a more effective and impactful school district IT professional!

Speakers

Cory Klinge

IT Consultant, Trafera

Thursday October 24, 2024 3:10pm - 4:10pm EDT
Tower C 154 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

3:10pm EDT

Identity Management ... this time without any PowerShell scripting!

Thursday October 24, 2024 3:10pm - 4:10pm EDT

Tower B

I've spoken before about the strengths of PowerShell and the ability to create a whole identity management platform to manage your user creation. I'm here now to talk about how my organization stepped away from my custom PowerShell scripts and discuss the benefits we're finding with the Classlink OneSync product. This is not meant to be a sales pitch, but a legit walkthrough from my perspective of what it looks like to go from implementation to production with this product so that you can evaluate if this product or similar products would be right for your organization.

Speakers

Chris Thomas

Desktop Engineer, Ingham Intermediate School District

Thursday October 24, 2024 3:10pm - 4:10pm EDT
Tower B 153 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

Data

3:10pm EDT

Leave them in the Wild, Chromebooks staying home year round

Thursday October 24, 2024 3:10pm - 4:10pm EDT

Mackinac

A session on 1-1, leaving Chromebooks with the students year round instead of the hassle of checking them all in, cleaning, doing inventory and repairing. We rolled out a home brewed “protection” plan. Pros and cons of that system.

Speakers

Brandon Richmond

Director of Technology, Belding Area Schools

Thursday October 24, 2024 3:10pm - 4:10pm EDT
Mackinac 151 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

Networking

3:10pm EDT

SASE Overview for K-12

Thursday October 24, 2024 3:10pm - 4:10pm EDT

Tower A

How the SASE framework can help secure your network specifically for K-12. Why the time is now!

Speakers

Josh Mack

Thursday October 24, 2024 3:10pm - 4:10pm EDT
Tower A 152 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

Networking

3:10pm EDT

Infiltration & Isolation: An IR Tabletop Exercise Session

Thursday October 24, 2024 3:10pm - 4:10pm EDT

Peninsula

Join us for a session of Infiltration and Isolation, an Incident Response Tabletop system you may have heard me present on at MAEDS last year! Come and observe as a few volunteers participate in an Incident Response Scenario. See how the scenario unfolds and the participants react in order to isolate and resolve a simulated cyber attack. Whether you are one of the volunteer participants or if you are just an observer, this is a good opportunity to see how an Incident Response Exercise plays out and perhaps get some ideas for running your own Tabletop Exercise. This session is a fun and engaging way to help prepare for a serious cyber incident. I look forward to seeing you there to observe, or even to participate!

Speakers

Chris Farrar

Network/System Administrator, OAISD

Thursday October 24, 2024 3:10pm - 4:10pm EDT
Peninsula 150 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

Security

9:00am EDT

Disaster Recovery - How to plan for the sudden loss of people

Friday October 25, 2024 9:00am - 10:00am EDT

Tower C

In February of 2024, Portage Public Schools dealt with the very sudden loss of their technology director. Learn from our first-hand experience in the hours, days, and weeks, as we dealt with this abrupt leadership loss with no transition, and the challenges we suddenly faced.

Speakers

Steve Van Dyke

Data Center Systems Specialist, Portage Public Schools

Friday October 25, 2024 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
Tower C 154 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

Leadership

9:00am EDT

Turning 'No' into 'Thank You'

Friday October 25, 2024 9:00am - 10:00am EDT

Tower A

In today's tech-driven world, mastering the art of saying "no" with finesse is a game-changer. It's not enough to simply decline a request; the true magic lies in turning that "no" into a "thank you." Join me as we delve into the evolving landscape of school IT, where exceptional customer service is paramount. We'll explore how to break the "angry tech guy" stereotype and transform every interaction into a positive experience, even when you can't give them what they want.

Speakers

Wini Bell

Assistant Director of Technology, Traverse City Area Public Schools

Friday October 25, 2024 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
Tower A 152 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

Leadership

9:00am EDT

FreePBX Hands-on

Friday October 25, 2024 9:00am - 10:00am EDT

Mackinac

FreePBX Hands-on: How-to, Installing, features, and benefits.

Speakers

Patrick Wroble

Network Administrator, Educational Technology Association

Friday October 25, 2024 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
Mackinac 151 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

Networking

9:00am EDT

Purple Knight AD/Entra ID assement

Friday October 25, 2024 9:00am - 10:00am EDT

Peninsula

Purple Knight is a Free tool that can identify and walk you through fixing security vulnerabilities in your AD and Entra ID environment. I will go through running it and some easy fixes that will make your network more secure.

Speakers

Tim Speer

Sr. Systems Engineer, Lenawee ISD

Our School District is on version 22.4 of eFinance and we have hosted eFinance on premise for the past 17 years. During that time, I have upgraded and administered eFinancePlus since version 4.1.

Friday October 25, 2024 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
Peninsula 150 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

Security

9:00am EDT

SMTP How to increase your Email Reputation Scores

Friday October 25, 2024 9:00am - 10:00am EDT

Tower B

In In this session, we'll cover the following topics related to email authentication and security:

1. SMTP Overview
What is SMTP? (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol)
How SMTP works in email delivery.
The importance of securing SMTP to prevent email spoofing and phishing attacks.

2. Understanding DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail)
What is DKIM?
How DKIM uses cryptographic signatures to verify the sender's domain.
The role of DKIM is to protect against email tampering.
Implementing DKIM with OpenDKIM
Installation and configuration of OpenDKIM.
Generating DKIM keys and adding them to DNS.
Verifying DKIM signatures in outgoing emails.
Troubleshooting DKIM issues
Common issues and how to resolve them.

3. Understanding SPF (Sender Policy Framework)
What is SPF?
How SPF defines which mail servers are allowed to send email on behalf of your domain.
Role of SPF in preventing email spoofing.
Implementing SPF
Creating and publishing an SPF record in DNS.
Testing and validating SPF records.
SPF Reputation Scores
How ISPs and email providers use SPF reputation scores.
Tips to maintain a high SPF reputation score.

4. Understanding DMARC (Domainbased Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance)
What is DMARC?
How DMARC works with DKIM and SPF to provide domainlevel email authentication.
The importance of DMARC in protecting against phishing and email spoofing.
Implementing DMARC
Creating and publishing a DMARC policy in DNS.
How to interpret DMARC reports.
Using EasyDMARC for DMARC management
Overview of EasyDMARC.
Setting up and configuring EasyDMARC.
Analyzing DMARC reports using EasyDMARC.
DMARC Reputation Scores
Factors affecting DMARC reputation scores.
Maintaining a good DMARC reputation score.

5. Integrating SPF, DKIM, and DMARC for Email Security
Best practices for integrating and managing SPF, DKIM, and DMARC.
Real-world scenarios and case studies.
Monitoring and improving email reputation scores.

6. Q&A
Open discussion and troubleshooting.
Practical implementation using OpenDKIM and EasyDMARC.

This session will give you a comprehensive understanding of email authentication techniques and how to implement them effectively using tools like Open DKIM and EasyDMARC.

Linux OS, Postfix, Open DKIM,

Tools:
EasyDMARC
Dmarcian
DNS Checker

This session does tie in Google and Microsoft Mail Delivery

Speakers

Fred J Sharpsteen

Assistant Superintendent Technology Services, Mecosta-Osceola ISD

I have been a Director of Technology for 28 years in the state of Michigan. I am on several Michigan leadership groups. I am passionate about Technology Education and Alternative Education.

Friday October 25, 2024 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
Tower B 153 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

Security

10:20am EDT

E-Rate Primer and Data Cleanup

Friday October 25, 2024 10:20am - 11:20am EDT

Tower C

New to E-Rate or not very familiar with how it works and what you can use it for at your district? After this session, you will understand the 2 categories of funding, the yearly process/timeline, review various forms, understand how to calculate and maximize discounts, and tips for working with this program.

Speakers

Merri Lynn Colligan

MiSEN Director, Michigan Statewide Educational Network

Nicholas Hay

Director of Information Services, Monroe County ISD

Friday October 25, 2024 10:20am - 11:20am EDT
Tower C 154 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

Data

10:20am EDT

You Are More Than IT; Creating a Seat at the Leadership Table

Friday October 25, 2024 10:20am - 11:20am EDT

Tower B

IT Leadership is a unique position within K-12 school districts. You oversee the service provided to both business and instructional staff. You may interact with department heads and principals all the way down to individual teachers across the district. You must simultaneously set the direction for IT management in your district while balancing the needs of instructional staff and cybersecurity realities. Join us for a session focused on practices, conversations, and opportunities you can take as an IT leader to create a seat at the leadership table for K-12 schools.

Speakers

Ben Rimes

Technology Director, Coloma Community Schools

Friday October 25, 2024 10:20am - 11:20am EDT
Tower B 153 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

Leadership

10:20am EDT

Network Monitoring and Backups with LibreNMS and Oxidized

Friday October 25, 2024 10:20am - 11:20am EDT

Tower A

Network Monitoring and configuration backups are critical for understanding your network, quickly identifying issues, and recovering from disasters.

In the first part of the session, we'll have a demonstration of some of the major features of Librenms and the Oxidized integration. This will include uptime and other sensor alerting, network topology maps, switch configuration backups and version diffs, searching for devices on the network, identifying network traffic patterns, and more.

In the second part, we'll have a live demo of installing and configuring LibreNMS and Oxidized from scratch. This will include installing Docker on an empty Ubuntu Server, cloning the Docker Compose and other necessary config files, modifying those configs for your environment, integrating LibreNMS and Oxidized, and preparing your network devices for SNMP and SSH connections from LibreNMS and Oxidized respectively. (A prerecorded video will be available for future reference or in case of technical issues)

The goal is for everyone to walk out with the knowledge and resources necessary to quickly implement this in their own environment.

Speakers

Matt Skalecki

Systems and Network Administrator, Berrien RESA

Friday October 25, 2024 10:20am - 11:20am EDT
Tower A 152 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

Networking

10:20am EDT

Conducting a Phishing Campaign for Free with PowerShell

Friday October 25, 2024 10:20am - 11:20am EDT

Peninsula

A demonstration of how to conduct your own phishing campaign for free with PowerShell. You will learn how to make templates, send emails, track responses, and build your own reports. Save your district thousands by sending emails yourself for free!

Speakers

James Tyler

Director of Technology, Niles Community Schools

Author of PowerShell for Systems Engineers (ISBN 979-8387045530), MAEDS Presenter (2022, 2023, 2024), Board Member, Watervliet Public Schools Board of Education

Friday October 25, 2024 10:20am - 11:20am EDT
Peninsula 150 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

Security

10:20am EDT

FREE Cybersecurity Resources for Michigan Districts

Friday October 25, 2024 10:20am - 11:20am EDT

Mackinac

Struggling to reach your students and staff about the importance of Cybersecurity safety for themselves and the school? REMC Association can help! Explore free resources, developed in partnership with other Michigan organizations, to help your district be on board with understanding Cybersecurity.

Speakers

Kellie DeLosSantos

Educational Technology Lead Consultant, Jackson ISD

Kellie is a former math teacher and instructional coach. She is a mother of two and spent much of her life playing and coaching volleyball. Kellie is a lifelong learner and leader and is excited to help make our schools the best place for our children!

Friday October 25, 2024 10:20am - 11:20am EDT
Mackinac 151 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610

Security