Teacher Leads Effort to Secure Classroom AI

Josh Umphrey, CTO of the Olathe School District, understands the challenges of aligning IT goals with classroom needs. Before taking the technology helm, Umphrey was a history teacher, coach, and assistant principal at Olathe West High School.

Umphrey’s experience informs how he approaches student privacy and network security. The Olathe School District views technology as an “engagement tool to learning” that should serve as a “resource” but not a “crutch” to students.

The district’s IT team faces the challenge of managing the speed at which technology is deployed across the district. It’s not always feasible to deploy bleeding-edge technology as quickly as teachers would like.

As a former teacher, Umphrey understands that desire, but he also knows that school districts face privacy, compliance, and security obligations that require a deliberate approach. They must balance these obligations with the need to provide students with access to technology that supports their learning.

The district’s use of AI tools was initially open, but they have since limited it to a few approved technologies with the right guardrails in place. Among the approved internal AI technologies are MagicSchool and CoPilot. These AI technologies run within the internal network to prevent private student information from being shared publicly.

Umphrey explained that human error also presents a privacy challenge, but the district’s training has been effective in reducing the likelihood of student information being uploaded to external AI tools. The district is collaborating with partner school districts to deploy AI “effectively, protect kids, and make sure that we’re finding the right ways to train teachers.”

Umphrey believes that it’s essential to get it right, and the district is working to establish student privacy guardrails. The district is also working to establish AI governance guidelines to ensure that AI is used in a way that supports student learning while protecting their privacy.

Another top cybersecurity concern for the district is phishing attempts that target both staff and students. The district has spent a significant amount of time training staff on phishing, and it’s been phenomenal to see the improvement.

Umphrey credits the IT team for their hard work in supporting the district’s AI, cybersecurity, and network priorities. He believes that the team’s dedication to the district’s mission is what sets them apart, and they are part of something that matters.

They are working hard.

The district’s efforts to protect student information and prevent cybersecurity threats are ongoing. The Olathe School District will continue to work with partner school districts to share best practices and stay ahead of potential threats.