Professional Learning

Professional Learning for Technology Teams

Free sessions, workshops, conferences, and year-round networking for everyone who keeps K-12 technology running, from help desk technicians to CTOs.

Learning Built for K-12 IT

Most professional development is built for teachers. The LTC’s Technology Services team builds learning for the people who run district technology: technology directors and CTOs, network and systems administrators, technicians and help desk staff, data and privacy officers, and the business officials and leaders they work with.

Bring one of our sessions to your district or regional event, join colleagues at an LTC conference, or keep learning all year through our weekly webinars, networking meetings, and mentoring. Sessions delivered in your district are free for Illinois public school districts.

Request a Session

Contact a member of our Technology Services team.

Duane Shaffer

Justin Morgan

Staff Directory

Learning for Every Role on Your Team

Sessions are written for the work each role actually does, and most can be adjusted for mixed audiences.

Technology Leaders

Technology directors, CTOs, and aspiring leaders: planning, budgeting, staffing, policy, and communicating with superintendents and boards.

Network & Systems Staff

Network, systems, and Google or Microsoft administrators: segmentation, identity and access, admin consoles, and incident response.

Technicians & Support Staff

Technicians and help desk staff: security habits, device management, and working smoothly with teachers and staff.

Sessions by Topic

Twenty-one sessions in five areas, available as conference breakouts, in-district workshops, or keynotes. Durations are typical and can be adjusted. Download the full catalog (PDF).

The K-12 Technology Leader Annual Playbook (breakout, 60–90 min)
The yearly rhythm of technology leadership: summer projects, back-to-school readiness, E-Rate and budget cycles, state testing, and a proactive year-round calendar.
From Technician to Technology Leader (breakout, 60 min)
For aspiring directors and admins moving into leadership: prioritizing, planning, budgeting, and communicating with superintendents and boards.
The K-12 EdTech Leader Toolkit (workshop, 60–90 min)
Bookmark-ready templates, checklists, frameworks, and communities that streamline K-12 IT management.
Bridging Tech and Teacher Communication (breakout, 60 min)
Plain-language communication, realistic support expectations, and better ticket workflows between IT and instructional staff.
Managing AI in the Google Admin Console (presentation 50 min or workshop 90–120 min)
Where Gemini and other AI controls live, and how age-based settings, organizational units, and connected apps affect access.
Data Privacy for District Leaders and Privacy Officers (breakout 50 min or workshop 90–120 min)
FERPA and SOPPA in practice: records requests, app vetting, the SDPC database, Exhibit Es, and what is changing next.

Quick Wins in Cybersecurity (keynote or breakout, 60–90 min)
High-impact, low-cost steps to raise your security posture without an enterprise budget.
Tiered Security: Classifying Job Roles and Access (breakout, 40–60 min)
Move from a flat security model to risk-based tiers and focus MFA and auditing where they matter most.
Credential Discussion: Passwords, MFA, and Password Managers (breakout, 40–60 min)
Why password habits fail and how to deploy modern identity protection.
Business Continuity and Incident Response (keynote or breakout, 60–90 min)
Aligning incident response with keeping classrooms and operations running, using NIMS concepts.
After Action Review: Learning from Incident Response (breakout, 60–90 min)
A blame-free method for turning incidents and outages into better policy and procedure.
Low-Load, High-Impact: Teacher-Focused Cybersecurity (breakout, 60–90 min)
Security habits and classroom routines that protect data without adding to teachers’ workload.
OAuth in the Open (breakout, 60–90 min)
How GAM, ScubaGoggles, and Admin SDK scripts rely on OAuth credentials that can become a district-wide attack path.
Securing the Google Admin Console (presentation 50 min or workshop 90–120 min)
A recurring security review of admin roles, 2-Step Verification, third-party apps, sharing, and alerts.
Cybersecurity & Data Privacy for K-12 Educators (presentation, 50 min)
For all staff: today’s threats, real breach case studies, FERPA/COPPA/SOPPA in the classroom, and four-step incident response.

Network Segmentation for K-12: Stop Building a Flat Network (technical workshop, 60–90 min)
Designing VLANs for staff, students, guests, VoIP, cameras, and IoT, with firewall rules and SSID design.
Technology Assessments: Finding Gaps Before They Become Problems (breakout, 60 min)
Frameworks and checklists from LTC Technology Assessments for networks, devices, backups, documentation, and staffing.

Understanding the Cyber Adversary with MITRE ATT&CK (hands-on tabletop, 90–180 min)
A gamified Red Team vs. Blue Team simulation built on the MITRE ATT&CK framework.
Decoding the Adversary: MITRE ATT&CK in Modern Incident Response (keynote or breakout, 60–90 min)
“Cyber autopsies” of real breaches, from initial phishing to data exfiltration.
Keynote: The Innovator and His Origin (keynote, 40–60 min)
An inspiring keynote on educators as the foundation of every innovation.

Google Workspace for Education Administration & Security (technical workshop, 60–90 min)
Admin console best practices, OU structure, Chromebook management, and security baselines.
Practical AI Integration for K-12 Technology & Operational Leaders (interactive workshop, 60 min)
Evaluating and managing AI tools, privacy considerations under SOPPA, and district AI policy.
K-12 Identity & Access Management Essentials (breakout, 60 min)
Automated onboarding and offboarding across your SIS, Active Directory / Entra ID, and cloud services, plus SSO.

The K-12 Technology Leader Annual Playbook (breakout, 60–90 min)
The yearly rhythm of technology leadership: summer projects, back-to-school readiness, E-Rate and budget cycles, state testing, and a proactive year-round calendar.
From Technician to Technology Leader (breakout, 60 min)
For aspiring directors and admins moving into leadership: prioritizing, planning, budgeting, and communicating with superintendents and boards.
The K-12 EdTech Leader Toolkit (workshop, 60–90 min)
Bookmark-ready templates, checklists, frameworks, and communities that streamline K-12 IT management.
Bridging Tech and Teacher Communication (breakout, 60 min)
Plain-language communication, realistic support expectations, and better ticket workflows between IT and instructional staff.
Managing AI in the Google Admin Console (presentation 50 min or workshop 90–120 min)
Where Gemini and other AI controls live, and how age-based settings, organizational units, and connected apps affect access.
Data Privacy for District Leaders and Privacy Officers (breakout 50 min or workshop 90–120 min)
FERPA and SOPPA in practice: records requests, app vetting, the SDPC database, Exhibit Es, and what is changing next.

Quick Wins in Cybersecurity (keynote or breakout, 60–90 min)
High-impact, low-cost steps to raise your security posture without an enterprise budget.
Tiered Security: Classifying Job Roles and Access (breakout, 40–60 min)
Move from a flat security model to risk-based tiers and focus MFA and auditing where they matter most.
Credential Discussion: Passwords, MFA, and Password Managers (breakout, 40–60 min)
Why password habits fail and how to deploy modern identity protection.
Business Continuity and Incident Response (keynote or breakout, 60–90 min)
Aligning incident response with keeping classrooms and operations running, using NIMS concepts.
After Action Review: Learning from Incident Response (breakout, 60–90 min)
A blame-free method for turning incidents and outages into better policy and procedure.
Low-Load, High-Impact: Teacher-Focused Cybersecurity (breakout, 60–90 min)
Security habits and classroom routines that protect data without adding to teachers’ workload.
OAuth in the Open (breakout, 60–90 min)
How GAM, ScubaGoggles, and Admin SDK scripts rely on OAuth credentials that can become a district-wide attack path.
Securing the Google Admin Console (presentation 50 min or workshop 90–120 min)
A recurring security review of admin roles, 2-Step Verification, third-party apps, sharing, and alerts.
Cybersecurity & Data Privacy for K-12 Educators (presentation, 50 min)
For all staff: today’s threats, real breach case studies, FERPA/COPPA/SOPPA in the classroom, and four-step incident response.

Network Segmentation for K-12: Stop Building a Flat Network (technical workshop, 60–90 min)
Designing VLANs for staff, students, guests, VoIP, cameras, and IoT, with firewall rules and SSID design.
Technology Assessments: Finding Gaps Before They Become Problems (breakout, 60 min)
Frameworks and checklists from LTC Technology Assessments for networks, devices, backups, documentation, and staffing.

Understanding the Cyber Adversary with MITRE ATT&CK (hands-on tabletop, 90–180 min)
A gamified Red Team vs. Blue Team simulation built on the MITRE ATT&CK framework.
Decoding the Adversary: MITRE ATT&CK in Modern Incident Response (keynote or breakout, 60–90 min)
“Cyber autopsies” of real breaches, from initial phishing to data exfiltration.
Keynote: The Innovator and His Origin (keynote, 40–60 min)
An inspiring keynote on educators as the foundation of every innovation.

Google Workspace for Education Administration & Security (technical workshop, 60–90 min)
Admin console best practices, OU structure, Chromebook management, and security baselines.
Practical AI Integration for K-12 Technology & Operational Leaders (interactive workshop, 60 min)
Evaluating and managing AI tools, privacy considerations under SOPPA, and district AI policy.
K-12 Identity & Access Management Essentials (breakout, 60 min)
Automated onboarding and offboarding across your SIS, Active Directory / Entra ID, and cloud services, plus SSO.

LTC Conferences for Technology Teams

Each year the LTC hosts conferences with sessions built for K-12 technology staff. Registration fees apply; see each conference for details.

SecurED Schools

An online K-12 cybersecurity and data privacy conference for technology professionals and school leaders.

February 2–3, 2027 · Online

SecurED Schools →

IETC

Illinois’ statewide edtech conference in Springfield, with 120+ sessions including technology infrastructure and leadership.

November 11–13, 2026 · Springfield

IETC →

SummIT

A collaborative conference for K-12 IT staff in Urbana: connect with colleagues and get ready for the year’s technology challenges.

Summer 2027 · Urbana · Dates coming soon

SummIT →

Hi, AI!

A virtual conference for educators, administrators, and technology leaders on how AI is changing schools, including managing AI tools and policy.

January 14–15, 2027 · Online

Hi, AI! →

Keep Learning All Year

Between conferences, these programs keep your team connected to colleagues across Illinois.

Be Connected Networking Series

A weekly webinar and networking series for K-12 technology teams, hosted by the LTC’s Technology Services team.

Be Connected →

Networking Meetings

Regional technology networking meetings, in person and virtual, where technology staff learn from peers in nearby districts.

Find a networking meeting →

Technology Leader Mentoring

One-on-one mentoring for new technology directors and CTOs/CIOs on leadership, strategic planning, and data privacy.

Technology Leader Mentoring →

Bring a Session to Your District

Tell us what your team needs and we’ll help you choose the right sessions, from a single breakout at a regional event to a full in-district workshop day. Sessions delivered in your district are free for Illinois public school districts.

The Technology Services team also provides free, vendor-neutral technology consulting, technology assessments, and technology support services.

Keep Exploring

For Teachers

For Instructional Leaders

For Administrators

For Technology Leaders

Events & On-Demand

Conferences

Programs

Technology Services

Data Privacy & Cybersecurity

Teaching & Learning

Purchasing

For Teachers

For Instructional Leaders

For Administrators

For Technology Leaders

Professional Learning for Technology Teams

Learning Built for K-12 IT

Request a Session

Learning for Every Role on Your Team

Technology Leaders

Network & Systems Staff

Technicians & Support Staff

Sessions by Topic

LTC Conferences for Technology Teams

SecurED Schools

IETC

SummIT

Hi, AI!

Keep Learning All Year

Be Connected Networking Series

Networking Meetings

Technology Leader Mentoring

Bring a Session to Your District

More in Data Privacy & Cybersecurity & Leadership & Capacity Building & Network & Systems Management

Cybersecurity Awareness Month Office Hours with a vCISO

ROE 45 Technology Roundtable

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Simple Steps That Make a Big Difference

Stay Safe from the Monsters Lurking in Your Network

Funding for Technology

Technology Support Services

CIRR Assessment

Tech Directors Need Mentors, Too

Technology Consulting

Catch Up on the LTC’s Top Resources and Services

SentinelOne + LTC Platform for Illinois Schools

ROE 26 & 33 Tech Leadership Meetings

Build or Bust – AI Challenge

Classroom-Ready Cyber Literacy Curriculum

ROE 51 & Beyond Tech Leadership Meetings

SecurED Schools

2027 SecurED Schools

ROE 51 & Beyond Tech Leadership Meetings

K-12 Cybersecurity is a Leadership Issue, Not Just an IT Issue

8 Signs Your School District Has Outgrown Its Web Content Filtering Solution

OSINT: What the World Knows About You (and your District’s Staff)

Title IV-A for Technology

FCC Cybersecurity Pilot Program

Monthly Cyber Threat Intelligence for K-12 Schools and Districts

What is a vCISO? Dedicated Cybersecurity Leadership for K-12 Schools

K12Smart Phish

Toolkit Must-Haves for K–12 Edtech Leaders & Teams

12 Cybersecurity Practices your District Should Already Have in Place

vCISO Service

LTC Launches Cyber Incident Readiness Self-Evaluation for K-12 Schools

Endpoint Security & Managed Detection

Cyber Incident Response & Recovery Framework for Schools

The Hidden Infrastructure Powering K-12 Learning

Incident Response Plan Templates

We Need to Act Now: 4 Takeaways from SecurED Schools 2025

Using Reasonable Security Practices in K-12 Schools

Cybersecurity and the Day the Internet Died

Phishing Awareness Program

Cybersecurity Crisis Response Groups: How They Can Keep your District Secure

4 Cybersecurity Tips for School Staff & Students

Discover New Possibilities @ IETC 2022

Technology Documentation Guide

Reasonable Security Practices

Be Connected Networking Series

Stay Ahead of Tomorrow’s Digital Threats at SecurED Schools

5 Things Students Should Do to Stay Safe and Secure Online