DPO Download

Episode 39 - Vibe Coding and NYS Cybersecurity Conference

Our hosts share key takeaways for school districts from the 2026 New York State Cybersecurity Conference. Listen in as they dive into new developments in AI prompting, data privacy, and the growing trend of educators "vibe coding" applications for their classrooms. Finally, learn about the critical privacy concerns all School District Data Protection Officers should consider when addressing staff members and AI-generated code.

Episode 38 - Cybersecurity Annex and AI Threats

On this episode our hosts revisit a interview with Hilary Hofstein, Managing Program Coordinator for Health, Safety, and Risk at Capital Region BOCES on the Cybersecurity Annex a component of school districts' Building Level Emergency Response Plans in New York. Hofstein provides a deep dive into the annex, describing it as a vital "cheat sheet" or quick guide that outlines essential protocols and key personnel for digital crises. Our hosts also address the newest developments in AI-driven phishing techniques—such as "device control flow" attacks—currently targeting New York schools.

Episode 37 - 2026 RIC one DPSS Conference

Join our hosts live at the 2026 RIC one Data Privacy and Security Conference. Listen as we hit the conference floor to catch up with district leaders and IT experts, diving deep into the breakthrough insights and "aha" moments they’re taking back to their schools.

Episode 36 - Navigating AI Guidelines and Launching a Cybersecurity Academy

In this episode of the DPO Download our hosts speak with Eric Coronado, Director of Technology for the Suffern Central School District, to explore how his district is embracing cutting-edge technological initiatives. Eric shares how his team proactively addressed the rapid rise of artificial intelligence by collaborating with teachers to create a "green, yellow, and red light" framework for AI tools, ensuring a delicate balance between classroom innovation and strict student data privacy. Additionally, he details the launch of a pioneering three-year cybersecurity academy at Suffern High School.

Episode 35 - Beyond the Silos: How HR and IT Collaboration Revolutionized District Security

In this episode, our hosts sit down with leadership from the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Central School District—Superintendent Patrick McGrath, Director of Technology Doug Carlton, and Assistant Director of Technology Michael Steinberg. They discuss the district’s strategic shift toward a unified vernacular across departments, a move that enabled the implementation of automated user provisioning reaching all the way to the physical security layer. Listen as we explore how the district successfully leveraged administrative regulations and a culture of shared decision-making to streamline onboarding processes. By reducing IT overhead and enhancing data privacy in alignment with NIST 2.0 standards, this team provides a roadmap for modernizing school district operations.