KANSAS CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ( KCPS )
284 suspect emails onto , as well as a warning banner that heads suspect emails external to the district . “ From these solutions alone we have seen a massive decrease in phishing attempts across the district ,” he remarks . A partner that has been integral to cybersecurity is Lightspeed Systems , which has assisted in a number of ways : piloting classroom management , staff monitoring and controlling what students see as well as the projection of work . Lastly , it provides a safety check that centers around self-harm , bullying and anything else that may place students at risk .
KCPS has already made great strides in the first year of this transformation and Phillips takes pride in this . “ My favorite part of this transformation is seeing the impact . I grew up in this district and I remember how easy it is to succumb to feelings of inferiority when relating to suburban districts .”
“ Seeing our students , who have been using these depleted laptops , unbox a new chromebook halfway through the academic year was absolutely incredible . They ’ re durable and cutting edge and the students ’ reactions were amazing ; they realise that their
education is valuable , and that they are valuable . Yet in my role , I need to ensure that the best-of-the-best technologies feel normal for our students and that they never feel that their education isn ’ t as valuable as their suburban counterparts .”
Looking ahead , Phillips makes his intentions clear : “ It ’ s no secret that I want us to be the best K-12 technology department in the world . I want KCPS to be the first thing that people associate with K-12 EdTech , and not for personal ego , but because our
APRIL 2020