Beyond the Screen: Keith Krueger on What’s Next for School Technology

In this episode of Integrate This!, David and Jeremy sit down with Keith Krueger, CEO of CoSN — the Consortium for School Networking — for a wide-ranging conversation about the future of K–12 technology leadership. Keith reflects on the early days of educational technology, the major inflection points that have shaped schools, and why today’s moment with AI feels both familiar and entirely new. The conversation explores cybersecurity, student data privacy, AI readiness, accessibility, digital equity, screen time debates, E-rate funding, and the importance of keeping humans at the center of technology decisions. Rather than treating technology as a cure-all or a problem to avoid, Keith encourages school leaders to focus on purposeful, instructionally sound uses of technology that improve learning, support educators, and prepare students for the world they are entering. Chapters 00:00 – Welcome and introduction to Keith Krueger 02:12 – Keith’s path into education technology 03:22 – Early browsers, connectivity, and big edtech inflection points 04:14 – Technology in search of a problem? 05:49 – Why cybersecurity has become a top priority for schools 07:13 – Why school districts are targets for cyberattacks 09:15 – How CoSN supports technology leaders 10:22 – Cybersecurity simulations and district-wide preparedness 12:50 – When everything in school runs on the network 13:54 – AI as more than just a classroom tool 16:25 – How districts are approaching AI policies 18:29 – Academic integrity, cheating, and AI literacy 20:31 – Frameworks, resources, and CoSN’s Gen AI maturity work 22:32 – AI, accessibility, and digital equity 26:33 – UDL, language access, and personalized support 29:06 – The screen time debate and new legislation 30:39 – Why not all screen time is the same 34:41 – What leaders need to understand about screen time concerns 38:43 – School networks, filtering, and CIPA requirements 42:45 – Testing AI safely with students in mind 43:42 – E-rate, funding, and the future of school connectivity 46:46 – Advice for school technology leaders 48:48 – What gives Keith hope about public education 50:49 – Off-the-wall questions: shows, food, travel, and more 53:24 – Where to learn more about CoSN Resources/Links: Learn more about CoSN: https://www.cosn.org/ Setting Conditions for Success: https://www.cosn.org/cosn-news/nation... K-12 Gen AI Maturity Tool: https://www.cosn.org/tools-and-resour... Trusted Learning Environment Seal: https://www.cosn.org/edtech-topics/tr... #EdTech #AIinEducation #CoSN #K12Technology #Cybersecurity #DigitalEquity #InstructionalTechnology #IntegrateThis