The Middle School Mistake Most Parents Make

After 20 years training thousands of educators, Dr. Desiree Alexander says schools are getting tech, AI, and cyber-safety dangerously wrong. Dr. Joe Sebestyen sits down with Dr. Desiree Alexander — founder of Educator Alexander Consulting, Google Certified Trainer/Innovator/Partner, 2024 Common Sense Education Ambassador of the Year, and author of Ready to Be an Educational Leader. After training thousands of educators worldwide over 20+ years, Dr. Desiree pulls no punches: she explains why most school technology rollouts have no real ""why,"" why educators should be reluctant about AI, the cyber-safety pitfalls parents fall into the moment kids hit middle school, and how she's helped aspiring principals hit a 92% first-time pass rate on the SLLA exam. Essential listening for parents, teachers, and school leaders trying to make sense of EdTech in 2026. In this episode: • Hear why most classroom tech is ""a pacifier,"" not a learning tool • Learn why you should stay reluctant about AI in K-12 schools • Discover the cyber-safety mistake parents make in middle school • Get the digital-footprint strategy that impresses college admissions • Unpack the 92% pass rate secret for the SLLA principal exam • Hear why ""superhero teacher"" praise is hurting the profession 🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations on academic strategy, college prep, and the future of student success. 📲 Connect with them: https://www.educatoralexander.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/educatorale... Facebook:  / educatoralexander   📲 Learn more about us: supportedtutoring.com, @dr_joe_ap_exams Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 02:30 The ""Why"" Problem With Classroom Technology 06:00 Are Kids Actually Learning on Their Devices? 08:00 Reluctant AI: Why Educators Should Be Skeptical 12:00 Can Schools Prepare Kids for an AI Future? 18:30 The Top Cyber-Safety Pitfall for Parents 21:30 Digital Footprint for College Admissions 25:00 The 92% Pass Rate for Principal Exams 28:30 Is Education a Tool for Control? 35:00 Lightning Round and the Superhero Teacher Myth