EdGate Powers Podcast #16- with Jill Pierce
Choosing the right education technology requires more than finding a product with the features a school needs. Districts must consider how new technology supports instructional and operational priorities, integrates with existing systems, protects student and employee data, and can realistically be implemented by the people who will use it. As schools face growing numbers of technology options alongside limited time and resources, the challenge is determining which solutions provide meaningful value without creating unnecessary complexity for educators, students, and staff.
In this episode of the EdGate Powers Podcast, Rich Portelance speaks with Jill Pierce, Executive Director of the Tennessee Educational Technology Association and former district Chief Technology Officer, about how school districts evaluate, adopt, and implement education technology. The discussion explores what districts look for when evaluating new products, including interoperability, cybersecurity, student data privacy, ease of use, training, support, and alignment with district strategic priorities. Pierce also explains how edtech providers can better understand the environments in which they are selling and demonstrate that their products address specific instructional or operational needs.
Pierce explains why successful technology adoption begins with identifying a genuine need rather than simply pursuing the newest available tool. She also discusses how teachers, technology staff, instructional leaders, administrators, and other end users should participate in technology evaluations, why vendors need to understand state laws and district priorities before approaching schools, and how emerging technologies such as AI are creating new questions around student data privacy and appropriate use. Throughout the conversation, she emphasizes the importance of doing the necessary research, respecting educators' and administrators' time, and ensuring that technology ultimately supports better outcomes for students.
In this episode, you will learn:
- How school districts evaluate new education technology based on instructional and operational needs.
- What criteria schools should consider when evaluating edtech products, including interoperability, cybersecurity, data privacy, usability, training, and support.
- Why technology adoption should begin with a clearly identified district need rather than the newest available tool.
- How edtech providers can use district strategic plans to better understand priorities and identify opportunities.
- Why teachers, technology staff, and other end users should be involved in evaluating potential technology solutions.
- How state laws and regulations can affect whether edtech products are eligible for adoption.
Why This Conversation Matters
School districts are making increasingly complex technology decisions as they balance instructional priorities, operational needs, cybersecurity, student data privacy, interoperability, implementation requirements, and limited resources. A product that appears promising on its own may not be the right solution if it does not integrate with existing systems, address a genuine need, or provide the training and support necessary for successful implementation. Technology decisions must ultimately fit within a district's broader strategic priorities and the realities of the people who will use the products every day.
Organizations that understand district priorities, anticipate state and federal requirements, demonstrate interoperability and security, and clearly communicate how their products address specific needs will be better positioned to build trust and support successful adoption. As AI and other emerging technologies become increasingly integrated into existing education products, providers must also be prepared to answer evolving questions about how technology uses and protects student and employee data.
Join Rich and Jill as they explore what school districts really need from education technology, not simply the newest or cheapest solution, but technology that addresses authentic needs, integrates effectively, protects students and staff, and provides meaningful value for educators and learners.
Learn how top school districts evaluate and adopt educational technology while balancing instructional needs and operational priorities.
Jill Pierce is the Executive Director of the Tennessee Educational Technology Association (TETA) and brings more than 30 years of experience in educational technology leadership. Before stepping into her current role, she served as Chief Technology Officer for two Tennessee school systems, earning recognition as the state’s CTO of the Year in 2016. Jill has been honored globally as an Intel® Education Visionary and represented the U.S. at the Microsoft in Education Global Forum. She continues to provide training and consulting nationwide on instructional technology, cybersecurity, budgeting, and procurement, with a strong commitment to creating safe and effective digital learning environments for students.
Rich is passionate about eEdTech and helping people discover pathways to successful careers. He leverages his many years of business experience in strategy, product development, brand creation and sales & marketing as a frequent industry speaker and sought after consultant.
Beginning his career in digital marketing and web development, Rich was recruited into the private, independent school market to help usher in digital technologies and social media. During this time, Richard served as a student advisor and was nominated to serve on the CAIS (Connecticut Association of Independent Schools) Technology Commission. In 2012, Rich joined York & Chapel, a brand and digital transformation agency where he began working with secondary and higher ed clients, developing strategies for student engagement and pathway creation. In 2014, Richard founded CareerPath, a SaaS engagement platform. Over the past ten years, Rich has given back to the industry as an advisor to numerous EdTech startups, and generally has had a blast doing what he loves to do — help others succeed.
Questions Answered
During the podcast, we tackle critical questions that many school leaders are asking as districts determine whether new edtech products are appropriate, secure, interoperable, and worth implementing.
- What are the biggest challenges school districts face when adopting new education technology?
- How should school districts evaluate new edtech products before making a purchase?
- How can edtech companies better understand a school district's technology needs before making a sales pitch?
- What cybersecurity questions should school districts ask before adopting new technology?
- What interoperability capabilities are school districts looking for in edtech products today?
- What is the best way for edtech companies to communicate with school districts during the purchasing process?
- How do school districts identify technology needs when developing strategic plans?
- What should edtech companies look for in a school district's strategic plan?
- How can edtech products better support the diverse needs of all learners?
- How is artificial intelligence changing K-12 classrooms in Tennessee?
- How do Tennessee's AI laws guide school district decision-making?
- Why must edtech companies understand state education laws before selling to school districts?