Educational technology is reshaping the K–12 landscape, offering tools that streamline device management, enhance student safety, and improve classroom engagement. In a recent CDW Education webinar, executives from top K–12 tech vendors, including Lexicon Tech Solutions, Incident IQ, Securly, and Kajeet, discussed how their solutions create a cohesive and effective digital ecosystem for schools.
Opening the session, CDW’s Derek Carnwath announced expanded device lifecycle services, supporting districts with everything from deployment and asset tagging to repair and security. This holistic approach enables schools to efficiently manage devices and focus on what matters most: keeping students engaged and safe.
The Importance of Device Repair and Lifecycle Management
Jenny Taylor, VP of Channel Development at Lexicon Tech Solutions, shared insights on maintaining a seamless device lifecycle. “A well-managed device lifecycle is like a well-oiled machine,” Taylor explained, emphasizing the need for a proactive approach to device repair. When accidents happen—be it spills, drops, or device malfunctions—Lexicon’s repair solutions ensure that schools keep students connected with minimal disruptions. By planning for such incidents, districts avoid costly downtime, enabling classrooms to continue without interruptions.
“Each district’s repair needs are unique,” said Taylor. “We engineer solutions that meet schools where they are to keep learning running smoothly.” Lexicon’s approach emphasizes minimizing classroom disruptions, supporting teachers, and ensuring a reliable learning environment.
Streamlining Classroom Technology Management
Incident IQ’s customer success manager, Emily Stapf, emphasized how asset management platforms help schools stay organized. “Our goal is to keep teachers teaching, not troubleshooting,” she said. With features like inventory tracking and remote management, Incident IQ enables schools to monitor device health, ensuring technology is available when and where it’s needed. This visibility into device usage is invaluable for school IT teams working to provide efficient tech support and reduce operational frustrations.
Stapf, who previously worked in a school district, understands the challenges educators face firsthand. She explained that technology facilitates better communication within districts, helping staff identify and address tech needs proactively. The platform’s features simplify management tasks, making it easier for educators to focus on instruction rather than device logistics.
Promoting Safety and Academic Support with Student Behavior Insights
Safety and behavior tracking has become increasingly critical in K–12 education, and Securly and Kajeet are at the forefront of these efforts. Securly’s VP of Strategic Partnership, Mike Jolley, highlighted the importance of real-time monitoring of students’ online activities. “We look for patterns in students’ searches to identify any risks,” Jolley said. Through advanced analytics, Securly provides insight into students’ browsing behaviors, enabling schools to intervene early with at-risk students.
Kajeet’s Sentinel platform complements this by monitoring network traffic to help schools make data-informed decisions regarding student safety and academic performance. Chief Marketing Officer Landon Garner explained that Kajeet’s network-based monitoring allows schools to track online behaviors, providing insights that firewall and mobile device management tools often miss. Garner noted, “We can correlate browsing habits with academic performance, helping teachers identify students in need of additional support.”
Both Securly and Kajeet emphasize using technology to foster safety and academic success, ensuring that online behavior insights are timely and actionable for educators and administrators.
A Unified Approach to Ed-Tech: Building a Future-Ready Classroom
The speakers at the CDW webinar agreed that technology integration should simplify—not complicate—classroom management. With tools for device lifecycle management, real-time safety monitoring, and network oversight, schools can create a cohesive digital ecosystem that supports both learning and well-being.
In today’s dynamic educational environment, having the right ed-tech tools can make a significant difference. By building a unified ecosystem, districts ensure their technology investments directly benefit teachers, students, and support staff. “It’s an exciting time in education,” said Garner. “Today’s tools give educators the chance to be superheroes in the classroom.”
