Hello Reader, Today I want to share five practical settings you can update to improve the classroom experience. These aren’t complicated, but they make a HUGE difference for teachers and students. These are just some of the things that I'll be covering during the Chromebook Academy for IT admins next month. If you're interested in manage Chromebooks more effectively, you're invited to join us! Oh, and if you happen to be at the MASS CUE conference this week, say hello! I'm doing a session on...
4 days ago • 3 min read
Hello Reader, The fall Google Admin Bootcamp starts TODAY (Oct. 6) at 1pm EST. There are still a few spots left. You can register here. Over the years—and through dozens of district audits—I’ve found that domain health usually boils down to five core pillars. When these five areas are configured properly, your life will be a LOT easier! 1. Organizational Units (OUs) Avoid "Special" OUs: Don't create separate OUs for temporary exceptions (like "YouTube Allowed" or "No 2FA"). Use Security...
11 days ago • 2 min read
Hello Reader, Whenever I perform a Google Workspace domain audit for a school district, reviewing admin roles is a standard part of my review process. Here are three common mistakes that I uncover: 🥳 Super admin party: Anywhere from 5 to 10 people have full Super Admin privileges, including department heads, high school principals, and an outside contractor who configured wireless access points back in 2021. 👻 Ghost accounts: vendors, suspended users, and individuals who have changed roles,...
18 days ago • 4 min read
Hello Reader, A few weeks ago, we discussed the new Agent controls rolling out in the Google Admin Console. Today, I want to take you inside the user-facing tool powering those agents: Workspace Studio. Workspace Studio is new, and very few teachers have started using it. It’s important that you understand what you can do with Workspace Studio so that you can determine the right policies for your district. Here is a quick look at the core features of this tool and a practical 10-minute flow...
25 days ago • 4 min read
Hello Reader, Google Vault is one of those tools you hope you rarely have to touch. But when a FOIA request, subpoena, or serious student safety investigation lands on your desk, you will be immensely grateful if Vault is configured correctly. 👉 At least once a year I recommend that you perform a 15-minute Google Vault checkup. Let's do this together right now... 🍁 Register for the Fall Admin Bootcamp! The Google Admin Bootcamp is a comprehensive overview of the Google Admin console. You'll...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Hello Reader, For over two decades, our job as IT admins has focused on managing human users—provisioning their accounts, assigning their licenses, and locking down what they can and cannot do. We are now crossing into an entirely new era of domain administration: managing AI agents that act autonomously across Google Workspace. Google recently rolled out a new Agent Control section in the Admin Console. Here is a plain-English breakdown of what these policies do and how to use them. 🍁...
about 1 month ago • 4 min read
✨ Earn your Gemini Certification...Join me for Wednesday webinars! ✨ Hi Reader! After a busy back-to-school travel season, I'm taking a vacation with my family to explore Disney World in Orlando! I was able to type up this month's EDU Update right before we left. As you return to your schools and start the new school year, you might have noticed a few changes in Google Classroom. I decided to share a summary of some of the big updates and features that you can use this year. Everything listed...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
✨ Join me for Wednesday Webinars with John! ✨ Hi Reader! As July wraps up, the start of the school year is right around the corner. This week I am in Honolulu, Hawaii to provide some back-to-school training for a school (rough assignment, I know 🌸). This trip kicks off my 2026 back-to-school tour! I’ll be heading to schools all across the US helping teachers just like you get ready for the 2026-27 school year! This month’s EDU update is full of FREE resources to help you prepare for the new...
3 months ago • 2 min read
✨ I'm going on tour this summer! Join me for the Gemini Academy! ✨ Hi Reader! It's time for the April EDU update! I'm following all of Google's AI updates very closely because I'm getting ready for my Gemini summer tour! Trying to finalize this workshop in the midst of constantly shifting features and updates is a challenge! I'll be learning right alongside you! I'm also trying to prepare our campground for the 2026 camping season which starts in mid-May. So, it's been a full month on all...
6 months ago • 3 min read