About Ed Tech Hates You
Because someone needs to call out the tech industry's broken promises to education
Our Mission
We're here to cut through the hype, expose the failures, and fight for real solutions that actually help teachers and students. No vendor pitches, no sugar-coating – just honest conversations about what's broken and how to fix it.
Ed Tech has been selling promises to educators for decades while consistently under-delivering. We're former educators who've lived through the disappointments, and we're not staying quiet about it anymore.
Meet Your Hosts
Lee
Former Teacher → Software Developer → Product Manager → Fractional Chief of Staff
Lee started in the trenches as a classroom teacher, experiencing firsthand how education technology consistently over-promises and under-delivers. After years of watching "revolutionary" tools fail students and teachers alike, Lee made the jump to tech to try to fix things from the inside.
Now a seasoned Product Manager turned Fractional Chief of Staff, Lee brings a unique perspective on both the promise and peril of ed tech. As a military veteran, Lee knows what it takes to execute under pressure and isn't afraid to call out BS when they see it.
Lee's Hot Takes:
- Most LMS platforms are digital filing cabinets masquerading as learning tools
- EdTech startups consistently ignore actual educator feedback in favor of flashy features
- The real problem isn't technology – it's that we keep trying to automate relationships
Sean
Former Software Development Educator → Ed Tech Staff → VP of Engineering
Sean spent years teaching software development and working in ed tech, thinking he was part of the solution. Plot twist: he was often part of the problem. After seeing too many well-intentioned projects fail spectacularly due to poor execution and vendor priorities over student needs, Sean moved to the startup world.
Now a VP of Engineering at a startup, Sean understands both the technical challenges and business pressures that lead to ed tech's consistent failures. He's here to explain why that "simple" feature request will take six months and cost twice what you budgeted.
Sean's Reality Checks:
- Just because it works in Silicon Valley doesn't mean it works in rural classrooms
- Technical debt is why your favorite ed tech tool breaks every semester
- Most "AI-powered learning" is just fancy autocomplete with better marketing
What to Expect
🎯 Real Talk
No corporate speak, no vendor pitches. Just honest conversations about what's actually happening in classrooms and boardrooms.
🔍 Deep Dives
We dig into the technical, pedagogical, and business reasons why ed tech keeps failing – and what we can do about it.
💡 Solutions Focus
We're not just here to complain. Every problem we identify comes with actionable ideas for improvement.
🎤 Guest Perspectives
Teachers, administrators, developers, and other ed tech survivors share their war stories and wisdom.
Our Values
Teachers First
Educators are the experts. Any ed tech solution that doesn't start with teacher needs is doomed to fail.
Students Matter Most
Every decision should be measured against student outcomes, not engagement metrics or retention rates.
Accessibility Always
Ed tech should work for all learners, not just those with the latest devices and fastest internet.
Evidence Over Hype
We care about research, data, and real-world results – not whitepapers funded by vendors.
Join the Conversation
Have a horror story to share? A solution that actually works? Want to debate our hot takes? We want to hear from you.
* We promise to read every email, but we can't promise to agree with you. That's what makes it interesting.