The Education Insider Podcast with PRP Group Jacob Hanson and Chris Piehler, PRP Group

After the twists and turns of the COVID years, 2023 was a stabilizing period in the education sector, even with fewer deals and tightened valuations. 2024 is now looking brighter, as capital markets show signs of recovery, making this an opportune moment for companies that have been biding their time—especially if they’re attending the ASU+GSV Summit on April 14-17.

Whether you’re an educator, an investor or an entrepreneur, you’ll learn a lot from our recent conversation with Taylor Smith, a managing director at Tucker Capital. In this episode, he shares valuable advice that can help potential acquirers and acquirees navigate the mergers and acquisitions landscape with confidence and clarity.

You can meet Taylor and the Tucker Capital team as well as Jacob from PRP at the AIR and ASU+GSV events this weekend! You can reach them at: tsmith@tuckercapital.com and jacob@prp.group

PowerNotes’ founder and CEO Wilson Tsu, who writes with passion and clarity about the potential and pitfalls of artificial intelligence in education, says every company needs a clear AI usage policy. Tsu also schools PRP’s Chris Piehler in the developing art of “prompt engineering” and shares his hope that AI will improve education (and work) for people suffering from “writing anxiety.”

In this episode of The Education Insider Podcast Shorts, host Jacob Hanson riffs on a recent article featuring an administrator’s perspective on vendors in the education sector. He wholeheartedly agrees with Dr. Tracy Daniel-Hardy, a district-level director of technology, who says vendors need to “know what we do, how we do it, what we need to simplify our work, our pain points, and the parameters that guide our work.” Jacob explains how understanding your clients’ needs can translate into more relevant and meaningful outreach and, ultimately, build the deep trust that’s needed to sustain relationships with key buyers. He also introduces PRP Group’s new Anonymous Edvisors service, which offers insider access to education experts.

In a can’t-miss conversation with host Jacob Hanson, Julia Fallon, the executive director at SETDA, delves into the evolving landscape of educational technology, offering valuable insights and actionable advice. She shares thoughts on:


Cybersecurity's growing importance in K-12 education;


Crisis communications for education companies;


SETDA’s role in edtech partnerships; and


Market research and building community relationships.



Julia's journey in educational technology spans more than three decades, beginning right after her undergrad years. Her enduring passion for the field is rooted in a never-ending curiosity about the transformative power of technology in education. 

In the episode, she shares her experiences and discusses the benefits of companies working with SETDA, highlighting how the organization provides insights into state-level educational technology trends and policies. Finally, Jacob and Julia underscore the importance of companies preparing for potential cybersecurity threats and crises by developing comprehensive crisis communication plans.

Kristen Plemon, PRP’s director of strategic storytelling & client success (say that ten times fast!) shares her extensive knowledge about how companies can stand out from the competition by building on a short unique value proposition that is truly unique. She also offers practical advice about messaging, the impact of customer stories, and the power of partnerships.

In a lively chat with PRP editorial director Chris Piehler, Susan Enfield, the award-winning Superintendent of Washoe County Schools, shares why she wants to work with “compassionate human beings,” why fall break is a good time to reach her, why AI will never trump human-to-human connection, and the correct way to pronounce “Nevada.”