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From Parent to Power Broker: Jacob Kantor on Vetting Edtech, Opening Doors, and Building Trust
What the heck is a DODO—and why is it opening doors to the future of edtech?
In this bold, fast-paced episode of AmpED to 11, we sit down with Jacob Kantor, known across LinkedIn and edtech circles as “The Chief DODO”—aka, the District Office Door Opener. Jacob moves at warp speed, connecting solution providers with education leaders, but underneath the rapid-fire meetings and relentless networking is a deeply human mission: making sure powerful tools get into the hands of the people who need them most.
A former edtech sales exec turned strategic consultant (at companies like McGraw Hill, C2, and Varsity Tutors), Jacob peels back the curtain on what it really takes to move education forward. He talks shop with Brett and Rebecca about ethical vetting, what makes a product not only good but necessary, and how he gauges success—hint: it’s not about the money. From working with top-tier ed leaders to obsessing over efficacy, Jacob’s all in on building relationships and driving real impact.
We also get personal. How does a parent—and edtech insider—think about their own kid’s education? What could school look like for his sons when they turn 11? And how do we build that vision for every learner?
What you’ll learn in this episode:
- Why “efficacy” matters more than ever—and how Jacob filters gold from garbage in edtech pitches
- The canceled-meeting effect—and how AI tools like TidyCal, NotebookLM, and Google Workspace are becoming his secret weapons
- How to build trust in an overcrowded, fast-moving AI market
- What “success” looks like in the work of matching districts to solutions—and how Jacob engineers it weekly
- A vision for personalized, interest-driven learning—through a parent’s eyes
- A shoutout-fueled journey to assemble education’s Avengers (get your LinkedIn app ready)
This episode hits hard, laughs loud, and pulls back the layers on what it really takes to unlock innovation in education.
Hosted by Brett Roer and Rebecca Bultsma.
🎧 Tune in, subscribe, and share if you’re ready to turn up the volume on what’s possible in education.
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By Amplify and Elevate InnovationWhat the heck is a DODO—and why is it opening doors to the future of edtech?
In this bold, fast-paced episode of AmpED to 11, we sit down with Jacob Kantor, known across LinkedIn and edtech circles as “The Chief DODO”—aka, the District Office Door Opener. Jacob moves at warp speed, connecting solution providers with education leaders, but underneath the rapid-fire meetings and relentless networking is a deeply human mission: making sure powerful tools get into the hands of the people who need them most.
A former edtech sales exec turned strategic consultant (at companies like McGraw Hill, C2, and Varsity Tutors), Jacob peels back the curtain on what it really takes to move education forward. He talks shop with Brett and Rebecca about ethical vetting, what makes a product not only good but necessary, and how he gauges success—hint: it’s not about the money. From working with top-tier ed leaders to obsessing over efficacy, Jacob’s all in on building relationships and driving real impact.
We also get personal. How does a parent—and edtech insider—think about their own kid’s education? What could school look like for his sons when they turn 11? And how do we build that vision for every learner?
What you’ll learn in this episode:
- Why “efficacy” matters more than ever—and how Jacob filters gold from garbage in edtech pitches
- The canceled-meeting effect—and how AI tools like TidyCal, NotebookLM, and Google Workspace are becoming his secret weapons
- How to build trust in an overcrowded, fast-moving AI market
- What “success” looks like in the work of matching districts to solutions—and how Jacob engineers it weekly
- A vision for personalized, interest-driven learning—through a parent’s eyes
- A shoutout-fueled journey to assemble education’s Avengers (get your LinkedIn app ready)
This episode hits hard, laughs loud, and pulls back the layers on what it really takes to unlock innovation in education.
Hosted by Brett Roer and Rebecca Bultsma.
🎧 Tune in, subscribe, and share if you’re ready to turn up the volume on what’s possible in education.