Privacy Tips for Teachers

Privacy Tips for Teachers

Teachers handle sensitive student information and use various educational technologies, while also needing to protect their own privacy as public-facing professionals. These practical privacy tips help teachers protect student data, navigate edtech thoughtfully, and safeguard their own privacy.

Protect Student Data

Student data is sensitive and often protected:

• Handle student data carefully: Student information (grades, records, personal details) is sensitive and often subject to privacy protections. Handle it carefully and per your school's policies and applicable rules.
• Follow your institution's policies: Follow your school's or district's data privacy policies and requirements, which govern how student data should be handled.
• Practice data minimization: Collect and share only the student data necessary, reducing exposure.
• Limit and secure access: Keep student data secure, limit who can access it, and use secure systems and accounts (with strong passwords and 2FA).
• Be careful sharing student information: Be cautious about sharing student information, ensuring it is appropriate and per policy.

Navigate Educational Technology Thoughtfully

Edtech tools handle data, so choose and use them carefully:

• Use approved tools: Favor edtech tools approved by your school, which have often been vetted for privacy and compliance.
• Be mindful of tools' data practices: Be aware that edtech tools collect data, including student data. Consider their privacy practices, especially for tools handling student information.
• Be cautious with new/unapproved tools: Be cautious introducing new tools that collect student data without ensuring they meet privacy requirements.
• Use temporary email for evaluating tools: When evaluating or trying tools for yourself (not involving student data), temporary email like Temp90 protects your email from marketing.

Secure Your Accounts and Devices

Protect your accounts and devices:

• Use strong, unique passwords and a password manager: Protecting your accounts, including those with student data.
• Enable 2FA: Enable 2FA on important accounts (email, school systems, gradebooks), blocking most takeover.
• Secure your email: Your email is critical; secure it strongly.
• Beware phishing: Be cautious with phishing, which targets educators; log in directly and verify requests.
• Keep devices updated, locked, and secure: Especially devices with student data.

Protect Your Own Privacy

Teachers are public-facing, so protect personal privacy:

• Separate professional and personal: Keep your professional and personal online presence separate, and be mindful of what personal information is accessible.
• Manage your social media privacy: Review your social media privacy settings and be thoughtful about what you share publicly, given your public-facing role.
• Be mindful of your digital footprint: Be aware of personal information about you that is public, and reduce unnecessary exposure.
• Be cautious with student/parent boundaries: Maintain appropriate boundaries and use official channels for communication, protecting your privacy.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can teachers protect student data?

Handle student information carefully, since it is sensitive and often subject to privacy protections, and follow your school's or district's data privacy policies and requirements, which govern how it should be handled. Practice data minimization (collecting and sharing only necessary student data), limit who can access student data, and keep it secure using secure systems and accounts protected with strong passwords and 2FA. Be cautious about sharing student information, ensuring it is appropriate and per policy. Also navigate educational technology thoughtfully — favoring school-approved tools that have been vetted, and being cautious with new tools that collect student data. Following your institution's policies and handling student data carefully protects this sensitive information.

What should teachers consider when using educational technology?

Be mindful that edtech tools collect data, including student data, so consider their privacy practices — especially for tools handling student information. Favor tools approved by your school, which have often been vetted for privacy and compliance, and be cautious about introducing new or unapproved tools that collect student data without ensuring they meet privacy requirements and your institution's policies. Following your school's guidance on approved tools is important, since it helps ensure the tools meet privacy and compliance standards for student data. When evaluating tools for your own use (not involving student data), you can use temporary email like Temp90 to protect your email. Thoughtful edtech use protects student data and complies with requirements.

How can teachers protect their own privacy?

As public-facing professionals, teachers should protect their personal privacy. Keep your professional and personal online presence separate, and be mindful of what personal information is accessible. Review your social media privacy settings and be thoughtful about what you share publicly, given your role. Be aware of personal information about you that is public, and reduce unnecessary exposure (considering data broker opt-outs if desired). Maintain appropriate boundaries with students and parents, using official channels for communication, which protects your privacy. Also secure your accounts and devices with strong passwords, 2FA, and phishing awareness. Separating professional and personal presence and managing your public exposure help teachers protect their own privacy.

Conclusion

Teachers handle sensitive student information and use various educational technologies, while also needing to protect their own privacy as public-facing professionals. Protect student data by handling it carefully (it is sensitive and often protected), following your school's data privacy policies, practicing data minimization, limiting and securing access, and being careful sharing student information. Navigate educational technology thoughtfully by favoring school-approved (vetted) tools, being mindful of tools' data practices (especially for student data), being cautious with new or unapproved tools, and using temporary email like Temp90 when evaluating tools for yourself. Secure your accounts and devices with strong, unique passwords and a password manager, 2FA on important accounts, a secured email, phishing awareness, and updated, locked devices — especially those with student data. Finally, protect your own privacy by separating professional and personal presence, managing your social media privacy, being mindful of your digital footprint, and maintaining appropriate boundaries. By protecting student data, using edtech thoughtfully, securing your accounts and devices, and safeguarding your own privacy, teachers can navigate their privacy responsibilities effectively.