UTC 2025

Josh Shepard is an innovative leader with a proven track record in K-12 education, educational technology, and strategic management. With a career that began in the classroom as an elementary school teacher (5th grade was his favorite), Josh later served as an instructional technology coach before becoming the Chief Technology Officer for Oconee County School District, SC. His hands-on experience across instructional and technical roles gives him a unique perspective on how to bridge the gap between classroom needs and scalable technology solutions.

As a co-founder of simpledu, Josh is focused on building solutions that help schools (and teachers) operate more efficiently while still supporting student success. The flagship product, simpldiscipline, is a modern platform that streamlines discipline and truancy management for school districts. Under his leadership, simpldiscipline has become a trusted solution for improving communication and data accuracy, automating state compliance, and easing the administrative workload on educators—allowing them to focus more on students and less on paperwork. The platform features real-time integration with student information systems like PowerSchool and supports customized workflows for districts across multiple states.

Josh is deeply passionate about educational equity, student data privacy, and mentoring the next generation of leaders in edtech. His work is grounded in practical experience, guided by strategy, and driven by the belief that technology should empower—not complicate—the work of educators.

Key Areas of Focus:
• K-12 Data Interoperability & Integrations
• Strategic Leadership in Educational Technology
• Student Information Systems & Compliance
• Educational Equity & Professional Development
• Cybersecurity & Data Privacy in Schools
• AI, Analytics, and Digital Transformation in K-12

Josh continues to influence the edtech space by championing solutions that are both innovative and rooted in the realities of school operations.