The future of education technology was buzzing in Orlando, Florida in mid-January, and PaperCut was right at the heart of it all at the enormous tech event: FETC 2026!
It was an incredible few days filled with insightful conversations, valuable connections, and the shared passion for empowering learning environments with smart, secure printing.
Our booth was a hive of activity. It was genuinely inspiring to meet with hundreds of IT professionals from educational facilities spanning across the US and Canada. From multi-district directors to school-based technicians, the energy and dedication to optimizing technology for students and staff were palpable.
We had the pleasure of discussing everything from cost-saving strategies to enhancing security and simplifying workflows.
And of course we got to introduce our fancy pants cloud solution PaperCut Hive to those looking to shift their server infrastructure from on premises to the cloud.
One of the absolute highlights for me was the opportunity to speak directly with so many of our amazing PaperCut customers. Hearing firsthand how PaperCut is making a tangible difference in their schools – whether reducing print waste, ensuring confidential document security, or making printing accessible for everyone – was truly rewarding.
Their stories are our success stories, and their feedback fuels our innovation.
Insights from the stage: Noah Wiemken and our esteemed panelists
Beyond the booth, PaperCut also took to the stage! Our very own Noah Wiemken led an engaging speaking session that drew a small but earnest crowd. The discussion was elevated by the invaluable insights of our distinguished panelists:
- Ryan Benjamin from Sela School
- Phil Rowley from Janison
They shared their unique perspectives on navigating the evolving landscape of education technology, offering practical advice and forward-thinking strategies that resonated deeply with the audience. Their contributions truly highlighted the collaborative spirit of the FETC community and PaperCut’s commitment to fostering thought leadership in the sector.
Here are the high-level takeaways from the discussion:
Fiscal responsibility
By implementing “virtual budgets” and automated prompts for double-sided/grayscale printing, schools have successfully curbed “willy-nilly” printing. This creates a culture of mindfulness regarding resource consumption.
Operational efficiency
Features like “Find-Me Printing” allow staff to print to a secure cloud queue and release their documents at any device across the district. This eliminates downtime caused by individual printer malfunctions.
Automatic waste reduction
By holding print jobs in a 24-hour virtual queue, the district automatically prevents 40–80 uncollected print jobs per day from being wasted, directly lowering paper and toner expenses.
Enhanced cybersecurity
Modern print management allows for better network “walling” (VLANs), ensuring that the print infrastructure does not become a vulnerability for district-wide cyber threats.
Staff impact
While change management can be a hurdle, the transition is successful when framed as an “upgrade” rather than a “restriction.” The introduction of badge-swiping has been the most well-received feature, as it simplifies the login process and saves teachers valuable time.
Conclusion
The move toward a managed system is proven to pay for itself through recovered costs and increased security. The “source of truth” for this success lies in clean data integration (e.g., Google Workspace/Employee IDs) to ensure a seamless experience for all staff.
Until next time, FETC!
FETC 2026 was more than just a conference; it was a vibrant forum for learning, networking, and celebrating the advancements in education technology. We left Orlando feeling energized and incredibly grateful for the passion and dedication of the IT professionals who are shaping the future of learning.
Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth, shared your stories, and participated in our session. We’re already looking forward to next year’s event and continuing these vital conversations.
Stay connected for more updates and insights from PaperCut as we continue to support education worldwide!
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