Terms of Service

Effective Date: March 11, 2026

Last Updated: March 11, 2026

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using TeachTools (including TheTimer, ReachOut, AudioGrader, and ResetKey), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to these terms, do not use TeachTools.

These terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you (the "Teacher" or "User") and GM Associates ("we", "us", "TeachTools").

2. Eligibility and User Accounts

Who Can Use TeachTools

• Primary Users: Buffalo Public Schools teachers and staff
• Account Requirement: You must use your BPS-issued email address (e.g., yourname@buffaloschools.org)
• Age Requirement: You must be 18 years or older to create an account
• Authorization: You must be authorized by your school to use educational technology tools

Account Responsibilities

• You are responsible for maintaining the security of your account
• You must not share your account credentials with others
• You must notify us immediately if you suspect unauthorized access
• You are responsible for all activities that occur under your account

3. Services Provided

What We Offer

TeachTools provides four classroom productivity tools:

• TheTimer: Period countdown timer with bell schedule integration
• ReachOut: Parent communication via text with Infinite Campus auto-logging
• AudioGrader: Oral assessment grading with audio transcription (coming Summer 2026)
• ResetKey: Student login card generator (included with Bundle subscription)

What We Do Not Guarantee

• Uninterrupted or error-free service
• Compatibility with all devices and browsers
• Specific grade improvements or time savings
• Integration with future changes to Infinite Campus, Clever, or Schoology

4. Acceptable Use Policy

You May:

• Use TeachTools for legitimate educational purposes
• Contact parents/guardians of your students via ReachOut
• Record student audio for assessment purposes (AudioGrader)
• Print login cards for your students (ResetKey)
• Customize your timer display with school colors

You May Not:

• Use TeachTools for commercial purposes or resell access
• Share your account with other teachers or staff
• Contact students directly via ReachOut (parent/guardian contact only)
• Send spam, harassment, or inappropriate messages to parents
• Attempt to reverse engineer, hack, or exploit TeachTools
• Use TeachTools to violate FERPA, COPPA, or any other laws
• Upload malicious code or attempt to access other users' data
• Use automated scripts to send mass texts without teacher review

5. Subscription and Payment

Pricing

• Individual Tools: $60/year per tool (TheTimer, ReachOut, or AudioGrader)
• Full Bundle: $100/year (all 4 tools including ResetKey)
• Free Trial: 14 days, no credit card required

Payment Terms

• Subscriptions are billed annually in advance
• Payment is due at the start of each subscription year
• We accept credit cards, debit cards, and PayPal
• Prices are in U.S. dollars and do not include applicable taxes

Auto-Renewal

• Subscriptions automatically renew each year unless you cancel
• You will receive an email reminder 7 days before renewal
• You can cancel auto-renewal at any time from your account settings
• No refunds for partial years if you cancel mid-subscription

6. Cancellation and Refunds

Free Trial

• You can cancel anytime during the 14-day free trial
• If you cancel before the trial ends, you will not be charged
• You can only use the free trial once per email address

Paid Subscriptions

• 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee: Full refund if you cancel within 30 days of payment
• After 30 Days: No refunds, but you can use the service until the end of your subscription year
• School-Year Proration: If you purchase in January or later, contact us for prorated pricing

How to Cancel

• Log in to your account and go to Settings → Billing → Cancel Subscription
• Or email gldavis@buffaloschools.org with subject line "Cancel TeachTools Subscription"
• Cancellations are processed within 1 business day

7. Intellectual Property

Ownership

• TeachTools Software: All rights reserved by GM Associates
• Your Data: You retain ownership of all content you create (messages, recordings, login cards)
• Student Work: Audio recordings and assessments belong to you and your students (we claim no rights)

Trademarks

• "TeachTools", "TheTimer", "ReachOut", "AudioGrader", and "ResetKey" are trademarks of GM Associates
• Buffalo Public Schools, Infinite Campus, Clever, Schoology, and Google Voice are trademarks of their respective owners

8. Third-Party Services

TeachTools integrates with third-party services. You are responsible for complying with their terms of service:

• Google Voice: policies.google.com/terms
• Infinite Campus: Contact your BPS technology department
• Clever: clever.com/trust/terms
• Schoology: schoology.com/terms-of-use

We are not responsible for changes, outages, or termination of these third-party services.

9. Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability

Service "As Is"

TeachTools is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to:

• Accuracy or reliability of information
• Fitness for a particular purpose
• Non-infringement of third-party rights
• Compatibility with all systems and devices

Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, GM Associates shall not be liable for:

• Indirect, incidental, or consequential damages
• Loss of data, revenue, or profits
• Service interruptions or bugs
• Third-party service failures (Infinite Campus, Google Voice, etc.)
• Damages exceeding the amount you paid in the past 12 months

Teacher Responsibility

• You are responsible for verifying that messages to parents are accurate before sending
• You are responsible for grading student work fairly and accurately
• You are responsible for complying with FERPA and your school's data policies
• You are responsible for ensuring parent consent where required

10. Data Protection

Our full data protection practices are described in our Privacy Policy. Key points:

• Student data is protected with secure encryption and password-protected access
• Student data is used only for educational purposes
• We do not sell or share student data with third parties
• You are responsible for obtaining parental consent where required by your district
• You are responsible for complying with your school's data policies and applicable laws

11. Modifications to Service

Updates and Changes

• We may update, modify, or discontinue features at any time
• We will notify you via email at least 30 days before major changes
• Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance

Price Changes

• We may increase prices with 60 days advance notice
• Price increases do not apply to current subscriptions (only renewals)
• You can lock in current pricing by renewing early

12. Termination

We May Terminate Your Account If:

• You violate these terms of service
• You use TeachTools for prohibited purposes
• Your payment fails and you do not update payment information
• We discontinue the service entirely

Effect of Termination

• Your access to TeachTools will be immediately revoked
• Data stored in TeachTools may be deleted after 30 days
• Communication logs in Infinite Campus will remain (per district policy)
• Audio recordings on your device will remain (you must delete manually)

13. Dispute Resolution

Informal Resolution

Before filing a legal claim, please contact us at gldavis@buffaloschools.org to resolve disputes informally. Most issues can be resolved through direct communication.

Governing Law

These terms are governed by the laws of the State of New York and the United States. Any disputes will be resolved in the courts of Erie County, New York.

No Class Actions

You agree to resolve disputes on an individual basis, not as part of a class action lawsuit.

14. Miscellaneous

Entire Agreement

These terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and GM Associates regarding TeachTools.

Severability

If any provision of these terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in effect.

No Waiver

Our failure to enforce any right or provision does not constitute a waiver of that right.

Assignment

You may not transfer your account or these terms to another person without our written consent.

15. Contact Information

If you have questions about these terms of service:

• Email: gldavis@buffaloschools.org
• Subject Line: "TeachTools Terms Question"
• Response Time: We respond within 2 business days

Legal Information

TeachTools is operated by:
GM Associates
George L. Davis II
Music Teacher, PS 197 (MST Prep)
Buffalo Public Schools
Buffalo, NY 14201

Effective Date: March 11, 2026