As school technology gets more sophisticated, so do cybercriminals, but school leaders can’t sit back and wait for someone to hand them solutions. During the edLeader Panel “Cybersecurity in School District Settings: A District Leadership Approach,” three innovative superintendents discussed strategies to try and stay ahead of cyber issues even when the landscape is constantly evolving.
Each year, CoSN conducts a national survey among education technology leaders to assess the current state of technology innovation across multiple school systems. Five specific current challenges were identified in the 2024 survey results: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cybersecurity, Student Well-Being, Digital Equity, and Interoperability.
Presented by Timothy Broadrick, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools, Prospect Mountain Schools (NH); Kelly May-Vollmar, Ed.D., Superintendent, Desert Sands Unified School District (CA); and Glenn Robbins, Superintendent, Brigantine Public School District (NJ)
Moderated by Ann McMullan, Project Director, CoSN/AASA EmpowerED Superintendents Initiative, CoSN (Consortium for School Networking)
Presented by Grady Burrows, Executive Director, HIT in the CLE; Shaun Wilson, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, IBM; and Jeremy Shorr, Senior Director of Emerging Technologies and Digital Innovation, TIES Teaching Institute for Excellence in STEM
Presented by Dr. Matthew Friedman, Superintendent of Schools, Quakertown Community School District (PA); Paula Maylahn, Project Director, CoSN (Consortium for School Networking); Dr. Michael Nagler, Superintendent, Mineola Union Free School District (NY); and Dr. Avis Williams, Superintendent, NOLA Public Schools (LA)
Presented by Laurie Salvail, Executive Director, CYBER.ORG
Moderated by Jennifer Ehehalt, Sr. Education Manager, Common Sense Education
Cybersecurity is an in-demand, growing field, so it falls to schools to help students enter the industry. The inequities faced by different students make this a challenge, which Digital Promise’s Inclusive Cybersecurity Pathways Cohort strives to address.
Presented by Dr. Brooke Morgan, Coordinator of Innovative Learning, Talladega County Schools (AL); Dr. Brian Huff, Assistant Superintendent, Educational Services, Rowland Unified School District (CA); Keith Koehne, Co-Founder, Paradigm Cyber Ventures; and Akilah Allen, Education Director of R&D, Digital Promise
When it comes to cybersecurity, the old adage rings true: a good offense is your best defense. Experts during the edLeader Panel “Proactive Leadership Regarding Cybersecurity in School Systems” stressed schools need to know that it’s not a matter of IF a breach will happen but WHEN, and proactive planning is the most effective protection schools can provide right now.
Presented by Dr. Peter J. Aiken, Superintendent, Central York School District (PA); Dr. Gustavo Balderas, Superintendent, Beaverton School District (OR); and Dr. Mark D. Benigni, Superintendent of Schools, Meriden Public Schools (CT)
Moderated by Ann McMullan, Project Director, CoSN/AASA EmpowerED Superintendents Initiative, CoSN (Consortium for School Networking)