As a former music teacher with 17 years in the classroom, I know firsthand what the start of a school year feels like. The bulletin boards are up, the room is organized just right, and your mind is already racing with lesson plans, learning targets, and how to meet your diverse group of learners where they are. Information security and security awareness training were certainly not top of mind.
I’ll admit it. I was terrible when it came to security awareness. Not because I didn’t care, but because I was hyper-focused on my students and the hundreds of decisions I had to make each day to support them.
Information security felt like something for the IT department to worry about—not me. When an email came through with a resource that might help just one struggling student, I clicked without scrutinizing the sender or the link. I didn’t stop to think about whether it could be a phishing attempt (heck, I didn’t even know what this was) or if it might compromise our school’s data.
I was trying to be the most effective educator for all my students.
I also never locked my screen when students were around—something that makes me cringe, given what I know now. It never occurred to me that leaving my computer open even during a dash to the copier could put sensitive information at risk.
And don’t get me started on passwords. As a music teacher, I thought I was clever for using composer names, Bach123! or Beethoven7 (my favorite Beethoven Symphony), without realizing how easy that would be to guess. I didn’t understand the importance of secure credentials or that saving sensitive documents haphazardly across my desktop wasn’t just careless, it was risky. The information I had access to wasn’t always handled with the level of care it deserved, and that’s on me.
But now, on the other side of the table, I see how vulnerable educators can be. And how important it is that we equip them not just with curriculum resources, but with real, relevant information security awareness training.
Because protecting student data is part of protecting our students.
Educators Handle Sensitive Information Daily
Teachers are trusted with some of the most personal, private data out there: student health plans, academic records, behavioral reports, and Individual Education Plans (IEPs).
As both an educator and a parent of a child on an IEP, I understand how crucial it is to keep that data safe. Our children deserve to start their lives without the shadow of a data breach hanging over them.
Even with our best intentions, any lack of awareness can lead to leaked student data that leaves children vulnerable.
Cyber Attacks Are Expensive and Devastating
When districts fall victim to cyberattacks or ransomware incidents, the cost is more than just dollars—it’s public trust.
And the financial cost is often paid out of public education funding, with money that should be used for staffing, resources, and programs to support students.
Prevention through education is exponentially cheaper than remediation.
Security is Both Digital and Physical
Securing student data doesn’t stop at the screen. It extends into the hallways, the front offices, and the classroom doors.
I remember not saying anything as a young teacher when I saw someone unfamiliar walk into our building. I didn’t feel empowered to speak up and ask, “Can I help you? Are you signed in as a visitor?”
That culture of hesitation cannot live inside the walls of the school.
Leaders must equip educators with not only firewalls and filters but with the confidence to question, report, and defend.
It’s About Compliance Too, But It’s More Than That
Most educators are familiar with FERPA and COPPA, but are rarely taught what they really mean or how to comply.
Security awareness training doesn’t have to be dry or overly technical; it can be practical, relevant, and empowering. Security awareness training can help teachers understand not just what the rules are, but why they exist and how to live them out in their daily work.
Empowered Educators Are Proactive Defenders
Every teacher has the power to be the first line of defense in their institution. When they understand what to look for, how to respond, and why it matters, they become protectors of the learning environment and school community in addition to being educators.
What Should Security Awareness Training in Schools Cover?
For security awareness training to be meaningful, it should speak directly to the real-world challenges that educators face every day. Key focus areas should include:
- Phishing & Email Safety: How to spot suspicious emails, avoid phishing scams, and recognize social engineering tactics.
- Malicious Links & Attachments: What to look for, and what to do (and not do!) if you click on something suspicious.
- Incident Response Basics: Immediate steps to take if you suspect a security incident—reporting, isolating, and documenting.
- Data Privacy & Protection: Understanding what constitutes sensitive student data (like IEPs, grades, medical information) and how to protect it.
- FERPA, COPPA, & Compliance: A practical explanation of regulations educators are responsible for, and how to stay compliant.
- Physical Building Security: The importance of locked doors, visible visitor badges, camera awareness, and politely challenging unfamiliar faces.
- Secure Device & Password Practices: Encouraging strong passwords, locking screens, an information-free workstation, and keeping personal and professional use separate.
- Social Media & Digital Citizenship: Modeling safe online behavior and guiding students in responsible tech use.
- Being a Security Role Model: Leading by example because students are always watching how adults interact with information and the technology it is delivered.
To Summarize
Cyber and information security are not just IT department concerns; they are everyday habits that every staff member can and should learn, own, and model.
But educators must be properly equipped and trained to do so.
Investing in security awareness training isn’t a burden; it’s a relief. Once you learn what to look for and how to respond, it becomes second nature. And that peace of mind means more energy, more clarity, and more time to teach, which is what all school districts want.
So, as you prepare for the 2025–2026 school year, I encourage every school, college, and university to consider how you’re preparing your staff.
Set a standard not just to educate but also to protect. It’s one investment that pays off all year long.
