CISA-led organization hosts national conference in Orlando, Florida, June 15-17, to train educators, administrators and counselors to teach K-12 cyber education alongside public, private partners

Today, CYBER.ORG – an affiliate of the Cyber Innovation Center funded through the Cybersecurity Education and Training Assistance Program (CETAP) grant from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) – announced CYBER.ORG EdCon 24 at the DoubleTree at Universal in Orlando, Florida, from June 15-17, 2024.

Presented by CISA and supported by industry partners, CYBER.ORG EdCon 24 is an annual national conference designed to empower educators, administrators and counselors with the knowledge and tools to expand access to K-12 cybersecurity education and equip future professionals with the skills to pursue cybersecurity careers.

Amid the national shortage of nearly 450,000 cybersecurity professionals and an increasingly sophisticated landscape made more complex through emerging technology and AI, CYBER.ORG is providing the tools and skills needed to train the cybersecurity professionals of tomorrow.

CYBER.ORG EdCon 24 provides attendees with an opportunity to:

  • Explore no-cost resources and learn ready-to-implement lessons from CYBER.ORG curriculum developers.
  • Gain insights into how to teach foundational and technical cybersecurity through sessions like “Security for Everyone! How Cybersecurity Education Can Help Secure You and Your Students.”
  • Learn how to leverage the CYBER.ORG Range, a safe, virtual environment for K-12 students to learn cybersecurity skills.

“We are proud of our partnership with CYBER.ORG. Events such as EdCon create an incredible opportunity for educators to learn more about the resources and tools we have developed, accelerating essential cybersecurity learning and training,” said CISA Director Jen Easterly. “Expanding awareness around the importance of K-12 cyber education plays a vital role in creating excitement among our youth to pursue future careers in cybersecurity.”

Established in 2022, CYBER.ORG EdCon has reached hundreds of educators and industry professionals across the country. CYBER.ORG continues to expand its reach through curricula, professional development and the CYBER.ORG Range, the only no-cost, cloud-based program to introduce students to cyber principles in a controlled atmosphere. To date, the Range has reached over 2,000 school districts and is used by over 2,500 educators nationwide.

“At CYBER.ORG, we’re proud to be a convener of leading minds in K-12 education, industry and government,” said Laurie Salvail, Executive Director of CYBER.ORG. “As a core partner to both the public and private sectors, we’re providing leading no-cost tools and educational resources for educators, administrators and counselors to prepare the next generation of bright minds for cybersecurity careers in the digital age.”

CYBER.ORG EdCon 24 will recognize its 2024 Educator Award winners leading K-12 cybersecurity education in schools nationwide. Each winner will present an interactive class during the conference.

  • Elizabeth (Beth) Cerrone, 6-12th Grade Cybersecurity Instructor at Innovation Center of St. Vrain Valley Schools in Longmont, Colorado, and recipient of the 2023 Presidential Cybersecurity Education Award
  • Reginald Ferguson, 9-12th Grade Computer Connectivity Instructor at Clyde C. Miller Career Academy for St. Louis Public Schools in St. Louis, Missouri
  • Katie Cunningham, 9-12th Grade Information Technology & Networking Instructor at Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School in Upton, Massachusetts
  • Charles Wang, 9-12th Grade Computer Science Teacher at Clear Springs High School in Clear Creek Independent School District in League City, Texas

CYBER.ORG EdCon 24 is sponsored by Palo Alto Networks, College Board Career Kickstart, CS for Success, Parallax, and Check Point.

To learn more about CYBER.ORG EdCon 24, visit www.cyber.org/EdCon.

About CYBER.ORG

CYBER.ORG is a cybersecurity workforce development organization advancing K-12 cybersecurity education nationwide through no-cost curriculum and teacher professional development resources. Supported by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency through the Cybersecurity Education and Training Assistance Program (CETAP) grant. CYBER.ORG provides educators and caregivers with resources and training to teach cybersecurity education to K-12 students nationwide. Today, over 30,000 teachers across all 50 states and four U.S. territories are enrolled in the CYBER.ORG’s content platform. As an affiliate of the Cyber Innovation Center, CYBER.ORG is committed to reaching over 50,000 educators by 2029, impacting over six million students nationwide. For more information, please visit http://www.cyber.org.

Media Contact: CYBER.ORG info@cyber.org