Management

Why a Comprehensive Security Approach in K–12 Promotes Learning Innovation

To progress in school, students need to feel safe from physical, psychological and online threats.

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As Editor in Chief, Ryan works on developing editorial strategy and is always on the lookout for new writing talent and sharing great stories with the IT world. In his spare time, Ryan enjoys spending time with his family, biking and obsessively following Iowa Hawkeye sports and Cubs baseball.

For many students, their K–12 classrooms are the first places they discover their talents and passions. Under the watchful eyes of their teachers, they can safely experiment and explore. And, in modern classroom settings, innovative educators go beyond theory and help students use technology to hone their nascent skills.

For example, in New York’s Bethlehem Central School District, high school students are certified to repair Chromebooks, which is a big help to the short-staffed IT department (see “Schools Give Students a Career Head Start with Help Desk Opportunities”). At Fulton County Schools’ Innovation Academy in Georgia, high school students are using a combination of radio-frequency identification technology and data analytics tools to research the habits of honeybees (see “Students Collect Data from Apiaries for Project-Based Learning”). In both of these cases, students are doing important hands-on work that will have a long-lasting impact on their communities.

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These Four Pillars to Safety Can Minimize Harm

But there are multiple types of safety, and to make schools a truly safe place to learn, leaders must address the four pillars of safety: physical security, prevention, mental wellness and cybersecurity solutions.

According to CoSN’s 2024 State of EdTech District Leadership report, cybersecurity is the No. 1 concern for K–12 IT leaders. Independent schools, which often store an even greater amount of financial and sensitive information than public schools, may be more attractive to hackers. To combat bad actors, Westminster Christian School CIO Omar Valerio has turned his office into what is essentially his very own security operations center. “No one is immune to attacks, so you have to be proactive,” he says (see “Independent and Private Schools Address Unique Cybersecurity Threats”).

DISCOVER: How taking a two-pronged approach to safety protects students and staff.

And while schools look to lock down their networks from ne'er-do-wells, technology and security leaders are also working hard to protect the physical school grounds with artificial intelligence–driven IP cameras and video management systems.

“We have the capability now through AI to flag areas of concern,” says Hayward Finks, director of safety services at North Little Rock School District in Arkansas (see “K–12 Leaders Find Technology Helps Speed Physical Security Responses for All”).

In a world where schools are vulnerable to multiple threats, school leaders must make safety paramount so students see school as a place to shine.

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