This year our district, Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95, took on a challenge: build a districtwide cybersecurity awareness campaign in just thirty days. My goal wasn’t to create a perfect program overnight, but to see how much we could accomplish in our first year—and to lay the foundation for something that can grow in the years ahead.

Starting with Collaboration

The first step was connecting with the right people. I met with colleagues from Curriculum and Instruction, Safety & Security, and Communications to understand how cybersecurity messages could align with existing efforts. Their insight was invaluable in identifying opportunities we already had in place to help spread the word.

For example, our Safety team sends a weekly email with scenarios to reinforce safety practices. This provided a natural platform to introduce cybersecurity-themed scenarios for October. The Communications team, meanwhile, offered to create social media posts that highlight the core themes of Cybersecurity Awareness Month—and they are taking advantage of the excellent free resources from CISA to build those messages. By tapping into existing systems and trusted content, we avoided “reinventing the wheel” and ensured cybersecurity messaging reached more people.

grant durr 21ztbenjzei unsplash Anchoring the Campaign in Technology Initiatives

One of our initiatives this year is the launch of new security awareness and phishing training software for staff. October was the perfect time to introduce it, as the month already provides a national spotlight on cybersecurity. Framing the rollout as part of a larger awareness campaign helped generate momentum and position the software as one piece of a districtwide effort.

Tailoring Messages for Every Level

As a K-12 district, it was important to reach every audience in age and ability-appropriate ways:

  • Young Adult Center: For our 18-22 year old transition program students and day school students, we are hosting a presentation focused around phishing and safe practices for protecting personal data and staying secure on mobile devices.
  • High School: A speaker from CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency) will talk to students about both cybersecurity awareness and careers in the field.
  • Middle School: A weekly announcement will include short, themed cybersecurity messages that reinforce key ideas in a format students are already accustomed to hearing.
  • Elementary School: The technology department is recording “Cybersecurity Superhero” videos—fun, engaging clips that teach younger students about online safety, creating strong passwords, and updating devices.

This tiered approach ensures that every age group is hearing about cybersecurity in a way that resonates.

Looking Ahead

While this year’s campaign came together quickly, the vision is to expand over time. Future goals include hosting community events where students share their knowledge with families and the broader community—helping to extend cybersecurity awareness beyond the walls of our schools.

Lessons Learned

For districts considering their own awareness campaigns, here are a few takeaways from our 30-day challenge:

  • Build on existing channels. Leverage existing emails, announcements, or assemblies.
  • Leverage free resources. CISA provides excellent ready-to-use content.
  • Tailor your message. Adjust for different age groups and audiences.
  • Grow over time. Start small, then expand year by year.
  • Find a champion. One person can spark collaboration and inspire action.

AUTHOR: Melissa Gray, Lead Manager of Instructional Technology, Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95 (IL)
CoSN Cybersecurity Committee member

Published on October 6th, 2025

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