Cybersecurity is no longer a background concern for school districts—it’s a leadership priority that directly impacts instruction, operations, and trust.

In this episode of the CoSN Podcast, we break down the webinar “Quick Wins: Cybersecurity Scalable Solutions for Districts of Any Size,” featuring district leaders Michael Arensdorff and Will Brackett from Oak Park Elementary School District 97.

This session focuses on practical, high-impact strategies that districts can implement immediately—without waiting for additional resources or large-scale system overhauls. From securing administrative access to improving visibility and testing recovery plans, the conversation highlights what cybersecurity looks like when it’s embedded into daily district operations.

Whether you’re leading a small rural district or a large urban system, this episode provides actionable insights to strengthen your cybersecurity posture right now.

What You’ll Learn

• What “quick wins” in cybersecurity actually look like in a K–12 district
• How to reduce risk by focusing on high-impact, achievable actions
• Why visibility, access control, and system awareness are foundational to security
• How districts can shift from reactive responses to proactive planning
• The role of leadership, culture, and staff behavior in strengthening cybersecurity

Key Takeaways

• Start where risk is highest: Securing administrative and privileged accounts delivers immediate impact
• You can’t protect what you can’t see: Asset inventory and system visibility are critical
• Preparation determines outcomes: Tested backups and recovery planning are essential—not optional
• Small actions matter: Incremental improvements can significantly reduce exposure and limit damage
• Cybersecurity is a district-wide responsibility: Strong systems require leadership, communication, and culture

Presenters Featured in This Webinar

• William R. Brackett
  Director of IT Services
  Oak Park Elementary School District 97 (IL)
  Co-Chair, CoSN Cybersecurity Advisory Committee

• Michael Arensdorff, MA
  Chief Technology Officer
  Oak Park Elementary School District 97 (IL)

Assets

Watch the full webinar: Quick Wins: Cybersecurity Scalable Solutions for Districts of Any Size

The Sessions Everyone Was Talking About Webinar Series

Missed CoSN2025 in Seattle or couldn’t attend every session? Don’t worry—we’re bringing the most popular, standing-room-only presentations to you in a special webinar series. Learn from top EdTech leaders from across the country—no travel needed!

Produced in partnership with⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠edCircuit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

CoSN is vendor-neutral and does not endorse products or services. Any mention of a specific solution is for contextual purposes.

This episode was generated in part using AI tools. All content was reviewed and approved by CoSN and the edCircuit editorial team before publication.