
CYBER.ORG EdCon 23
June 20-22, 2023
CYBER.ORG EdCon 23 (formerly CEDF) is a national conference designed to inspire and empower novice and expert K-12 cybersecurity educators alike. Attendees will have the opportunity to:
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Learn ready-to-implement lessons from CYBER.ORG curriculum developers.
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Explore no-cost resources from industry experts.
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Gain firsthand knowledge from K-12 educators who teach foundational and technical cybersecurity.
Mesa Convention Center, Mesa, AZ
$100 for K-12 Educators & Government, $150 for Higher Ed & Non-Profit, $200 Industry
See session titles and info below!

Educator Awards are awarded to the leading educators teaching cybersecurity in new and innovative ways to K-12 students and showing their undeniable commitment to growing the future cybersecurity workforce.
Congrats to our Educator Award Winners!
- Bobbie Bastian
- Bryan Hower
- Diana Mackiewicz
- Moriah Walker
Don't let financial constraints keep you from CYBER.ORG EdCon 23 at the Mesa Convention Center in Mesa, AZ, June 20-22, 2023! CYBER.ORG has a limited number of $750 travel grants available for eligible teachers. Recipients of travel grants will be able to use the funds to seek reimbursement for up to $750 of registration, airfare, and/or hotel costs (Note: we have secured a room block at the Delta Hotel located right next to the Convention Center at the rate of $103/night.) To be eligible you must be a classroom teacher in the United States or US Territories. All applicants will receive a response to their application within 14 days with an award decision. Please note: in order to accept the travel grant, you must register for EdCon 23; in order to receive funds, you must attend EdCon 23 and submit receipts for total reimbursed. Complete instructions will be given to awardees in the email notifying them of the award decision.
Plan for exciting sessions you want to attend!
Having trouble picking? Some sessions will be repeated on multiple days so make sure to take a good look!
- Presented by: CYBER.ORG
- Pre-req(s): A session in Cyber Society or previous PD (See session Overview of Cyber Society for High School or Middle School Teachers)
- Experience level: Novice
- Grade Band: 6-12
- Technology needed: Laptop or tablet
- Description: Take on the role of a DHS agent tasked with solving a complex scenario as you work through one of our AICS scenarios!
- Presented by: CYBER.ORG
- Pre-req(s): None
- Experience level: Novice
- Grade Band 9-12
- Technology needed: None
- Description: In this session, attendees will learn about the Cybersecurity Affinity Metric (CAM) survey instrument, discover how they could use the tool with their own students, and receive access to resources to support their own administration of the CAM with their students.
- Presented by: CYBER.ORG
- Pre-req(s): None
- Experience level: Novice
- Grade band: K-12
- Technology needed: Laptop, tablet or phone
- Description: Looking for a quick, easy activity to utilize in your classroom? Check out this session about classroom extensions to learn all about CYBER.ORG’s website resources.
- Presented by: CYBER.ORG
- Pre-req(s): None
- Experience level: Novice
- Grade band: K-8
- Technology needed: None
- Description: In this session attendees will be introduced to CYBER.ORG’s Cybersecurity Basics course which is ideal for K-8 educators looking to build cybersecurity awareness in their classes.
- Presented by: CYBER.ORG
- Pre-req(s): None
- Experience level: Intermediate
- Grade Band 9-12
- Technology needed: Laptop or tablet
- Description: In this session attendees will be introduced to CYBER.ORG’s Cybersecurity course aligned to the CompTIA Security+ certification as well as its at no cost cyber range.
- Presented by: CYBER.ORG
- Pre-req(s): None
- Experience level: Intermediate
- Grade band: 9-12
- Technology needed: Laptop or tablet
- Description: In this session, attendees will learn about CYBER.ORG’s brand new Networking course that aligns with CompTIA’s Network+ exam. This course uses the new Windows Server VM on the CYBER.ORG Range as well as other VMs on the range for the hands-on lab environments.
- Presented by: CYBER.ORG & Caddo Parish Schools
- Pre-req(s): None
- Experience level: Novice
- Grade band: K-12
- Technology needed: Laptop of tablet
- Description: Attendees will learn from two Louisiana K-12 educators sharing their classroom experiences and successes in teaching cybersecurity to underserved and underrepresented middle and high school students in Caddo Parish Schools in Shreveport, LA.
- Presented by: CYBER.ORG
- Pre-req(s): None
- Experience level: Novice (both Spanish and non-Spanish speakers are encouraged to attend)
- Grade band: K-12
- Technology needed: Laptop or tablet
- Description: In this session, attendees will learn about the Spanish-language content available from CYBER.ORG and discover tips for how to use the resources, even if they aren’t Spanish speakers themselves.
- Presented by: DARK Enterprises, Inc.
- Pre-req(s): None
- Experience level: Expert
- Grade band: 9-12
- Technology needed: None
- Description: This presentation looks at current pathways as well as at the ingredients needed to form future cybersecurity pathways as courses of action for addressing the cybersecurity workforce shortage.
- Presented by: Jessica Hexsel, Einstein Fellow at CISA
- Pre-req(s): None
- Experience level: Novice
- Grade band: K-12
- Technology needed: None
- Description: In this session, attendees will learn about CISA’s K-12 (or K-Career) cybersecurity resources and the Albert Einstein Fellow (AEF) program.
- Presented by: Andy Lindsay, Engineer & Curriculum Developer, Parallax
- Pre-req(s): None
- Experience level: Intermediate
- Grade band: 6-12
- Technology needed: Laptop or tablet
- Description: This hands-on workshop with the popular BBC micro:bit and free curriculum from Parallax demonstrates cybersecurity concepts in a fun and engaging way.
- Presented by: Moriah Walker, Lakota Schools
- Pre-req(s): None
- Experience level: Novice
- Grade band: 3-12
- Technology needed: None
- Description: This session is great for anyone embarking on their own cyber ed journey, looking for engaging strategies, and wanting to form connections with other new cyber teachers.
- Presented by: Ben Dougherty, Lakota Schools
- Pre-req(s): None
- Experience level: Novice
- Grade band: 6-12
- Technology needed: None
- Description: In this session, participants will learn about embedded systems security and tools and resources for teaching their students about this fascinating aspect of cybersecurity.
- Presented by: DARK Enterprises, Inc.
- Pre-req(s): None
- Experience level: Intermediate
- Grade band: 9-12
- Technology needed: None
- Description: The presentation will consider research questions about how a cybersecurity OST (out of school time) program comprised primarily of camps impacts student interest in cybersecurity and highlights the specific components of the camps that benefit underrepresented students.
- Presented by: Amanda Glunz, Milwaukee Public Schools
- Pre-req(s): None
- Experience level: Novice
- Grade band: K-12
- Technology needed: Laptop or tablet
- Description: This session will help educators, school administrators, and community partners learn how to work together to create meaningful career exploration opportunities for academy students.
- Presented by: Nancy Mahlen & Tabitha Teel, NDIT
- Pre-req(s): None
- Experience level: Intermediate
- Grade band: K-12
- Technology needed: None
- Description: North Dakota works across the silos to create a comprehensive, state-wide approach to cyber across our educational systems and workforce.
- Presented by: Thomas Trevethan, Academic Program Director, Palo Alto Networks
- Pre-req(s): None
- Experience level: Intermediate
- Grade band: 9-12
- Technology needed: Laptop or tablet
- Description: The workshop will include a review of content and hands-on labs that can prepare students to become a Palo Alto Networks Certified Cybersecurity Entry-Level Technician (PCCET).
- Presented by: Jessica Comfort, Information Security Advisor & Adjunct CIS Instructor, GDIT
- Pre-req(s): None
- Experience level: Intermediate
- Grade band: 9-12
- Technology needed: Laptop or tablet
- Description: This presentation serves as a valuable tool for teachers to guide students in their career development and help them prepare for the workforce.
- Presented by: Jill Baird, NDIT
- Pre-req(s): None
- Experience level: Expert
- Grade band: 3-12
- Technology needed: None
- Description: Women in STEM have been historically overlooked, but opportunities for women and girls to break into STEM fields are now greater than ever. In this session, we will explore the profiles of women who have made an impact on STEM fields to investigate how they have overcome challenges. Then we will explore how bright the future is for our female students with programs and activities to peak their interests. Finally, who doesn’t enjoy a good story? Sparking interest in STEM can also happen in the library with a wide variety of books for students to discover.
- Presented by: Catherine Lindsay Linsky, University of North Georgia
- Pre-Req: None
- Experience level: Novice
- Grade band: 9-12
- Technology needed: Laptop or tablet
- Description: What can teachers do to encourage cyber-hesitant students to give cyber a try? This session will explore innovative strategies to encourage motivation, discover hidden cyber talent, and get students into cyber jobs. Based on work at the University of North Georgia, participants will explore innovations at each step from "zero to employable" including: hooking students' interest using the CyberStart America game, encouraging peer leadership, supporting teacher confidence, prizes to boost motivation, SANS course SEC725 tuition waivers, and finally passing certificate exams.
- Presented by: Cori Araza and Pam Rowland, Grand Canyon University
- Pre-req(s): None
- Experience level: Intermediate
- Grade band: K-12
- Technology needed: None
- Description: Build the Cybersecurity Pipeline through University Partnerships! Attendees will learn how to incorporate teacher-focused PD with university and industry support.
- Presented by: Eric J. Belardo, Raices Cyber
- Pre-req(s): None
- Experience Level: Expert
- Grade Band: 6-12
- Technology Needed: Laptop or tablet
- Description: Latinos are a growing force in the cybersecurity workforce, and their skills and talents are essential to protecting our nation's critical infrastructure. This talk will explore the role of Latinos in cybersecurity and the challenges and opportunities that exist for Latino students who are interested in pursuing careers in this field.
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