Three GCPS schools achieve 100% participation in district's Cybersecurity Training

     Three Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) elementary schools—one “repeat achiever” and two new honorees—reached a noteworthy accomplishment: 100% participation of their staff teams in the school district’s Cybersecurity Training. Beaver Ridge, Rock Springs, and Walnut Grove elementary schools were celebrated with surprise Chick fil-A breakfasts by the GCPS Department of Information Security.

     "Cybersecurity is a team sport, and everyone has a role to play. Every GCPS employee plays a role in protecting our students, staff, schools, district information, and technology resources," says Arden Peterkin, Executive Director of Information Security and Technology Operations & Solutions. "Completing the training is not just an annual requirement. It is an important part of keeping GCPS safe from cybercrime."

     The 100% participation of Beaver Ridge, Rock Springs, and Walnut Grove elementary schools demonstrates what it means to make cybersecurity a team effort. Their leaders and staff showed a shared commitment to protecting our schools, district information, and technology resources.

Their accomplishment sets a strong example for Team GCPS and shows that every employee’s participation makes a difference.

     Rock Springs Elementary’s staff were the first school team to complete the training during the district’s 2025-26 window. The surprise breakfast was greeted with cheers and applause at the school’s pre-planning day for the staff.

     “Being recognized as the first school in the county to achieve 100% participation in Cybersecurity Awareness training is a point of pride for Rock Springs Elementary,” says Principal Melissa McClelland. “It demonstrates our staff's commitment to professional responsibility, collaboration, and protecting sensitive information. This recognition highlights our shared dedication to creating a safe and secure digital environment for students, staff, and the entire school community.”

     Shana McArthur, an Instructional Coach at Rock Springs, adds, “Learning about cybersecurity is very important and keeps us safe. The training helped refresh what I need to know so as I’m going through this whole year, if I see something, I report it. We work really hard as a school to make sure we all know how to protect each other.”

     Walnut Grove Elementary also achieved 100% participation in the 2024-25 school year,  and came in second with completing the training. The Eagle team enthusiastically renewed its commitment to receiving the annual breakfast recognition.

     “True leadership is adapting to the challenges of the digital age, and our teachers have done exactly that,” shares Walnut Grove Principal Dr. Jamie Fooks. “I am so proud of our staff for prioritizing cybersecurity training as a team.”

     Viktoriia Lysenko, a first-year Pre-Kindergarten Special Education Paraprofessional at Walnut Grove, was surprised and happy about the availability of the training.

     “My husband works in IT, and he always talks about AI and how I need to be careful,” says Lysenko. “I was glad to receive the training, and to have the button we can click to report phishing emails. That was something I learned that actually helps me in my daily life, and I think it’s helpful for everybody.”

     At Beaver Ridge Elementary’s pre-planning day for teachers, the surprise breakfast was an added treat among the school’s “welcome back” goodies.

     “It’s great to be honored and recognized by Gwinnett County Public Schools for completing one of the trainings,” says Beaver Ridge Principal Martina Luna-Liranzo. “I think it adds to our teachers’ feeling of being seen. They know that we have a lot of trainings to do, and this shows that it’s not only important to complete the Cybersecurity training which keeps our information safe, but also that their efforts to complete it in a timely manner were recognized.”

     Instructional Technology and Innovation Coach Patrick Bredland shares, “I’m brand new this year. Coming in on my first day and hearing that I’m joining a staff that is very concerned and aware of cybersecurity means a lot, and they will be ready and willing to continue keeping everything secure.”

     Peterkin adds, "Cybersecurity training provides employees with the knowledge and skills to recognize, repel, and report threats that target them, including fraudulent online technical support offers, fake CAPTCHA prompts designed to trick users into taking unsafe actions, messages impersonating principals and requesting gift cards, and emails containing harmful links or attachments."