Georgia Cyber Center empowers educators to strengthen state’s cyber future

While students across Georgia enjoyed the first week of their summer break, a dedicated group of K-12 educators, primarily from the Augusta area and across the state of Georgia, headed back to the classroom to tackle one of the fastest-growing fields in modern education: cybersecurity.

From June 1-5, Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) and IT teachers from across the state gathered at the Georgia Cyber Center at Augusta University. The immersive professional development program focused on emerging cyber trends, hands-on training and collaborative strategies to prepare students for an increasingly digital world.

As technology shapes nearly every industry, the demand for cybersecurity professionals continues to outpace the supply. The teachers attending this year’s program aim to bridge that workforce gap by bringing practical, industry-aligned cyber skills directly into their classrooms.

“The camp is designed to create collaboration among teachers who instruct subjects such as computer science, networking and cybersecurity,” said Danny Etheredge, director of training and workforce development at the Georgia Cyber Center.

In addition to expanding their technical expertise, participants shared classroom experiences and explored innovative ways to engage students in cybersecurity concepts.

Building a foundation for digital citizenship

With artificial intelligence and digital integration transforming the landscape, students require both technical proficiency and a deep awareness of cybersecurity to navigate their futures safely.

“When the internet was first created, it was not created to do all of the different things that we’re doing on it right now,” said Tiffany Jones, an educator at the Cyber Global Impact Academy in Fulton County.

For many teachers, staying ahead of these rapid changes means engaging directly with industry experts and university leaders so their curriculums remain aligned with both industry needs and student interests.

“By us coming to this type of training, learning exactly what we need to train as well as what our students would like to learn, as well as the industry partners, we are meeting that need,” said Keisha Quick, a cybersecurity teacher at the Cyber Academy of Excellence with the Richmond County School System.

Investing in the cyber pipeline

The impact of this professional development extends far beyond the week-long camp. CTAE and IT teachers are often the first to spark a student’s interest in a potential career pathway. A single lesson can inspire a student to pursue a future in protecting networks, defending organizations or securing critical infrastructure.

By investing in the state’s educators, Augusta University and the Georgia Cyber Center are actively strengthening the pipeline of future cyber professionals. Every teacher who leaves the center equipped with new resources has the potential to impact hundreds of students throughout their career, reinforcing a shared commitment to Georgia’s workforce and economic future.