Lights, Camera, Cyber! Lisa and Kyleigh Take on Cyber.org’s EdCon 2026

What happens when you mix the “Biggest Little City in the World” with hundreds of the nation’s brightest K-12 cybersecurity educators? You get an unforgettable, high-energy week of learning, networking, and big tech reveals!

From June 16-18, 2026, we had the incredible opportunity to attend Cyber.org’s EdCon 2026 at the beautiful Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada. Between the fast-paced sessions and the electric atmosphere of the conference, we came away with full notebooks and serious inspiration for the future of cyber education in our districts.

Here is a look at the biggest takeaways and game-changing announcements that kept us buzzing all week.

The Big Reveal: A Unified Cyber Range & Curriculum Portal

The absolute headline of the conference was Cyber.org’s announcement of their brand-new platform ecosystem. In the past, educators had to bounce around different spaces to access lessons and manage their lab environments.

Not anymore! Cyber.org is rolling out a brand-new curriculum alongside a unified portal where their high-quality curriculum and interactive cyber range live under one single roof.

For teachers, this is a massive win. It means:

Zero-friction transitions: Students can read a lesson plan and launch into a hands-on lab sandbox within the exact same dashboard.
Streamlined management: Less time spent managing multiple logins and URLs, and more time focused on active, technical learning.

Leveling Up with A+ Core 1 Partnering

For those of us working hard to get high schoolers career-ready, the session on Cyber.org’s new CompTIA Core 1 curriculum was a massive highlight.

Building a course around industry standards is always a challenge, but Cyber.org is taking things a step further to lower barriers for students. They announced an upcoming partnership with CompTIA to offer exam vouchers! This is going to be an absolute game-changer for classroom inclusivity. Cyber.org is offering many online professional development opportunities this summer, including a season on the A+ Core 1 curriculum workshop on July 14th (https://cyber.org/events).

The Big Picture: Bridging the Career Gap Through Credentials

Beyond the cool software tools and shiny new curriculum drops, there was a profound, inspiring theme built into every session at EdCon 2026: the critical workforce connection.

Right now, the global cybersecurity workforce gap is wider than ever. The speakers continually underscored a powerful truth: K-12 educators are the frontline recruiters for this shortage.

By emphasizing early credentialing, we aren’t just teaching kids how to be safe digital citizens—we are putting them on a fast track to high-paying, high-demand careers. Getting these certifications while in school has an immense psychological and financial impact on students. It shifts their mindset from “I’m just taking a class” to “I am a young professional with a verifiable skill set.”

Cyber.org is not just Cybersecurity

You may not have a dedicated time or class for cybersecurity, but that does not mean you can’t share it with your students! Many unplugged lessons teach computational thinking and digital citizenship skills. One lesson I will be sure to use at the beginning of the year with my middle school students is the Social Engineering lesson. Cyber.org curriculum is free to teachers. You have to fill out a form and get verified, which takes a few days. After the verification process is complete, you have access to all their curriculum.

Final Thoughts from Reno

EdCon 2026 proved that the K-12 cybersecurity space isn’t just growing; it’s maturing into a powerhouse pipeline for the tech industry. Leaving Reno, we both felt incredibly grateful for the chance to connect with this passionate community.

We can’t wait to bring these new Cyber.org portal features and CompTIA resources into our neck of the woods and see where our students go next! If you have micro:bits, please check out the connection to their curriculum. In addition, the Cyber Range is a great tool for introducing students to information on metadata, various operating systems, and locating the path of a file.

Cyber.org is releasing its 2027 location soon! Mark your calendars and watch for a scholarship opportunity to attend!

Have a Great Summer!

Lisa Bohaty and Kyleigh Kumm