K12 SIX names first steering committee to support K-12 cybersecurity coordination
Twelve-member group includes IT and security leaders from state agencies, regional cooperatives, and school districts.
K12 Security Information eXchange (K12 SIX) has announced the formation of its inaugural steering committee for the 2025–26 school year.
The group brings together cybersecurity and IT leaders from across the United States to advise on program direction, guide community engagement, and support efforts to strengthen cyber resilience in the K-12 sector.
K12 SIX is an independent nonprofit focused on threat intelligence sharing and cybersecurity best practices in U.S. primary and secondary education. It operates as a subsidiary of the Global Resilience Federation and serves as the sector’s information sharing and analysis center (ISAC).
Membership includes state and district leaders
The 12 committee members represent a range of institutions, including state education departments, regional service centers, and districts serving between 2,200 and more than 100,000 students. Members include:
Diane Carnohan, Virginia Department of Education
Tony Dotts, Community High School District 99 (IL)
Shawn Driscoll, Park Hill School District (MO)
Lisa Helme, Vermont Agency of Education
Andy Lombardo, Maryville City Schools (TN)
April Mardock, Washington School Information Processing Cooperative
Tommy Pigeon, Dallas Independent School District (TX)
Laura Pollak, Nassau BOCES/RIC (NY)
Dave Robinson, Baylor School (TN)
Michael Sujka, Westerly Public Schools (RI)
Richard Thomas, Linn Benton Lincoln ESD (OR)
Jon Walker, St. Vrain Valley School District (CO)
Doug Levin, director at K12 SIX, says, “As we enter the 2025–26 school year, K12 SIX’s Steering Committee will play a vital role in addressing the cybersecurity challenges facing school systems nationwide. Their leadership will chart the future direction of K12 SIX programs, ensure members’ evolving cybersecurity needs are met, and help guide the growth and resilience of the sector.”
Practical collaboration and shared intelligence
K12 SIX supports school systems in identifying threats, responding to incidents, and sharing intelligence that can prevent attacks. The steering committee’s creation formalizes peer leadership within the organization and reflects the growing need for coordinated action across fragmented education systems.
Richard Thomas says, “Cybersecurity in K–12 is just too big and too underfunded for any one district to handle on its own. What makes K12 SIX so valuable is that it gives us a way to come together—sharing knowledge, support, and threat intelligence so we can all do a better job protecting our schools.”
Jon Walker adds, “Within just a few months of joining, our district received actionable intelligence that directly helped us prevent a potential cyber incident. If you’re responsible for protecting a learning environment, joining K12 SIX isn’t optional, it’s essential.”
