2027 K12 SIX National Cybersecurity Conference > Call for Speakers
2027 K12 SIX National Cybersecurity Conference
February 17-19 (Atlanta, GA) | Call for Speakers
K12 SIX is pleased to open the call for speakers for the 2027 National K-12 Cybersecurity Leadership Conference. We are seeking speaking proposals that speak directly to the needs and experiences of novice and experienced K-12 cybersecurity leaders and practitioners (i.e., those charged with managing and mitigating cyber risks facing K-12 education organizations today). The conference audience primarily consists of individuals who work in K-12 IT/technology roles, data privacy, and/or risk management.
Important details:
Eligible speakers include those working in school districts, charter schools, independent schools, regional and state education agencies, federal agencies, and associations/non-profits. Membership in K12 SIX will grant preference in speaker selection, but is not required. We do not accept submissions that market a commercial product or include a vendor company representative. To inquire about conference sponsorship and associated benefits, email us.
Conference registration is required for speakers, but registration fees will be refunded and/or waived for all speakers and panelists selected via this open call for speakers.
K12 SIX is seeking speaking proposals for lightning talks (25 mins), concurrent breakout sessions (45 mins), and workshops/in-depth sessions (90 mins).
DEADLINE: Friday, October 30, 2026. Proposals will be accepted on a rolling basis, so we encourage early submissions. However, please do not expect decisions before that date.
Questions? Contact us.
Suggested topics: K-12 cyber incident reports; insights implementing K12 SIX-recommended cybersecurity defenses; honing advanced/technical cybersecurity skills (e.g., automation; handling alerts; threat hunting; canaries; pen testing; product configuration advice); cyber incident response planning; strategies to manage insider threats; strategies to manage third-party vendor/partner risk; communicating effectively with non-IT staff/leadership about cyber hygiene/risk mitigation/governance; emerging K-12 cybersecurity threats and issues; artificial intelligence (AI) and security; K-12 cybersecurity policy implementation (federal/state/local levels); K-12-specific cybersecurity research findings, etc.
Please note that we are explicitly NOT interested in proposals focused on K-12 classroom instruction or student activities, nor are we interested in general ‘edtech’ or AI proposals.
Other tips and instructions:
Inexperienced/first-time conference speakers are strongly encouraged to apply.
Panel presentations/workshops may be led by up to 4 co-presenters. Speakers added after a session is approved are subject to K12 SIX approval. Vendor representatives will not be approved as speakers.
Individuals can submit up to two (2) speaking proposals.
The best sessions will leave participants with actionable insights and to-do’s. Technical sessions are strongly encouraged.