(PSS) — Board of Education Secretary/Treasurer Gregory Pat Borja proclaimed October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month, recognizing the vital role the Public School System plays in aligning with the global initiative promoting digital safety and security.
The proclamation signing on Wednesday, Oct. 2, was witnessed by Commissioner of Education Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho, public education personnel, partner agency officials, community members, and other stakeholders, some of whom participated virtually. The event was held at the PSS Office of the Education Commissioner on Capital Hill.
Camacho reaffirmed PSS’ commitment to provide a safe and secure digital learning environment for students, staff and other stakeholders.
Several activities are scheduled throughout October. Planning and organizing them are PSS’ Statewide Longitudinal Data System Program, the State Infrastructure Technology Office, and the Instructional Technology and Distance Education Program.
To ensure that the message of digital safety reaches every member of the community, the official proclamation was translated into Chamorro and Carolinian in partnership with the CNMI Language Commission and the PSS Chamorro Carolinian Language and Heritage Studies Program.
In his remarks, Commissioner Camacho said cybersecurity is an essential and critical component of student learning and safety.
“I am pleased to share that 20 schools have successfully completed cybersecurity training, ensuring that educators, staff and parents are better equipped to safeguard the digital and physical well-being of our students,” he said.
He reaffirmed his support for PSS’ ongoing cybersecurity, safe online communications, and digital learning initiatives.
“Professional development remains at the core of what we do, and I am thrilled to report that 664 professional development certificates were awarded during the 2023-2024 school year,” he said. “These certificates reflect our unwavering dedication to elevating our educators and staff, providing them with the knowledge and tools to meet the challenges of today’s educational landscape.”
PSS State Infrastructure Technology Director Jesse Tenorio stressed the critical role that cybersecurity plays in today’s education landscape. “With technology now deeply embedded in our teaching and learning processes, it is more crucial than ever to prioritize cybersecurity,” Tenorio said.
Ferdinand Ngirmekur, PSS data privacy specialist, said: “Cybersecurity Awareness Month gives us a chance to ensure that all members of our PSS community — students, educators and staff — are informed and equipped to handle online risks and data security incidents.”
As part of this month-long initiative, CNMI PSS officials, personnel and students are encouraged to take proactive measures to protect personal and institutional data.
Dr. Riya Nathrani, Instructional Technology and Distance Education Program coach, has been working on consolidating all the month’s events in a calendar of events. She said these “include using strong, unique passwords, enabling multifactor authentication, keeping devices and software up to date, adhering to cybersecurity best practices, and promptly reporting any suspicious activities to the appropriate administrators and the State Infrastructure Technology office.”
Jeaniffer Cubangbang, Statewide Longitudinal Data System Program technical manager, Geralyn Dela Cruz, data governance manager, along with SLDS data governance members Dr. Riya Nathrani, Gus Loste, Ruth Calvo and D’Anna Tudela, worked closely to coordinate various activities under the leadership of Ferdinand Ngirmekur.
“We’ve organized training sessions, best practices, and are launching awareness campaigns aimed at engaging students, teachers, staff, parents, and the broader community,” Dela Cruz said. “Our goal is to enhance the cybersecurity knowledge and skills of everyone within the PSS community, ensuring we all contribute to a safer digital environment.”
Tenorio said he will share at least one cybersecurity resource with PSS staff each week throughout October.
Randee-Jo Barcinas-Manglona, PSS communications & media program manager, said this month’s activities will be promoted through media outlets and social media to bring greater awareness to the community.
For more information, visit slds.cnmipss.org/what-we-do/data-security-privacy or contact [email protected] to request training.
The CNMI SLDS Program is a state office that collects and integrates the Commonwealth’s education and workforce data to bridge the gap between information and action so that policymakers, practitioners, and the public can make the best decisions possible.
The SLDS is a joint effort of the U.S. Department of Education, the state education agency, and other stakeholders, including educators, researchers, and policymakers. The SLDS website is just one of the many tools that the system provides to help education professionals make informed decisions and improve educational outcomes.
To learn more about the Statewide Longitudinal Data System, visit slds.cnmipss.org/.
Board of Education Secretary/Treasurer Gregory P. Borja reads the Cybersecurity Awareness Month proclamation.
Board of Education Secretary/Treasurer Gregory P. Borja signs the Cybersecurity Awareness Month proclamation.
Educators and other stakeholders participated in the proclamation signing via Zoom.
The Cybersecurity Awareness Month committee members pose for a photo.
Education Commissioner Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho poses with other education officials and stakeholders following the signing of the Cybersecurity Awareness Month proclamation.
The calendar of events for Cybersecurity Awareness Month was updated on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024.