Keeping School Devices Secure: Practical Tips for Teachers

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 Focused on day-to-day actions you control

Your IT department already handles operating-system updates, network hardening, device settings, backups, and campus-wide monitoring behind the scenes. What they can’t automate is the moment-to-moment care you and your students give to school-issued devices. The checklist below highlights end-user habits every teacher can adopt to keep classrooms safe and distraction-free.

1. Model “Lock & Walk” Behavior

  • Lock screens (or close lids) when stepping away, even for thirty seconds.

  • Log out of shared devices at the end of class so that the next student can start fresh.

  • Praise students who remember to do the same; habits spread by example.

2. Stick to District-Approved Sites, Apps, and Extensions

  • Launch new websites or tools from the district’s vetted list.

  • Test any unfamiliar site on a student profile before class.

  • If something helpful is blocked, file a whitelist request with IT instead of bypassing the filter.

3. Practice Quick Email & Link Hygiene

  • Hover over links before clicking—URLs should match the sender’s organization.

  • Treat unexpected attachments, “urgent” password notices, or gift-card requests as suspicious.

  • Forward any suspicious emails to the designated security inbox (e.g., support@leonaschools.com).

4. Keep Personal Data Off Shared Devices

  • Avoid saving personal passwords in browsers on school computers.

  • Use private (incognito) windows when logging into non-school accounts.

  • Remind students never to store private photos, IDs, or medical info on classroom devices.

5. Use Classroom-Safe Browsing Tools

  • Close distracting or risky tabs in real time to keep students on task.

  • Enable “Safe Search” toggles in Google or Bing before internet research activities.

6. Reinforce Strong Password Habits

  • Require students to sign in with their credentials—no shared class logins.

  • Show how passphrases (e.g., DragonBlueGuitar! ) beat short, easy-to-guess words.

  • Encourage students to change compromised passwords immediately (School Administration can help reset).

7. Attend Tech-Security PD—and Ask for More

  • Join any cybersecurity mini-session or webinar the tech team offers.

  • Encourage grade-level or department chairs to invite IT for 15-minute refreshers at staff meetings.

  • Share takeaways with colleagues who couldn’t attend.

  • Request your school administration to schedule PDs with your tech department.

8. Report Issues—Even Small Ones

  • Use the quick-report form or help-desk email the moment you spot a suspicious pop-up, lost device, or student account mix-up.

  • Early alerts help IT isolate problems before they spread.

Final Thought

Security isn’t just firewalls and patches; it’s thousands of tiny classroom choices made every day. By locking screens, vetting links, using approved resources, and staying engaged with PD, you provide the human layer that technology alone can’t duplicate.

Have questions or need a refresher? Reach out to your IT team—we’re here to help keep teaching and learning safe, smooth, and secure.

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