Digital Defenders
Jessica Tickle ’97 builds the next generation of cybersecurity experts.
High school engineering instructor Jessica Tickle ’97 never expected to receive a presidential award for teaching cybersecurity. But since launching Shawnee Mission (Kan.) School District’s cybersecurity program in 2020, Tickle has transformed how students prepare for digital defense careers, earning the prestigious Presidential Cybersecurity Education Award, which honors teachers around the U.S. for their leadership in cybersecurity education.
Tickle explains that effective cybersecurity teaching requires breaking down complex concepts into engaging, hands-on experiences. “Students engage in simulated cyber threats, ethical hacking, digital forensics and national competitions,” says Tickle, who leads competitive cybersecurity teams across the district.
Her program boasts the district’s highest number of student placements for paid internships. “Today’s students are moldable, creative and open to being coached. They are keyboard warriors, willing to teach themselves something new just to solve a problem,” she says. Employers are often surprised at how quickly her students contribute because they’ve already tackled real security challenges in high school, she says.
“My students are not just stepping into existing roles — they are redefining what cybersecurity pathways and careers look like.”
Tickle’s innovative approach integrates cybersecurity lessons into courses such as Aerospace Engineering and Digital Electronics. Through partnerships with the University of Kansas and Amazon Web Services, her students have earned certifications, participated in internships and collaborated with industry leaders on projects like a competition allowing students to train a computer model using artificial intelligence that navigates a small vehicle around a track.
This field isn’t just for future cybersecurity professionals. It’s a fundamental skill for all students in today’s digital world.
Tickle, 50, credits her time at NC State for developing her teaching philosophy, citing her College of Education professors for influencing her approach and showing her, “how to make complex subjects accessible and engaging.” As a former Leader of the Pack, an annual NC State honor recognizing a student for their leadership and service, she learned the value of “professional bravery” that she uses daily.
One of only two educators nationally to receive the award in 2024, Tickle hopes this recognition will inspire more teachers to explore cybersecurity education. “This field isn’t just for future cybersecurity professionals,” she says. “It’s a fundamental skill for all students in today’s digital world.”
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