Hemlock Public School District is proud to announce a significant milestone in its ongoing commitment to cybersecurity and data protection. During its most recent district-wide phishing simulation, the district recorded a 0% click rate, meaning no staff members clicked on a simulated malicious email.
This achievement marks a remarkable improvement from 2022, when the district’s initial phishing assessment showed a 32.5% click rate. Over the past four years, Hemlock has invested strategically in staff training, awareness campaigns, and simulated exercises designed to strengthen digital habits and protect sensitive student and employee information.
Cybersecurity experts consistently report that the vast majority of successful data breaches begin with phishing emails. For school districts, which manage student records, financial data, and confidential personnel information, building internal awareness is one of the most effective lines of defense.
Hemlock’s approach has centered on education, accountability, and culture. Through ongoing phishing simulations, staff members receive immediate feedback and targeted training. The district also introduced digital recognition badges that reward employees for maintaining “no-click” streaks, reinforcing positive cybersecurity behavior in a supportive and engaging way.
Director of Innovation, Technology, and Media Services Alex Haltom emphasized the importance of staying ahead of evolving threats.
“Detecting phishing emails is a challenging task without training. Threat actors continue to improve their methods of creating malicious emails, so our training methods must evolve as well,” said Haltom. “This 0% click rate reflects intentional effort by our staff. Cybersecurity is not just an IT responsibility. It is a shared responsibility.”
Superintendent Don Killingbeck noted that protecting data is an extension of protecting students. "When families entrust us with their children, they also entrust us with their information. This milestone demonstrates that our team understands that responsibility and takes it seriously,” said Killingbeck.
Hemlock Public School District remains committed to continuous improvement in cybersecurity practices and will continue refining its training programs to ensure staff stay prepared for increasingly sophisticated digital threats.
For more information about this or other positive happenings at Hemlock Public School District, please call (989) 642-5282 or visit www.hemlockps.com.