Sunset Ridge School District 29 Replaces KnowBe4 with Training That Respects Staff Time

About Sunset Ridge School District 29

Sunset Ridge School District 29 is a K-8 district in Northfield, Illinois, serving about 550 students with 125 staff members.

Ryan Czok, CISSP, is the district's Network & Data Security Manager, responsible for its network infrastructure and cybersecurity.

Challenge: Paying for More Than the District Needed

Before Tartan, Sunset Ridge used KnowBe4. The platform was more than the district needed, and many of the training videos were longer than staff wanted to sit through.

"We were using KnowBe4, and the platform was more than we needed. Many of the training videos were also longer than our staff wanted to sit through. We needed something that fit our district and respected staff members' time."

Ryan wanted practical training that would help staff recognize threats without taking a lot of time away from their other responsibilities.

"It was frustrating to pay for features we weren't using while also asking staff to complete training they found too long."

Solution: Short Videos and Tools the District Actually Uses

Tartan gave Sunset Ridge short, focused training videos on current threats, along with a platform sized for a school district rather than a large enterprise.

"Tartan's videos are short and get to the point. I also use most of the tools included in the platform, so I feel like we're getting value for our money. I'm not paying for a Cadillac when all I need is a minivan."

"So far, Tartan feels like it was built with schools in mind."

What It's Been Like Working with Tartan

From onboarding through day-to-day use, Ryan has found the process smooth and the team easy to reach.

"The Tartan staff have been extremely helpful and responsive whenever I've had a question. Onboarding was thorough and easy to follow, and the overall process has been very smooth."

Early Results: Addressing Staff's Biggest Complaint

Sunset Ridge is early in its rollout, and Ryan is clear that it is too soon to point to measurable results. What has changed is the experience staff have with training.

• Shorter Training: Concise videos address one of the main complaints staff had about the previous training.
• Better Fit for the Budget: The district uses most of the tools it pays for instead of paying for unused features.
• Current Threat Coverage: Training videos focus on the threats staff are seeing now.

"What I can say is that the shorter videos address one of the main complaints we had about our previous training."

Why Tartan Works for Sunset Ridge

For Ryan, the value comes from the combination of product, service, and content.

• A platform that fits the district's needs
• Helpful, responsive support
• Concise training focused on current threats
• Phishing simulations alongside the training

"The platform fits our needs, the support has been excellent, and the training is concise and focused on current threats."

Advice for Other Districts and Staff

Ryan has already shared Tartan with colleagues at other districts. For individual staff members, his advice starts with one habit.

"For another school district, I would recommend taking a look at Tartan—and I've already shared it with colleagues."

"Pause before clicking. Check where a link or button actually leads, and verify unexpected requests through a separate, trusted channel. Those small steps can help you avoid a lot of common phishing attempts."

Final Thoughts

"The overall experience has been extremely smooth. The videos are short, get to the point, and cover current threats."