News Summary
Jenny Garris has taken on the role of executive director of information technology at Lexington School District 1 after leaving her position at Lexington-Richland 5. Her departure follows a serious data breach that disrupted school operations, particularly affecting summer sessions and employee bonuses. The breach, caused by external malicious actors, is under investigation by the State Law Enforcement Division. Garris, with diverse educational experience, aims to strengthen technology initiatives in her new position as the district focuses on enhancing cybersecurity measures.
Lexington, SC – Jenny Garris has accepted a new position as the executive director of information technology at Lexington School District 1, following her departure from Lexington-Richland School District 5, where she had served as technology director. Garris’s move comes in the wake of a significant data breach that severely disrupted services within the district just one month prior to her transition.
Lexington-Richland 5 suffered a major data breach which paralyzed operations across its schools. As a result, schools in the Chapin-Irmo area were closed for summer sessions during the attack. High school summer class schedules were affected, leading to a one-week delay in their opening. Employees also faced delays in the distribution of year-end bonuses and experienced difficulties accessing their accounts due to the breach.
Superintendent Akil Ross reported that the breach was executed by “malicious actors” from outside the district and confirmed that the State Law Enforcement Division is currently investigating the incident. Assessments are ongoing regarding the extent of the data accessed, with reports indicating that while some data was taken from the network, there is currently no evidence of misuse of sensitive information.
Jenny Garris was appointed to her new role at Lexington 1 on June 10, shortly after the data breach event at Lexington-Richland 5. In her previous position, she headed a team of 25 focused on IT infrastructure, digital learning environments, and cybersecurity initiatives. Garris’s career spans various educational roles, including assistant principal and academic achievement specialist, where she promoted technology integration to enhance student learning outcomes. Her background also includes overseeing technology initiatives and grant programs as a middle school teacher.
With Garris’s departure, Kendrick Davis has been promoted to take over her responsibilities as IT director for Lexington-Richland 5. Davis, a U.S. Army veteran, brings over 20 years of experience in network infrastructure design, planning, and implementation to the role. The district’s announcement highlighted that Garris is now pursuing a new position outside the district.
In the aftermath of the data breach, the district remains unable to disclose further details as the investigation unfolds. The ongoing assessment includes evaluating the full impact on employee bonuses and students’ virtual summer class participation. Teachers and students alike have reported significant disruptions, highlighting the far-reaching consequences of the hacking incident.
As Garris takes on new challenges at Lexington 1, the focus for Lexington-Richland 5 shifts toward bolstering their cybersecurity measures and ensuring the protection of sensitive data to prevent future incidents. The district’s community is awaiting updates on both the ongoing investigation and the measures being implemented to safeguard against potential vulnerabilities.
Overall, Garris’s transition and the challenges posed by the recent data breach underscore the critical importance of effective technology management and cybersecurity within educational institutions as they navigate an increasingly digital landscape.
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Additional Resources
- The State News
- Wikipedia: Cybersecurity
- WISTV
- Google Search: Lexington-Richland 5 data breach
- WLTX News
- Google Scholar: Cyber Breach in Schools
- WACH News
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Data Breach
- GovTech
- Google News: Lexington-Richland 5 data security
Author: STAFF HERE LEXINGTON WRITER
The LEXINGTON STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERELexington.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Lexington, Fayette County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Woodland Art Fair, Crave Food and Music Festival, and Railbird Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like Commerce Lexington and Blue Grass Community Foundation, plus leading businesses in education, manufacturing, and technology that power the local economy such as University of Kentucky, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, and Lexmark. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBowlingGreen.com and HERELouisville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Kentucky's dynamic landscape.
