Fauquier County Public Schools (FCPS) offers over 20 electives and academies for students to choose from. Out of those, a four-year Cybersecurity course is hosted at Liberty High School (LHS). Students taking the course focus on securing and protecting systems dealing with sensitive data from cyber-attacks and ransomware. All students enrolled in the Cybersecurity Academy (CSA) will take the Workplace Readiness Skills certification test as part of the graduation requirements. Additionally, students can take the CompTIA A+ certification test which can improve a candidate’s prospects for IT positions.
The average day in class is straightforward, students come into class and turn on their computers while they wait for Johnathan Clark, CSA teacher, to begin instruction. “After the class starts, the teacher normally works through a series of slideshows to explain a topic, then toward the end of class, he plays a demonstration video to further elaborate on the topic,” stated Freshman Sean Withee, a member of the Cybersecurity Academy.
Fauquier High School (FHS) students enrolled in the CSA must get on a travel bus in the morning to LHS and arrive back at FHS during Academic Enrichment. Withee has found the trip to the CSA a calm start to his day. ”…you can take a nap on the bus, get some rest before you arrive,” stated Withee. Travel is the limiting factor for some students considering taking an elective at another school. Clark has been teaching the program since its inception in 2016. Clark has a bachelor’s degree in Technology Education and has been teaching since 2003 making him a perfect choice for teaching at the CSA. Withee noted his admiration for Clark’s teaching style, stating, “…he is humorous and he plays a lot of demonstration videos in class to help the students further understand the subject.”
To earn the CSA certificate students must pass all four required classes. The first class students must complete is Cybersecurity Fundamentals. In this class, students will be introduced to cybersecurity and taught the principles surrounding it. Computer Systems Technology 1 is the second required course. Students will learn how to manage the hardware essential to cyber security infrastructure. The third course is Cybersecurity Software Operations. During this course, students will learn how to manage cybersecurity software and configure systems. At the end of the course, students can qualify to take the CompTIA A+ certification exam. The last course is Academy Capstone. In this course, students will demonstrate their knowledge of cybersecurity by completing a project or a certification program.
The CSA proves to be a great way for students who are interested in cybersecurity to prepare for their future careers. Positions like an Information security analyst and a Security architect are two of the many career options in cybersecurity. In this age, learning how to adapt to the digital world can be difficult and confusing, but Clark’s experience shows that “the key is knowing how to navigate this new digital frontier safely and ethically while protecting your data from those who want to exploit it. The CSA is designed to develop technical skills that translate into a career in cybersecurity,” stated Clark.
