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2024 WeTeach_Cyber Hub Information and Application

The goal of the WeTeach_Cyber Hub is to increase the number of high school CTE teachers In Texas schools who can effectively prepare students for cybersecurity post-secondary opportunities and careers.

Investing in Texas' High School Cybersecurity Educators

The WeTeach_Cyber Hub is a professional development initiative to build and enhance cybersecurity education in our Texas high schools. The demand for cybersecurity professionals is growing at an unprecedented rate, but both the government and industry are struggling to fill these essential vacancies. According to Cybercrime Magazine, “the U.S. job market reflects a global supply and demand problem around recruiting candidates with cybersecurity certifications.”

The CompTIA Security+ certification is one of the first security certifications an IT professional should earn.  

One of the most important ways to increase the availability of cybersecurity courses in our high schools is to invest in the education of our Texas cybersecurity teachers. The goal of the WeTeach_Cyber Hub is to increase the number of Texas high school CTE teachers who can effectively prepare students for cybersecurity post-secondary opportunities and careers. This hub will consist of Texas certified high school teachers who will work within a community of practice as they deepen their cybersecurity knowledge and develop tools and strategies for their CTE cybersecurity programs of study. This course will progress educators from the fundamentals of cybersecurity to the preparation for the CompTIA Security+ certification exam.  

A Commitment to Participate Includes:

  • Membership in an educator community of practice (the WeTeach_Cyber Hub) coordinated and supported by the Texas Advanced Computing Center at The University of Texas at Austin.
  • One Year Access to the Foundations of Cybersecurity for Teachers Canvas course (Value: $600).
  • Access to the Cyber.org Cyber Range and Cyber.org labs.
  • One Year Access to the CompTIA Security+ CertMaster course and labs (Value: $772).
  • One CompTIA Security+ Practive Voucher (Value: $211)
  • One CompTIA Security+ Exam Voucher (Value: $404).
  • WeTeach_CS Summit Registration, Lodging, and Parking (Value: $800).
  • Cybersecurity Deep Dive workshop, Lodging, and Parking  (Value: $1110).
  • Three In Person Continuous Learning Institutes, Lodging, and Parking (Value: $1150)
  • Monthly Milestones Meetings - Virtual
  • $1500 Stipend for Professional Development Attendance and Completion.
  • $1000 Stipend for Cybersecurity Teachers who pass the CompTIA Security+ Certification Exam and who will be teaching a Texas high school cybersecurity course in 24-25 and/or 25-26.

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The application process for this program consists of completing the information below. All information in the application form must be filled in completely, as the information is necessary for reporting purposes.

**NOTE:  Program is contingent on final funding approval.**

You must be a certified Texas teacher and currently employed by a Texas school district and/or teaching in a Texas District of Innovation to be eligible.

Prioritization will be placed on applicants who:

  1. Work in a high needs school.
  2. Work in a rural school.
  3. Are currently teaching a high school cybersecurity course or whose district plans to have them  teach a high school cybersecurity course in 23-24 and./or 24-25. 

Participants will be notified of acceptance as soon as they are selected. Space is very limited, therefore completing the application process does NOT guarantee placement in the program.

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Applicants must commit to a year-long asynchronous/synchronous professional development course and applicants must attend the in-person Summer, Fall, and Spring institutes in Austin, Texas which are scheduled for the dates below:

Applications Open: February 16, 2024

Applications Close: April 5, 2024

Acceptance Notifications will begin by:  April 15, 2024

  1. WeTeach CS Summit:  June 11-12, 2024 (Ft. Worth)
  2. Cybersecurity Deep Dive: June 24-26, 2024 (Austin)
  3. Foundations of Cybersecurity for Teachers Course
    1. Synchronous: June 24-26 2024 (Austin)
    2. Self-Paced: June 26, 2024 - May 31, 2025 (online)
    3. Fall In-Person Days: October 21-22  2024 (Austin)
    4. Spring In-Person Day: February 10, 2025 (Austin)
    5. Monday Monthly Milestone Check Ins:  6-7 pm  (virtual)
      1. July 22, 2024 
      2. August 19, 2024
      3. September 16, 2024
      4. November 18, 2024
      5. December 16, 2024
      6. January 13, 2025
      7. March 3, 2025
      8. April 7, 2025
      9. May 5, 2025

All teachers in the WeTeach_Cyber Collaborative are expected to challenge the CompTIA Security+ Certification exam by July 1, 2025.

  • Upon successful completion of the professional development portion of the program (Course completion and Professional Development attendance), each participant will receive a stipend of $1,500.
  • Texas cybersecurity teachers who successfully pass the CompTIA Security+ exam and who will be teaching a Texas high school cybersecurity course in 24-25 and/or 25-26 will receive an additional $1,000 stipend .  

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Ready to Apply?

Please find below the information that you will need to provide on and with the application.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY BY APRIL 5, 2024 

Applicant Information

  • Name
  • Phone
  • Email
  • Current School Information
    • School District
    • School Name
    • School Address
    • Principal Name and Email
    • CTE Coordinator Name and Email
    • School Demographics (Ethnicity Breakdown & FRL %)
  • Teaching Experience
    • Current Teaching Assignments
    • Previous Teaching Assignments (Last 2 years)
    • How Many Years Experience
  • Are you currently teaching and/or will you be teaching a high school cybersecurity course in the school year 24-25 and/or 25-26?
    • Foundations of Cybersecurity
    • Cybersecurity Capstone
    • Digital Forensics
  • Have you previously taken any cybersecurity courses or training?  If so, please list.
  • Do you have any cybersecurity and/or networking certifications?  If so, please list.
  • What is your level of cybersecurity and/or networking experience?
    • Novice, Advanced Beginner, Competent, Proficient, Expert
  • All teachers in the WeTeach_Cyber Collaborative are expected to challenge the CompTIA Security+ Certification exam by July 1, 2025.
  • Personal Demographic Information (For reporting purposes only).

Essay Questions

  • Why do you want to be a part of the WeTeach_Cyber Collaborative?
  • If you are chosen to participate in the WeTeach_Cyber Collaborative, you are embarking on a year-long academic commitment. You will need to plan carefully and manage your time to ensure you can balance studying along with all your other commitments.  How many hours per week do you plan to commit to this hybrid cyber course and what study strategies do you plan to implement to ensure success with a self-paced online program?
  • What kind of student should take a cybersecurity class?
  • What would you do if you did not know how to do a cybersecurity lab but a student in your class knows exactly how to work the lab?
  • How does a Cybersecurity Program of Study fit in with your school’s current CTE programming?
  • What are your personal and/or professional goals related to cybersecurity education?

 

All applications must be accompanied by a Letter of Support submitted by email.

The letter, signed by either your campus principal or district CTE Coordinator, must endorse your participation in the WeTeach_Cyber Collaborative, including a commitment to cover substitute and travel costs for your professional development. The letter must also indicate a commitment to offer a Cybersecurity Program of Study in your district.  

Please email your Administrator Letter of Support to Nathalie Beausoleil at nathalie.b@tacc.utexas.edu by APRIL 5, 2024.


Questions?

Please contact the EPIC Cybersecurity Education Specialist, Nikki Hendricks at nhendricks@tacc.utexas.edu

The 2024 WeTeach Cybersecurity Collaborative is sponsored by: