Teachers receive cyber education at Penn College

Nineteen middle and high school educators from throughout the state received a free education in cybersecurity, courtesy of the recent GenCyber Camp conducted by Pennsylvania College of Technology.

Supported by the National Security Agency and National Science Foundation, the goal of the GenCyber program is to build a strong cybersecurity workforce by igniting interest in the field at the secondary level. The teachers learned actionable cybersecurity concepts that they can share in their classrooms this fall.

The educators attended six virtual sessions to build a foundation of cybersecurity knowledge prior to the weeklong camp. Once on campus, they experienced immersive workshops covering a variety of topics, including cryptography, digital forensics, social engineering, and cyber law and ethics.

A panel of Penn College graduates working in cybersecurity taught the teachers about career options in the field.  According to the 2023 ISC2 Cybersecurity Workforce Study, there is a global cybersecurity workforce gap of 4 million professionals needed to adequately protect digital assets.

“The panel with our graduates was one of the camp highlights as it helped teachers acknowledge the career opportunities and the number of jobs available,” said Alicia L. McNett, assistant professor of computer information technology and the camp’s program director.

Middle and high school teachers are considered key in introducing cybersecurity and its growing career options to students.

Sandra Gorka, professor of computer information technology and department head, was the camp’s lead instructor. R. Scott Alexander, a computer systems networking instructor at Jersey Shore Area Senior High School, and Jacob R. Miller, a recently retired Penn College cybersecurity faculty member, also served as instructors.

“The dedication of the participants to learn about cybersecurity in order to pass it on to their students was remarkable,” Miller said. “I have seldom seen a group of people, outside of a cybersecurity conference, get this excited about the topic. They made the effort very worthwhile.”

During the hands-on camp, the teachers learned how to integrate cybersecurity in their classrooms with individual lesson plans.

“Several had an innate curiosity about certain topics, and I was pleased to assist them with additional research on those topics so they could develop their lesson plans,” Miller said.

“As the camp progressed, it was interesting to see participants develop a deeper understanding of the risks associated with using cyberspace,” Gorka added. “Not only will participants be able to begin adding cybersecurity content to their own lessons, but they will be able to better understand how to protect themselves when using computing technologies.”

The camp concluded with a “capture the flag” event that required the teachers to apply their cybersecurity knowledge to uncover hidden pieces of information.

This fall, the educators will return to Penn College – with their students – for a one-day cyber challenge competition. The students will learn more about cybersecurity by completing a variety of tasks.

Teachers attending GenCyber Camp were: Melissa Boonie, Midd-West School District; Brent Bryant, Seneca Highlands Career & Technical Center; Laura Bryant, Coudersport Junior/Senior High School; Michele Christie, Maritime Academy Charter School; Brooke Crust, Lock Haven Catholic School; Cathy Dobrzynski, Union City Middle School; Brandon Flannery, Lycoming Career & Technology Center; Thomas Goldsmith, Francis Hopkinson School; Brenda Kimple, Franklin County Career & Technology Center; Michael Lundy, Williamsport Area Middle School; Paula Miller, Abraham Lincoln High School; Matthew Munford, North Penn-Liberty Junior/Senior High School; Kimberly Orben, Delaware Valley High School; Lauren Pace, North Pocono High School; Kathy Shellenberger, Midd-West High School; Samantha Simatos, Danville Area School District; Michelle Simpson, Montoursville Area School District; Terra Thomke, St. John Neumann Regional Academy; and Robyn Wolfe, Carlisle High School.

Penn College has several IT-related degree options, including a baccalaureate in information assurance & cyber security. For information on those and other programs offered by Penn College’s School of Engineering Technologies, call 570-327-4520 or visit www.pct.edu/et.

Penn College is a national leader in applied technology education and workforce development. Visit www.pct.edu, email admissions@pct.edu or call toll-free 800-367-9222.