CPS and Partners Launch Cyber Security Academy at Taft IT High School

(Cincinnati) – Cincinnati Public Schools students at Taft IT High School will pursue a well-paying and highly technical career in cyber security thanks to a new program built in partnership with ComSpark Tech Innovation Summit, Lead Tribune Media Group, and Belcan.

"Cyber Security Academy is an innovative program that will give CPS students a jump start for a demanding and rewarding career in cyber security," said Laura Mitchell, Superintendent of Cincinnati Public Schools. "Our MyTomorrow program ensures that CPS students leave our classrooms prepared to enter the world of work, earn a good living for themselves and their families, and contribute to our society in meaningful ways. This partnership with Belcan ComSpark Tech Innovation Summit, and Lead Tribune Media Group is a great example of how all of this comes together and gets CPS students ahead of the game."

Students with the aptitude and passion to learn and study cyber security are selected to participate in the first year of the program. During the three-year course, which is being offered at Taft IT exclusively to start, students will take online cyber classes and at least one instructor-led class during the summer. Students will also have opportunities to participate in internships with Belcan.

"Belcan is honored and excited to be a part of this cutting-edge cyber security training program for students in the Cincinnati area," said Terry Williams, Belcan’s Chief Technology Officer. "We believe this program will improve the lives of students in Cincinnati by preparing them for immediate entrance into a growing market with a high demand for trained professionals."

Belcan’s Chief Executive Officer Lance Kwasniewski added, "We have a long and rich history of investing in the development of technical talent in our communities. This program provides a much needed talent source for the growing cyber demand."

As online technologies continue to evolve and cyber criminals become more sophisticated in their methods and approaches, cyber security is rapidly becoming a top global priority. Governments and businesses need access to a pool of skilled cyber security professionals in order to keep themselves, their employees, and their clients safe.

"Cincinnati Public Schools will be the first urban school district in the United States to offer a cyber security educational track," said Steve Wanamaker, ComSpark Tech Innovation Summit and Lead Tribune Media Founder and CEO. "ComSpark’s vision has always been to champion talent and innovation in our region. Our founding partners, Belcan and Cincinnati Public Schools, are true champions of these values."

The program is a key aspect of CPS’s MyTomorrow Initiative, a vision of education for CPS in which every student is prepared for life beyond high school. To hear Superintendent Mitchell discuss the initiative in a recent CPS Making Progress podcast, visit: https://www.cps-k12.org/news/whats-new/superintendent-podcasts