Heartland High’s cybersecurity and networking CTE program expands; students earn college credits and industry certifications
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Summary
District and CTE staff described a growing cybersecurity and computer networking program shared with county high schools. The program uses Cisco NetAcad curriculum, provides industry certifications (CCST and LED tech), and has articulation with Washtenaw Community College for college credit.
District staff and program instructors highlighted the Heartland High School cybersecurity and computer networking career‑technical education (CTE) program during the superintendent’s report.
Jen Loda and Anne Hasselt (program leaders) described the program as a two‑hour block (100 minutes) shared among county high schools; Brighton, Howell and Heartland currently participate. The program is in its third year and offers industry curriculum through Cisco NetAcad, Packet Tracer simulation tools, hands‑on hardware, and a lab funded in part through bond dollars.
Program successes cited at the board meeting included an 83 percent certification pass rate for a recent student cohort and 100 percent pass for another industry credential. The program has an articulation agreement with Washtenaw Community College: students who complete the course with a 3.0 GPA or higher can receive 8 college credits applicable at Washtenaw and transferable to four‑year institutions.
Student Grace Martin, a current senior and former participant, described earning the CCST (Cisco Certified Support Technician) certification and said she plans to study digital forensics in college. Program instructors emphasized that cybersecurity skills include networking, operating systems and secure‑network construction; they also cited employability and intellectual skills such as problem‑solving and attention to detail.
Superintendent Hughes and board members praised the program’s growth and community support, pointing to the lab built with bond funds and county‑level shared time coordination. Trustees asked administrators to encourage continued growth and partnerships, and to highlight the program in future CTE planning.
Ending: The board asked administration to continue supporting the program and to consider scale‑up opportunities across the county CTE shared‑time arrangement.
