Significant grant funds cyber security programming opportunity for district educators
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, November 14, 2022
BEAUFORT – Beaufort County School District (BCSD) has been awarded a $150,000 GenCyber grant, funded by National Security Agency (NSA) and National Science Foundation (NSF).
GenCyber, a program created to inspire the next generation of cybersecurity professionals, funds in-depth training and experiences for school systems around the country. For more than eight years, this program has provided opportunities for students and teachers to explore cybersecurity fundamentals, technology, and career pathways.
We are looking forward to seeing the innovative ways our newly minted GenCyber educators will incorporate what they learn into the classroom experience.
Dr. Mary Stratos, Chief Instructional Services Officer
As a result of this grant, BCSD will offer an intensive 10-day training session, July 24 to August 4, for 30 middle and high school educators. By the end of the two weeks, the teachers will have lesson plans, resources, and tools that can be implemented in their classrooms and shared with students.
“Forward thinking grants such as this serve to prepare our students for future careers that may not even exist yet,” said Superintendent Frank Rodriguez. “This GenCyber grant is a win-win, equipping our educators to address high-level future trends and workforce needs while also ensuring our students’ long-term success.”
This professional development programming will be offered in collaboration with University of South Carolina Beaufort (USCB) and Technical College of the Lowcountry (TCL). Additional follow-up opportunities will be provided in the form of coaching/mentoring for cyber defense competitions and ongoing support from the Beaufort Digital Corridor (BDC), a community-sourced initiative that fosters educational, commercial, and social environments conducive to nurturing flourishing technology entrepreneurs.
In line with the South Carolina Computer Science Education Initiative Act, the GenCyber grant enables BCSD to expand its offering of high-quality computer science and cybersecurity educational experiences to students.
“Through our Career and Technical Education (CTE) and MedTech7 programs, a number of our schools already have a strong focus and foundation in computer science and cybersecurity,” said Dr. Mary Stratos, Chief Instructional Services Officer. “We are looking forward to seeing the innovative ways our newly minted GenCyber educators will incorporate what they learn into the classroom experience.”
BCSD secondary level educators interested in participating in this professional development opportunity can apply online, starting this January.