14 Teachers and
2 Students Hold the Industry-recognized Certification
The School District of Philadelphia is the seventh largest in
the nation. It serves an ethnically and racially diverse population
that numbers over 200,000 students, many of whom come from economically
depressed areas of Philadelphia. Home to over 30 local Cisco
Networking Academies, the School District of Philadelphia distinguishes
itself as one of the most successful urban districts to implement
the Cisco Networking Academy Program. In the school district,
over 2400 students have participated in the Networking Academy
program and that number continues to spiral upward.
The CCNA Curriculum
Philly’s first Cisco Networking Academy Program was launched
in 1999. With a curriculum that combines both pedagogy and hands-on,
skills-based training, Philly’s Networking Academies prepare
students for the industry-recognized Cisco Certified Networking
Associate (CCNA) certification exam. The CCNA is the first step
to a career in networking or IT. The 280-hour online curriculum
provides training in networking basics such as topologies, IP
addressing, Frame Relay and LAN and WAN technologies. Cisco
Networking Academy Instructors will be the first to admit that
the program is rigorous and challenging, and yet highly achievable.
Students such as Jesus Perez and Shamira Ellis can attest to
that. Perez from George Washington Carver High School of Engineering
and Science, and Ellis from Simon Gratz High School are the
first students in the Philly school district to earn the CCNA.
What contributes to this success? Sure, Cisco Systems provides
the networking equipment—but it’s the teachers who make this
happen, bringing curriculum to life, and effecting positive
change for students from some of Philadelphia’s poorest neighborhoods.
Bridging Issues of Age, Gender, and Culture
While the academic and learning outcomes of the Philly’s Networking
Academies are impressive, equally impressive is the way in which
this program bridges issues of age, gender, and culture. Currently,
the Philly school district boasts of the fact that 14 of their
teachers have CCNA certification. Nine of these teachers are
female, five of whom are African American with an average age
of forty-nine. Of the five men, one is Nigerian and periodically
teaches in Africa, on behalf of Cisco Systems, Inc., where he
prepares French-speaking teachers to sit for the CCNA exam.
“Technology levels the playing field, it has no face, no color—it’s
all about knowledge,” says Mae Diaby, a 26-year teaching veteran
of the Philly school district, who recently earned her CCNA
certification. Diaby teaches algebra and geometry at Bok Technical
High School where the population is comprised of African American,
Cambodian, Caucasian, Chinese, Italian, and Latino students.
Historically, Bok prepared students for vocational careers in
fields such as cosmetology or auto mechanics. But today, that
is history. “Bok has dropped those traditional vocations and
is focused on technology,” notes Diaby, “technology is the future
for our children. Not every child is going to go to college,
and the Cisco Networking Academy Program is helping prepare
kids for good-paying careers.
“The Networking Academy curriculum enables all cultures to succeed,”
continues Diaby. “The curriculum is dynamic, and the presentation
of material is animated through multi-media and graphics. It’s
a true e-learning model as opposed to just text or a CD.” The
curriculum’s dynamic nature not only engages students but teachers
a s well. “The Cisco Networking Academy Program has made me
more of a coach rather than the sage on the stage,” says Diaby.
It's made me a better teacher. I'm guiding students to the next
level and learning from them as we progress.”
A Passion For Teaching and Learning
“Teachers like the Networking Academy program because it’s stimulating,”
maintains Anne Marie Urevick, coordinator of SDP Cisco Regional
Academy. Urevick, who trained Philly’s most recently certified
CCNA instructors, says, “Teachers with 30 years experience are
coming through this program and enjoying it. Imagine teaching
the same subject for 30 years? It can get pretty deadly.” While
veteran teachers are curious about learning new subject areas
and new technologies, the associated time and costs are prohibitive
for most. “But, Cisco brought the opportunity for professional
development right to our doorstep,” continues Urevick. “It’s
provided the resources to learn about networking and enabled
teachers to acquire new pedagogical skills that empower them
to be effective.”
Philly CCNA-certified teachers credit much of their achievement
to Urevick’s passion for teaching technology and a shared commitment
to improve their students’ futures. “Anne is a motivator and
a role model,” says Tanya Riddick, a 27-year-old teacher at
University City High School, which is located in a US government-designated
Empowerment Zone (severely underserved and economically deprived).
A graduate of University City High School herself, Riddick earned
her B.A. in African American studies from Temple University.
She is working on her M.A. in education from Temple, and has
a life-long interest in electronics.
“Anne imbued us with her enthusiasm for the subject matter and
stressed how this program gives kids a future,” notes Riddick.
“It would be very difficult for me to teach something that my
heart wasn’t into and this program breeds success. We see huge
improvements in reading, math, and organizational skills. Students
also learn to work in groups and come to an understanding that
this is a skill required in the workplace,” continues Riddick,
“but more importantly, students discover their strengths and
weaknesses and develop heightened self-esteem.”
The Bottom Line—Jobs
Philly’s Networking Academies are enjoying success measured
not only by improved learning outcomes—but also by the bottom
line: jobs. A growing number of Cisco Networking Academy Graduates—some
as young as 16 and 17 years old—have landed jobs. Students are
working with brokerages such as Smith Barney and institutions
including the University of Pennsylvania and the New York Institute
of Technology where they may be trouble-shooting PCs, pulling
cable, or installing switches and hubs. Out the gate, entry-level
networking specialists are earning $30K–$45K annually. And,
according to a Certification Magazine study of 2000, “the holder
of one technical certification had an average income of $53,000.”
Despite a downturned economy, the opportunities for job placement
continue to improve for Cisco Networking Academy students in
the School District of Philadelphia. Take for example, the IT
apprenticeship program sponsored by the Lockheed Martin Company
and the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Department
of Labor. The Cisco Regional Networking Academies at Mastbaum
Area Vocational Technical School and Kensington High School
are piloting this program, which can lead to full-time employment
at Lockheed Martin. The Academy program is also expanding to
increase student Internet knowledge and marketability through
optional partner-sponsored technology courses in Fundamentals
of UNIX through Sun Microsystems, and Fundamentals of Web Design
through Adobe Systems.
“As the program grows, we see school specialization evolving
as well,” predicts Urevick, “some schools will specialize in
Web design while others will focus on UNIX or construction trade
IT courses.” And, as the program grows so too grow the opportunities
for achievement. “Our students are working on an involved curriculum
that requires their best,” says Riddick, “when they succeed,
it's a well-earned accomplishment."
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