Arkansas Teacher Thrives Through 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 National Cyber Teaching Academy
An Arkansas high school teacher is embracing new opportunities in cybersecurity education after completing the National Cybersecurity Teaching Academy (NCTA) at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
Arkansas educators like Brad Goodnight are already benefiting from NCTA program. A computer science teacher at , Goodnight earned his licensure to teach computer science through the Arkansas Cybersecurity Teaching Academy, an earlier grant-funded initiative tailored for Arkansas teachers. After completing the graduate certificate program in December 2024, Goodnight is eager to begin teaching concurrent enrollment cybersecurity classes.
Brad Goodnight, the sole computer science teacher at Morrilton High School, is preparing to teach cybersecurity concurrent enrollment courses to Arkansas high school students.
鈥溙切腣log传媒 Little Rock is my favorite school in the universe,鈥� Goodnight said. 鈥淚鈥檝e taken concurrent enrollment classes there in high school, completed my undergraduate degree, and now I鈥檓 pursuing a master鈥檚 degree. The NCTA program was an incredible opportunity鈥攊t provided the licensure I needed to teach computer science and equipped me with skills I could use immediately. The training is rich and rigorous.鈥�
Meeting Growing Demand for Computer Science Education
Goodnight has a full teaching schedule, offering Computer Science 1, 2, and 3, AP Computer Science A, and independent study courses. His classes are consistently at capacity, with waiting lists stretching for more than a year.
鈥淭he demand has been significant,鈥� Goodnight said. 鈥淓very student at our school is required to earn one credit in computer science to graduate, so I鈥檒l see all 750 students at least once during their high school careers, if not multiple times.鈥�
Goodnight鈥檚 journey to teaching computer science began with an unexpected twist. Initially aiming for an English teaching position, his knack for data analytics caught the school鈥檚 attention.
鈥淲hen I applied to Morrilton High School, I included data visualizations to demonstrate growth in test scores,鈥� Goodnight said. 鈥淭he school saw my orientation toward data analytics and suggested I teach computer science instead, where there was a critical need.鈥�
Since launching his computer science program in 2022, Goodnight has seen its popularity soar.
鈥淢y school immediately noticed the energy in the program and how many kids were lining up to take it,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been an exciting time.鈥�
Transformative Training at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock
The NCTA is an 18-credit-hour graduate certificate that prepares high school teachers to teach cybersecurity. The program is supported by a grant from the NCAE-C, the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity, located within the National Security Agency. Goodnight credits the NCTA for significantly enhancing his skills and teaching abilities.
鈥淚鈥檓 incredibly excited to have graduated from the NCTA,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he courses were some of the most rigorous I鈥檝e ever taken. One of my favorites was Cybersecurity Operations with Sri Gourisetti, who works for Google and has extensive industry experience. The class was absolutely incredible.鈥�
Goodnight also praised Dr. Sandra Leiterman, cybersecurity education research professor.
鈥淪he鈥檚 a one-stop shop鈥攁 college in a box and a wealth of knowledge and resources,鈥� he said.
Looking Ahead
With 18 credit hours completed through the NCTA, Goodnight is now pursuing a master鈥檚 degree in information science and is considering a doctorate in the future.
鈥淚f your school needs to develop a cybersecurity curriculum, the NCTA team will stop at nothing to support teachers and students,鈥� Goodnight said. 鈥淭he classes are challenging, and the instructors are responsive and supportive. During a tough personal time, they bent over backward to help me succeed without lowering their high standards. I鈥檓 deeply grateful for this program.鈥�
Goodnight hopes to see further growth in 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 cybersecurity offerings, including opportunities for high school students to earn cybersecurity certificates through concurrent enrollment.
鈥淭hat would make students highly marketable for jobs right after high school, while also giving them a strong foundation to pursue a degree,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 trust 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock because they are leading the conversation on cybersecurity education in Arkansas. I know that when I send my students to people like Professors Sandra Leiterman and Philip Huff, they鈥檒l be in good hands.鈥�
Goodnight believes the program will have a lasting impact.
鈥淭his is a life-changing opportunity for students,鈥� he said. 鈥淧rograms like the NCTA are making a big difference for teachers and students across Arkansas. There are hundreds of teachers just like me, and I鈥檓 glad there is a program like the NCTA to help them.鈥�