The 60-year-old Christiansburg, Virginia, resident will soon graduate from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock with a Master of Science in information science, a milestone in a journey marked by resilience, reinvention, and relentless dedication.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 set out to pursue a master鈥檚 degree in information science; it was a journey shaped by unexpected opportunities,鈥� said McMinn, who originally hails from Valdosta, Georgia.

For most of her career, McMinn taught special education and deaf education.

鈥淚 loved both populations deeply,鈥� she said. 

However, in 2019, her resume unexpectedly landed on the desk of a CTE (Career and Technical Education) director in Virginia, and she was later offered a role teaching cybersecurity, despite her lack of formal experience in the field. Initially, she thought it was a mistake. 

鈥淭hough I had IT experience from my own publishing company and some recent certifications, my teaching experience was in Special/Deaf Education,鈥� she said, adding that the CTE director 鈥渁ssured me I was the right person for the job and encouraged me to try. His faith in me became my mantra to pay it forward.鈥�

McMinn stepped into the role, teaching cybersecurity at Christiansburg High School. In 2021, she learned about the National Cybersecurity Teaching Academy (NCTA) -鈥� a graduate certificate program in cybersecurity education for high school teachers, offered virtually through 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, DePaul University, and the University of Louisville. She applied and joined the inaugural class in Summer 2022.

鈥淭oward the end of the program, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock offered us the chance to continue into the master鈥檚 program,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 applied, was accepted, and earned a Master of Science in information science, along with graduate certificates in data science and the NCTA.鈥�

Her path wasn鈥檛 easy. McMinn has juggled three teaching jobs鈥攁t Christiansburg High, Tennessee Online Public School, and Cornerstone Classical Academy鈥攚hile running her own Christian publishing company. She has also cared for her sick husband. After several hospitalizations and a misdiagnosis, he was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia – the same disorder affecting actor Bruce Willis.

鈥淭his diagnosis was both a relief and the beginning of a new, challenging journey,鈥� McMinn said. 鈥淎s his sole caregiver, I have had to navigate this while managing four jobs and my master鈥檚 studies.鈥�

Still, she persisted.

鈥淭here were times I considered giving up, but the encouragement from (Director of Cybersecurity Education and Outreach) Sandra Leiterman and (computer science instructor) Gin Jadav, along with the patience and support of my professors, kept me going,鈥� she said. 鈥淭heir support has been invaluable. I have had the most supportive, patient, and understanding professors that I鈥檝e ever encountered.鈥�

Leiterman said McMinn has shown exceptional dedication to her education and to supporting others despite life鈥檚 challenges.

鈥淭hroughout it all, she remained committed not only to her own success but also to mentoring and assisting fellow NCTA students, offering guidance and encouragement when they needed it most,鈥� Leiterman said. 鈥淗er persistence, professionalism, and generosity make her a standout in the program.鈥�

McMinn鈥檚 thesis focused on 鈥淚ncorporation of AI Into the High School Cybersecurity Curriculum,鈥� developing three progressive, semester-long courses and a rationale for integrating artificial intelligence into high school instruction. The project included a detailed instructional design, comprehensive outlines, lesson plans, activities, and assessments.

After graduation, McMinn plans to continue teaching at all three schools, running her business, and caring for her husband. She is even considering applying for another part-time teaching position online.

 鈥淚 strive for my passion for this field to be contagious, and I strive to inspire students, especially those who think they can鈥檛 succeed in IT,鈥� she said. 鈥淲itnessing students who believe they 鈥榗an鈥檛 do IT’ earn certifications and develop new skills is deeply rewarding.鈥�

McMinn is grateful that she鈥檚 been able to face and overcome many challenges and take part in a transformative experience.

“As a non-traditional student 鈥� finishing my master鈥檚 at 60 and as a woman in a male-dominated IT field 鈥� my greatest achievement has been persevering through the challenges,鈥� McMinn said. 鈥淏alancing a full-time job, two part-time jobs, running a business, taking master鈥檚 classes, being a sole caregiver, and managing ADHD and dyslexia, all required immense determination and support from my faith, encouragers, and the opportunities I was given. This experience has been humbling and is a milestone I cherish.”

She said Leiterman, Jadav, and Dr. Phillip Huff (associate professor) have been lifelines throughout her journey. 

鈥淚 deeply admire their knowledge, patience, and passion for the field. Their encouragement has been a guiding light for me.鈥�

For McMinn, teaching cybersecurity is more than a career鈥攊t鈥檚 a calling.

鈥淚 look forward to walking into my classroom every day. I honestly love teaching these high school students in this field, watching their growth and passion get ignited, and seeing them develop their careers in the field after graduation,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t is the filling in a hole that I didn鈥檛 even know that I had.鈥�

The post Resilient and Relentless: 60-Year-Old 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Grad Redefines What鈥檚 Possible appeared first on News.

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�

The post Arkansas Teacher Thrives Through 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 National Cyber Teaching Academy appeared first on News.

鈥淲e are committed to leading the charge in cybersecurity education,鈥� said Chancellor Christina S. Drale. 鈥淏y growing the number of teachers with the skills and resources they need to inspire the next generation, we鈥檙e not only addressing a critical workforce gap but also positioning Arkansas as a hub for innovation in cybersecurity. This grant supports a transformative step forward for education and industry alike.鈥�

The grant, funded by the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) within the National Security Agency, will enable 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock to enhance its groundbreaking efforts in preparing high school teachers to teach cybersecurity.

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock will collaborate with academic partners DePaul University and the University of Louisville, as well as Dark Enterprises, a nonprofit advancing cybersecurity education. The grant鈥檚 principal investigators are Dr. Sandra Leiterman, cybersecurity education research professor, and Dr. Philip Huff, associate professor of cybersecurity.

鈥淭his funding will allow us to build upon the success of the National Cybersecurity Teaching Academy (NCTA) and help address the nationwide shortage of high school cybersecurity teachers,鈥� Leiterman said. 鈥淲e have 175 scholarships available for teachers for the upcoming summer cohort and an additional 175 for the summer 2026 cohort. This grant enables us to make a meaningful impact by increasing the number of skilled cybersecurity teachers in classrooms in Arkansas and across the country.鈥�

The grant marks the third major award supporting the NCTA, a graduate certificate program that equips high school teachers to teach cybersecurity. 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock was among the first institutions in the nation to offer a graduate certificate in cybersecurity education, which also qualifies teachers to teach concurrent enrollment cybersecurity courses. This provides more opportunities for high school students to earn college credits and shorten their pathway to earning their college degree.

The new funding will also expand the NCTA to five additional institutions: Worcester Polytechnic Institute, University of Arizona, Dakota State University, Sacramento State, and the University of Maryland Global Campus.

For teachers seeking to further their education, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 Department of Computer Science and School of Education have developed new pathways. NCTA graduates can pursue a Master of Education at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, and a program for pre-service teachers is in development.

鈥淎s the liaison between the computer science and education departments, I am proud to support the creation of a new pathway providing in-service teachers with 18 credit hours in cybersecurity,鈥� said Dr. Lundon Pinneo, assistant professor of education. 鈥淭his initiative empowers teachers to take on leadership roles in their schools while increasing opportunities for high school students to earn concurrent college credit. Additionally, I am collaborating with Drs. Leiterman and Huff to design an early-entry option for pre-service teachers pursuing a master’s degree, further enriching teacher preparation and advancement.鈥�

The grant also provides funding to establish a learning community for NCTA graduates, offering professional development and peer support.

鈥淚 recently met with 40 of our graduates at a K-12 Cybersecurity Conference in San Antonio,鈥� Leiterman said. 鈥淢any of them are the sole cybersecurity teachers in their schools and lack local support networks. This grant allows us to build an alumni community where teachers can connect quarterly, access professional development, and share successful lessons. We want them to become a valuable resource for one another.鈥�

Huff underscored the importance of fostering a collaborative learning environment.

鈥淥ur goal is to create a community of educators who not only feel confident teaching cybersecurity but are also empowered to inspire their students to pursue careers in this critical field,鈥� Huff said. 鈥淏y supporting these teachers, we鈥檙e building the foundation for a stronger and more secure future.鈥�

Arkansas educators like Brad Goodnight are already benefiting from the NCTA program. A computer science teacher at Morrilton High School, Goodnight earned his licensure to teach computer science through the Arkansas Cyber 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.

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. Taking concurrent enrollment classes in cybersecurity is a life-changing opportunity for my students. Programs like the NCTA are making a big difference for teachers and students across Arkansas. I trust 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock because they are leading the conversation on cybersecurity education in Arkansas.

Teachers who are interested in learning more about the NCTA can visit this website.

The post 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Secures $4.65 Million Grant to Advance Cybersecurity Education appeared first on News.

While balancing a full-time career as managing director of the Cyber Arena at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, a myriad of research and teaching responsibilities, and an unwavering commitment to education, Leiterman recently achieved a remarkable milestone鈥攅arning her doctoral degree.

In 2020, Leiterman was already working on a doctorate in STEM when she made a bold decision to switch Ph.D. programs to the Urban Education program at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where she specialized in math education. In the same year, she also switched roles to work in cybersecurity education at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.

鈥淟ife is full of twists and turns,鈥� Leiterman said. 鈥淪ometimes, it鈥檚 the detours that take you to the most fascinating places you never knew existed. Through it all, I embraced the spirit of the panther 鈥� moving with strength, confidence, and adaptability through unpredictable terrain. And I鈥檓 thankful for the support of family, friends, and colleagues along the way. I am thrilled to begin the new year as Dr. Sandra Leiterman!鈥�

Throughout the past three years, Leiterman has been balancing a full-time career, which includes working on several high-level cybersecurity grants and projects at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, with doctoral classes and research, family, and STEM education volunteering.

鈥淵ou have to have a certain level of insanity, which I possess, to do this, but it just comes down to time management,鈥� Leiterman said. 鈥淭here are times I would spend all day in meetings and then still have classes and homework. The biggest key to my success is having a schedule to follow and time management. It was more work than I anticipated, but it鈥檚 a huge relief to be done.鈥�

In her dissertation, 鈥淪uccess in College Algebra: Examining Student Experiences in Corequisite College Algebra Courses,鈥� Leiterman researched undergraduate student experiences and perceptions in college algebra courses, particularly focusing on math anxiety and mindset at the beginning and end of the semester.

鈥淭he official question is how students鈥� interests, attitudes, and beliefs affect their enrollment in prerequisite college algebra,鈥� Leiterman said. 鈥淪tudent backgrounds play a role. Their K-12 experiences play a role in how they deal with college math.鈥�

Her findings suggest student-centered instruction and integrated support in the corequisite college algebra model can help foster more positive student experiences. However, effectiveness depends greatly on implementation, indicating a need for faculty development and standardized corequisite design focused on promoting engaging and collaborative learning environments to support student mastery.

Leiterman also holds a bachelor鈥檚 degree in middle school math and science education and a graduate certificate in gifted and talented education from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, as well as a master鈥檚 degree in digital and teaching learning from Kansas State.

The cybersecurity education leader hasn鈥檛 even finished her educational goals. She also joined 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 National Cybersecurity Teaching Academy two years ago. At the end of the summer, she will earn her graduate certificate in cybersecurity education.

鈥淚 think that will be the end of my formal education, at least for now, but we are never fully done learning,鈥� she said.

Her journey is more than an academic triumph; it’s a testament to the indomitable spirit that defines true leaders in the rapidly evolving world of cybersecurity.

鈥淚t鈥檚 never too late to pick and choose your priorities,鈥� Leiterman said. 鈥淭hat is my message. I鈥檓 48 and just earned my doctorate. I didn鈥檛 get my bachelor鈥檚 degree until I was 35. I did things backwards, but it鈥檚 been a very rewarding career, and you can always teach an old dog new tricks.鈥�

The post Cybersecurity Education Leader Inspiring Others by Fulfilling Educational Goals appeared first on News.