Subject Expert: Cyber P-TECH prepares students for careers in a future of heightened cybersecurity risk

Expert: Kaye Robinson, Coordinator, Cyber P-TECH USA at Sam Houston High School

Kaye Robinson can speak to how the Cyber P-TECH USA program at Sam Houston High School is placing students on a career path in cybersecurity – roles increasingly critical as the world experiences global cybersecurity risk. In partnership with St. Philip’s College, the students coming out of Cyber P-TECH will be armed with the job skills and training to join the workforce as valuable employees protecting our private and critical information from future cyberattacks.

Student voices: Cyber P-TECH USA at Sam Houston High School students reach milestone cybersecurity certification in junior year

Students: Nicolas Alonzo and Emily Guardiola

Cyber P-TECH USA at Sam Houston High School juniors Nicolas Alonzo and Emily Guardiola will earn their Information Technology Cybersecurity Specialist Level 1 Certificate upon the completion of this semester. Nicolas and Emily are some of the first students to achieve such a milestone prior to the beginning of their senior year of high school. The high school students will participate in St. Philip's College Commencement Ceremonies alongside their college peers on Friday, May 13, 2022.

Calendar items

March 19 (Sat) – SAISD and FIRST Lego League host “Cargo Connect” competition 
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Poe Middle School, 814 Aransas Ave, 78210 
Students will challenge themselves at the SAISD and FIRST Lego League “Cargo Connect” event at Poe Middle School. Teams from local schools are tasked with reimagining a global transportation system, improving how to access and deliver goods. Students will build robots and navigate obstacles on the challenge boards as they compete against other teams.

March 21 (Mon) – CAST Schools welcome delegation from Colombia 
9 a.m., CAST Tech High School, 637 N Main Ave, 78205 
CAST Schools Network – which includes SAISD’s CAST Tech and CAST Med high schools and the Advanced Learning Academy – is hosting an international delegation from Medellin, Colombia. During the visit, the delegation will visit SAISD’s CAST Tech High School. The group of educational and business development leaders will learn how CAST teaching innovations relate to the San Antonio economic ecosystem and maximize community partnerships. The delegation will spend three days in San Antonio, two of those days entirely devoted to CAST Schools. 

March 21 (Mon) – Elementary School joins SA YES’ Little Locker Project 
10:15 a.m., Kelly Elementary School, 1026 Thompson Place, 78226
In collaboration with local education non-profit SA YES, Kelly Elementary School will take part in the Little Locker Project and receive book-sharing lockers for its community. The locker will be open to the public to supply everyone with a variety of books throughout the school year, along with free crafts supplies in the summer. Barkley-Ruiz Elementary School also is receiving a Little Locker.

March 21 (Mon) – SAISD Board Meeting 
5:30 p.m., SAISD Board Room, 514 W. Quincy St., 78212 or online
Link: https://www.saisd.net/page/dis-board-videos 
The SAISD Board of Trustees will hold its regularly scheduled meeting at the central office building.

March 22, 24 (Tues, Thurs) – Head Start application events
• March 22 (Tues): 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Nelson Early Childhood Education Center, 1014 Waverly Ave., 78201
• March 24 (Thurs): 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Knox Early Childhood Education Center, 302 Tipton Ave., 78204
San Antonio ISD is hosting application events for Head Start students. Each event will be held in the gym. Parents can register students for the 2022-2023 school year. Application requirements include children being 3 or 4 years of age by Sept. 1, 2022, and families must meet income guidelines. For more information, call (210) 554-2410 or apply online at www.saisd.net/Earlychildhood.

March 22 and 24, 25 (Tues, Thurs, Fri) – Free Tax Preparation at SAISD’s CAST Tech High School
• March 22 and 24 (Tues, Thurs): 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• March 25 (Fri): 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. 
CAST Tech High School, 637 N. Main Ave, 78205 
CAST Tech High School is hosting a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site on its campus to help households making $65,000 or less file their income taxes for free. CAST Tech students in Principles of Business, Entrepreneurship, and Practicum of Business classes do the data entry, while supervised by tax experts. The program assisted 146 taxpayers last year and has a goal of 200 this year. For more information, call (210) 554-2700. For a full list of dates and what to bring, visit: https://www.saisd.net/page/article/1089

March 24 (Thurs) – SAISD principal leads book study at Trinity University 
5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Center for Educational Leadership, Trinity University, One Trinity Place, 78212 
SAISD’s CAST Med High School Principal, Dr. Eddie Muzquiz Rodriguez, leads a three-part book study with school administrators. The first part of this book discussion is on March 24. The book study will center around “Eyes on Culture: Multiply Excellence in Your School,” by Emily Pachall. Participants will discuss how school culture can be a hidden curriculum that drives a school forward or backward. Discussions will also focus on increasing excellence through a culture of strong relationships and relentless passion.

March 25 (Fri) – SAISD 2022 Campus Collaborative Art Fair at UIW 
5 p.m. to 8 p.m., University of the Incarnate Word, 4301 Broadway, 78209 
Kelso Art Center / Semmes Gallery (Hildebrand/Broadway corner on UIW campus)
One SAISD senior will walk away with a scholarship to the University of the Incarnate Word as the 2022 Campus Collaborative Art Fair makes a grand debut. This art fair is bringing together the works from 11 SAISD specialized schools: Advanced Learning Academy, CAST Med High School, CAST Tech High School, Cooper Academy at Navarro, Fox Tech High School, St. Philip’s Early College High School, Steele Academy, Travis Early College High School, Young Women’s Leadership Academy, YWLA Primary, and Young Men’s Leadership Academy. The opening reception takes place at 5 p.m. on Friday, March 25. The exhibit runs at UIW through Friday, April 1 during gallery hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

March 26 (Sat) – SAISD hosts food distribution with the San Antonio Food Bank 
9 a.m., Jefferson High School, 723 Donaldson Ave, 78201 
Pre-registration: www.saisd.net/fooddistribution
SAISD is hosting a food distribution in partnership with the San Antonio Food Bank. All SAISD families are welcome. Distribution will take place on a first come, first served basis, while supplies last. 

March 26 (Sat) – SAISD Critical Needs Job Fair 
9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Alamo Convocation Center, 110 Tuleta Drive, 78212 
RSVP: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdv3i7w3idjQu6-KBYLzRk0HBvAcQMpHTf87AmVFeyRmRZmEQ/viewform 
SAISD is hosting a Critical Needs Job Fair to recruit certified teachers in several high needs areas, including Math, Special Education, Science and Fine Arts. Certified professionals such as Nurses, Librarians and Counselors also are invited to attend. Limited pre-hire opportunities will be offered to qualified individuals.