The Western Academy Support and Training Center now supports Cisco Networking Academy programs across the nation, and educators beyond our borders with the training, professional development, and community that keep ICT educators sharp.
Faculty development for ICT instructors would be virtually nonexistent if not for WASTC training.
Dr. Olivia HerrifordConsultant, Career Ladders Project
Since 2011, WASTC has served Cisco Networking Academy programs across the nation and beyond. In the Academy's three-decade tradition, we share best practices, provide professional development and required instructor training, grow high-school participation, help maximize lab-equipment budgets, and sponsor webinars and in-person retooling sessions.
Thousands of ICT educators in our region are responsible for training tomorrow's technology workforce, and they need to refresh their skills continually. Through the annual Winter ICT Educators' Conference, summer Faculty Development Weeks, and Friday virtual workshops, we keep those educators well informed and give them the relevant, hands-on training they need.
Six kinds of support with one goal: Cisco Networking Academy instructors ready to teach current technology.
Instructors across the region comparing notes on curriculum, labs, and classroom technique.
The required courses for new Academy instructors, plus ongoing PD that keeps veterans current.
Guidance for high schools launching a Cisco Networking Academy program and keeping it running.
Straight answers on stretching a limited lab-equipment budget before you buy.
Sponsored webinars and in-person retooling sessions covering new tools and technologies.
Two anchor gatherings each year: the Winter ICT Educators' Conference and the summer Faculty Development Weeks.
WASTC is run by two coordinators and a bench of veteran Cisco Academy instructor trainers from across the region.
Richard brings more than 40 years of experience in education and the ICT sector, including nearly 30 years with Cisco Networking Academy (NetAcad). He has taught students, supported instructors, and organized, coordinated, and advised programs in the United States and abroad. Richard currently works with Karen to support WASTC members.
Karen has partnered with the Cisco Academy for over 24 years. She manages the Academy Support Center (ASC) and the Instructor Training Center (ITC) for WASTC. Karen also works alongside Richard to help develop WASTC Instructor Professional Development activities.
Professor in the Computer Network Engineering program at Santa Barbara City College and a Cisco Academy instructor since 1998, teaching CCNA, CCNP, and CCNA Security. With over 25 years of IT experience, he consults as a senior network engineer and has been an instructor trainer since 2005.
A community college instructor and Raspberry Pi Certified Educator teaching Computer Information Systems at Central New Mexico Community College in Albuquerque. Kerry works with WASTC as instructor trainer for IoT Fundamentals, focused on learning through doing, tinkering, and making.
Full-time computer science and networking instructor at Cabrillo College in Aptos, and part-time at UC Santa Cruz. Rick has worked with the Cisco Networking Academy curriculum engineering team and authored several Cisco Press books, including IPv6 Fundamentals.
More than twenty years of IT leadership across network infrastructure, security, system administration, and internet properties. An active Cisco Networking Academy instructor for two decades and an Associate Professor of networking in the San Diego Community College District.
A special thank you to the sponsors who keep this program alive and operational, year after year.
WASTC's instructor courses run in partnership with DVC.
The global ICT education program WASTC supports across the West.
Questions about membership, instructor training, or starting an academy? Reach out and you'll get an answer from Karen or Richard directly.