The Western Academy Support and Training Center supports Cisco Networking Academy programs in Arizona, California, Nevada, and beyond with the training, professional development, and community that keep ICT educators sharp.
Faculty development for ICT/DM 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 Arizona, California, Nevada, and beyond. In the Academy's two-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 and summer Faculty Development Weeks, 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.
Over 30 years in IT instruction and training, including 20 years teaching networking and system administration through the Cisco Networking Academy at home and abroad. Retired from teaching in 2015 and named Professor Emeritus at Ohlone College, Richard now serves as ICT Deputy Sector Navigator for the Bay Area and works with Karen supporting WASTC members.
WASTC's coordinator, with over 18 years in the Cisco Networking Academies: first as a student, then an instructor, now an administrator working with Richard to support members. Karen holds a bachelor's degree in Network Administration and counts it a privilege to work with this ICT educator community.
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.
Working with small computers since 1978 and an independent PC and networking consultant for 22 years. Bob began teaching in 2001 and joined WASTC in 2012. He is the CCNA lead instructor and a full-time faculty member at Mesa Community College in Mesa, AZ.
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.
Teaching IT-Essentials since the late 1990s at both community college and high school levels. Her students have competed in SkillsUSA and gone on to successful IT careers. Sharon has been a WASTC instructor trainer since 2012, sharing best practices for high school and community college classrooms.
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.
With the Cisco Networking Academy since 1997, starting at Valencia High School in Placentia, CA, and an adjunct at Coastline Community College since 1999. Dwight worked with NetSpace from its beta stages and helped shape early training for the Cisco Networking Academy.
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 Cyber Range Engineer at By Light IT Professional Services, training military personnel through international cybersecurity exercises. In the field since 2006 and coaching cybersecurity competitions since 2015, he is the BACCC Cyber Competitions Regional Coordinator, a Pacific Hackers board member, and a DEF CON speaker who calls himself “a professional troublemaker who loves hacking all the things.”
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.