Education
NEISD looks to build the cybersecurity workforce of the future
Sean Maika, outgoing North East ISD superin- tendent, said students who leave the district’s Institute of Cybersecurity and Innovation Magnet School Program, or ICSI, are more prepared for a career in cybersecurity than 40% of San Antonio’s current workforce. “I’ve been a part of different groups, talking about ICSI and talking with industry [profes- sionals] about what their needs are, what their demands are, and then how ICSI can help them meet the workforce need,” Maika said. The big picture ICSI serves all seven NEISD high schools during three school periods. The program has courses for all four grade levels and focuses on different skill sets and certifications each year. Eric Asel, ICSI instructor, said roughly 150 students attend each period, for a total of around 450 across all four grade levels. He noted that students typically earn one certification per year,
with an average of three to five, while some have earned up to eight. Facilities at ICSI include two security operations center rooms, which contain wall displays, threat maps and “capture the flag” competition setups; two networking labs with racks, routers and switches; and multiple standard classrooms. The facility also hosts CyberPatriot events, a national youth cyber defense competition organized by the CyberTexas Foundation. Asel said the 2024-25 school year saw the first full graduating class of 66 students. “I want to say, like 62 of them went either to college or military, and then only like four or five went straight for a job,” Asel said. Zooming in Each year at ICSI has a particular focus, with seniors moving onto highly individualized pathways that include internships with local companies.
Student opportunities at ICSI
Earn two credit hours of instruction while receiving daily transportation to ICSI Experience working with industry-standard hardware, software and platforms Learn from cybersecurity workforce professionals and NEISD instructors Gain hands-on experience through on-site visits with cybersecurity companies in San Antonio Compete in various competitions
SOURCE: NEISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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