During the summer, four teachers from Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) completed externships with Fort Meade Alliance (FMA) member companies in cybersecurity. An externship is a short-term development opportunity shadowing industry professionals. “I was involved in a wide variety of activities, including shadowing, conducting research, and participating in both online and face-to-face meetings. I also took part in socializing activities, touring the company’s labs, one-on-one conferences, presentations, and team and individual work,” said Dr. Louise Greene-Rodriguez, one of the teachers. The externship opportunities provide teachers with hands-on experience with local businesses that they bring back to their students. The experiences allow teachers to incorporate real-world industry experience with their classroom instruction.
Kimberly Brooks
Kimberly Brooks, a math teacher at MacArthur Middle School, externed at Praxis Engineering. She facilitated Lunch and Learn activities.
Darrien Holder
Darrien Holder is a technology and engineering teacher at Glen Burnie High School. He externed at IntelliGenesis where he improved his Python skills, became familiar with Docker, and assisted in creating a new cybersecurity training system level. Holder said, “I was surrounded by subject matter experts in different areas of technology all summer. It was a blessing being able to pick their brains and work alongside them.”
Dr. Louise Greene-Rodriguez
Dr. Louise Greene-Rodriguez teaches ESOL at AACPS. She externed at BlueHalo where she investigated social media disinformation campaigns and developed a plan for students to learn about the risks. The BlueHalo Division Lead for Maryland Operations, Kenny Smith, said, “Having Dr. Greene join us over the summer was a truly rewarding experience that will no doubt make an incredible impact on students in our community. With the research findings and industry insights gained through our work together, Dr. Greene is headed back to her classroom with knowledge and resources that will not only boost her students’ cyber safety skills but also raise their interest in STEM career opportunities for years to come – a true win for all of us.”
Rick Hall
Richard Hall is a computer science and toolkit teacher for AACPS Middle School STEM program at Lindale Middle School. He externed at MasterPeace Solutions where, “He conceptualized and created (from scratch) our company’s Intranet page, assisted with creating a training program for our employees going after certain certifications, and helped set up our network after a physical move,” said Kim Stanbro, the Senior Vice President of Services at MasterPeace. Hall is returning to the classroom with ideas of how to teach 21st-century workplace skills to make classes more relevant for today’s technology.
Download the Teacher Externships Report.