Cisco celebrates NC networking academies at Southeast Raleigh High

May 21, 2003 - Students demonstrated their skills and Governor Mike Easley gave his endorsement to the Cisco Systems Networking Academy in a celebration at Southeast Raleigh High today. The academy provides students training in the communications technology that Cisco System's builds and supports, preparing students for high-paying technology jobs.


Southeast Raleigh High students demonstrate their work in the Cisco networking class at their school.

"The Cisco Systems Networking Academy is about connecting students to real life, connecting them to the workforce," said Gov. Easley. "They can walk out of this high school and take a high paying, good job tomorrow. That's one of the things that makes a difference in whether we have a drop out rate that is high or low, whether students feel like what they are doing in high school really applies to the practical work they're going to do when they graduate."

Cisco Systems held the celebration at the Wake County high school to recognize North Carolina educators taking part in their Cisco Systems Networking Academy, mainly from community colleges across the state.

At Southeast Raleigh High, Tom Knott teaches 45 students in two courses that are part of the Cisco Systems Networking Academy.

"It's more than just an exploratory thing," said Knott. "If they have the desire and the drive, they can leave high school with an employable skill. I particularly like the fact that some of our students leave, go to college and work part-time in information technology. They have a high-paying, part-time job to help pay for college."

This is Knott's fifth year of Cisco instruction at the school. He's taught more than 150 students and estimates 30 students have taken the exam and earned their networking professional certification. Other students may continue their path toward certification through community college or university courses.

About 3,100 North Carolina students have graduated from the Cisco program, preparing them for the professional certification exam. Cisco reports students who pass the exam can look forward to an average base salary of $59,770 to $69,900.


Gov. Easley praises Southeast Raleigh High principal John Modest for its work with the Cisco Academy

Wake high schools with the Cisco program include Athens Drive High, Broughton High, Cary High, East Wake High, Middle Creek High, Millbrook High, Garner High, Sanderson High, Wakefield High and Southeast Raleigh High. The Cisco program is expected to start next year at Apex High and Leesville Road High.

The Cisco program offers eight curricula: Cisco Certified Network Associate, Cisco Certified Network Professional, Fundamentals of web design, Fundamentals of UNIX, Fundamentals of Java Programming Language, Fundamentals of Voice and Data Cabling, IT essentials: PC hardware and software, and IT essentials: network operating systems.

North Carolina ranks eighth among states in the number of networking academies, according to Woody Sessoms, Cisco Systems vice president. Sessoms said the program provides many people opportunities.

"What the Cisco Systems Networking Academy is really about is hope," said Sessoms. "Hope for a better future."

Gov. Easley said the Education First task force and legislation currently before the General Assembly encourage more high school instruction similar to the Cisco System Networking Academy.

"High school students need to have a course load that has a greater connection to the workforce. They need an environment that is smaller and more personalized, a lot like what is happening here. It's what John Modest is doing here at Southeast Raleigh High," said Gov. Easley. "We need more options for high school students and the model of the Cisco networking academy is a great example of what we need to be doing to decrease the drop out rate, increase the graduation rate and better prepare our students for emerging industries."

The academy provides students training in the communications technology that Cisco System's builds and supports, preparing students for high-paying technology jobs.

The Wake County Public School System is the second largest school system in North Carolina, serving more than 104,000 students in 125 schools throughout the county. WCPSS is committed to ensuring academic success for all students in the system while maintaining fiscal responsibility and accountability. The system was formed in 1976 with the merger of the former City of Raleigh and Wake County school systems and, today, is the 27th largest school system in the nation. For more information about WCPSS, please visit our website at http://www.wcpss.net.

-wcpss-