When Seth Walker first walked into Lincoln High School’s new cybersecurity class, he felt out of place. “I didn’t have any IT experience, and everyone else seemed so far ahead of me,” he remembered. “So, I let that motivate me to learn the craft and keep up.”
His curiosity led him from a rural high school in Talladega, Alabama, to Troy University, where he’s studying cybersecurity and working on his CompTIA Security+ certification as a freshman. He credits high school internships and mentorship from his teacher, Brian Kelly, as the foundation that shaped his path forward. “I saw firsthand how cybersecurity looks in different environments,” Walker said. “It made me realize this is something I can really build a future in.”
A Regional Model for Rural Readiness
In 2023, Talladega County Schools joined Digital Promise’s inaugural Cybersecurity Pathways Cohort, part of a national effort to build regional workforce pipelines in high-demand tech fields. Soon after, the district joined neighboring Talladega City, Anniston City, Etowah County, Oxford City, St. Clair County and Sylacauga City school districts to form the East Alabama Regional Cybersecurity Alliance (EARCA), a collaboration with post-secondary institutions and industry partners in East Alabama working to grow local cybersecurity talent.
Together, the group created a student-centered Cybersecurity pathway reaching more than 33,000 students. EARCA is becoming a replicable model for regional pathways, offering shared curriculum, teacher professional development and employer partnerships that can be adapted anywhere.
The alliance strengthens the local economy by connecting education directly to employment, and preparing students for an evolving tech landscape where cybersecurity and artificial intelligence intersect. With 8,000 unfilled cybersecurity jobs in Alabama and 750,000 vacancies nationwide, schools like Lincoln High are preparing students for roles that pay an average of $90,000 annually, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“The cybersecurity pathway gives students a clear direction and a chance to stay and work here in Alabama,” said Darian Simmons, career tech director at Talladega City Schools.
Building a Program From the Ground Up
For Kelly, the instructor who launched Lincoln High’s program, cyber had long been an interest. “I worked in IT doing help desk and network support, and always wanted to integrate cybersecurity,” he said. “When the opportunity came up to run the program, I jumped on it.”
Kelly saw this as a chance to hone his own skills as well. “My advice to other teachers is to just jump in. The more you’re exposed to AI and cybersecurity, the more comfortable you get. Learn with your students. Do the competitions. Figure it out together.”
This is the philosophy that shapes his classroom environment. Students work in small groups to solve problems together before turning to him for help. “That’s what cybersecurity is: creative problem-solving,” he said. Competitions like CyberPatriot and SkillsUSA keep students motivated and build confidence in their skill set.
Hands-On Learning and Flexible Tools
One memorable project for Walker involved a rubber ducky, a small, programmable USB drive that can access a device remotely. “It showed us how something simple can be powerful,” he said. “The same process can be used for harm or protection, so it all comes down to intent.”
Students also use IBM SkillsBuild, a free platform offering self-paced courses and micro-credentials in cybersecurity, AI and digital literacy for teachers and students. For Walker, it was a turning point. “It was my best friend in that first semester,” he said. “There is no better foundation for hardware, networking and software basics.”
Kelly values the self-paced design for giving students flexibility and teachers built-in professional development.
From PD to Practice
Through EARCA, Kelly meets monthly with other cybersecurity teachers for professional learning and resource sharing. The sessions create a community of practice where educators share lesson ideas, test labs and align their teaching with workforce needs.
At Lincoln High, Kelly turns those shared strategies into hands-on learning. His students analyze phishing emails, design defense strategies and complete local internships that connect classroom skills to careers.
The lessons from Alabama echo in other regions. In Kansas City, full-stack instructor Shineta Horton applies similar principles through her own professional learning. “If we want students to use technology ethically and creatively, teachers have to feel confident exploring it first,” she said. “They see me learning as we navigate SkillsBuild together, and that changes everything.”
Both Kelly and Horton agree: career readiness extends beyond technical know-how. “The tools will continue to change,” Kelly said, “but adaptability, communication and persistence are what carry students forward.”
“Everyone should have access to this kind of learning,” added Walker. “It opens so many doors.”
Lessons for Educators
The EARCA model offers insights for schools expanding career readiness opportunities:
- Start small and learn together. Teachers don’t need to be experts; learning alongside students builds trust and confidence.
- Connect with the community. Partnering with local businesses gives students exposure to how AI and cybersecurity operate in different settings.
- Leverage free resources. Platforms like SkillsBuild provide accessible pathways for both professional development and student engagement.
Looking Ahead
For Kelly, the growth of the cybersecurity program represents a shift in mindset as much as curriculum. “We’re showing students that technology careers aren’t somewhere else,” he said. “They can build them right here in Alabama.”
For Walker, what once felt intimidating now feels essential. “Cybersecurity gives me a way to make a difference,” he said. “It’s not just about technology, it’s about protecting people.”
The story of East Alabama offers a blueprint for others: a regional alliance of schools and employers creating student-centered career pathways and a resilient local economy through education and collaboration.
