Your Tomorrow Starts Now: CIA at Park Crossing Magnet

Step into the future with Montgomery Public Schools in this episode of Stronger Together: The MPS Podcast. 

We're introducing an exciting new magnet program—the Cyber Intelligence Academy (CIA) at Park Crossing High School. While it may share an acronym with a well-known agency, this program is all about preparing students for real-world careers in cybersecurity, law enforcement, and business technology through hands-on learning and innovative instruction.

Mr. Ronald Adams breaks down everything families need to know—from the academy’s three dynamic pathways to what sets this program apart and why rising 9th and 10th graders are the ideal candidates.

You’ll also learn about upcoming informational sessions and how your student can take the first step toward a high-demand, future-ready career.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:03

Welcome to Stronger Together, the MPS Podcast. Our schools, our communities, our future in conversation. Here, we bring you real stories, important conversations, and powerful insights from across Montgomery Public Schools. From the classroom to the community, we're exploring the people, partnerships, and possibilities shaping the future of our students. Because when it comes to education, we're not just building schools, we're building futures. And together, we are stronger. Welcome back to Stronger Together, the MPS podcast. Our schools, our communities, our future in conversation. I'm your host, Monet Stevens, Marketing and Community Development Manager from Montgomery Public Schools. Now, in this episode, we are excited to announce the launch of a new magnet program designed to unlock more student potential, the CIA. No, not that CIA, but students will be prepared for a career with that agency after completing the Cyber Intelligence Academy at Park Crossing. Joining me for this episode is instructional leader Mr. Ronald Adams with what you need to know about this futuristic pathway. Welcome to the podcast, Mr. Adams.

SPEAKER_01 1:22

Thank you. Thank you for having me here today.

SPEAKER_00 1:25

Okay, so first question. For those hearing about this Cyber Intelligence Academy for the first time, can you give us an overview of the program?

SPEAKER_01 1:34

Okay. Well, CIA, Cyber Intelligence Academy Magnet Academy, is a is going to be a fun program for students to get involved in. It was a vision of Dr. Byrds to have the first unique two schools on one campus model. This program is designed to ensure that once our kids graduate from high school, they have gone through the rigors of academic performance while also getting prepared for a real life career starting job in cyberintelligence, law enforcement, or business information technology. It is a unique, amazing program. And once I got wind of it, like I had to be a part of it. It fits me in so many different ways that I don't think people are going to want to miss being a part of this groundbreaking program here in MPS.

SPEAKER_00 2:28

And groundbreaking is definitely the word to describe this academy because it focuses on three pathways. We're talking cybersecurity, law enforcement, and business technology. Can you break down what students experience in each of those areas?

SPEAKER_01 2:43

Okay. So when we talk about cybersecurity in this new modern world we live in, we understand that everything that we do in this world has something to do with some form of cyber. If you have a Apple, like Apple My Pay account, Apple account, and uh you check and someone's tried to break into your account and steal some money, that's a cyber attack. Every 19 seconds here in America, there's someone who has experienced a cyber attack. Um if you think about the just going drive just traveling along the highways, those lights are controlled by some type of cyber. Um, me being a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army Reserves and having been privy to some conversations, people think that our next major war will be something, some version of cyber war. And so being able to protect our homeland, be able to protect our everyday way of life from this is vitally important to ensure to ensure that like we have a the America that we know. Uh the law enforcement piece all comes wraps into cyber because once we identify the attack, we have to have ways in which we can go about and bring them to justice. So that's how the law enforcement piece uh takes into place. And the business technology piece, well, once again, cyber, it's attacking all business aspects all over the world. Uh, right here in Montgomery, if you go down the interstate, probably another four or five miles, there's about to be a big data center uh built right here in Montgomery. Um one of the things that they're going to have to have are people who can help protect their data center from cyber attacks. How this business technology world, how this cyber pathway, how law enforcement, it all ties together to create a country that we can both live in and be proud of and be happy uh with our everyday way of life. So these pathways are what we're going to allow our kids to get better at. So one of the things that we've done was we have gone to visit the Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering in Huntsville. They're one of the it's the only other school in the state of Alabama that is teaching cyber. And so what makes it so unique, um, because one of the questions that I asked the president while I was up there is why is it that kids from here are getting jobs so quickly coming out of high school? He said, Because talking to CEOs, the people who just go to college to get cyber intelligence or law enforcement or business technology, they have the technical aspect, they have the uh application of it. So they know the theory behind it. He said, our kids get hands-on experience, they learn how to do these jobs in-house each and every day, which makes them more marketable in the market in the workplace.

SPEAKER_00 5:36

And it's they're college and career ready once they leave high school. And so is that one of the things that sets the Cyber Intelligence Academy apart?

SPEAKER_01 5:46

Absolutely. So once they leave high school, um there are they have to take three consecutive years. Once they take the three consecutive years, they have an opportunity to come out of uh with a career tech pathway in one of these different fields, which makes them eligible for jobs anywhere in the nation. So that's one of the important parts about this this program is that it literally allows them to step out of the school on May 22nd, whenever they graduate, and be eligible to go get a job in a in the today's work world. These job paths often have a salary somewhere between $100,000 and $55,000 a year. I think most kids can start a career with that coming fresh out of high school.

SPEAKER_00 6:29

The biggest thing that you mentioned was having those three consecutive years. And so that explains why it's so important that we are looking just at the ninth and tenth graders starting out because they have to have those three consecutive years to uh essentially get that college and career ready certificate, right?

SPEAKER_01 6:50

That's correct. So, in order for um the students to be able to graduate um high school, CIA Magnet Academy High School, and have these certificates, they have to have three consecutive years being in the program. So that's why we're essentially starting a program with rising ninth graders and tenth graders to allow them to come in on the ground floor and help build this program in order for them to be successful. So the one unique thing I love about, it was a couple unique things I love about this program, but I really love the fact that it's only ninth and tenth graders. And so if anybody knows me and knows my leadership uh ability, I don't like to be the person who makes all the rules. I want the rules to apply to the people who they govern. So I think having these ninth and tenth graders will allow us to work together to create how we want our culture and climate to be at the school. And they can ultimately ultimately determine how this school will look for the future. And my vision is that they put a plan together so well for ninth and tenth graders that it carry on to 11th and 12th graders that it's ultimately the plan that every high school in the city wants to mimic in order to get that culture and climate going in the right direction. So we've got to have ninth and tenth graders to begin this program, uh, to get this program moving in the right direction. Um, we we've done a great job of marketing this program, finding business uh partners that want to be a part of it, finding schools that really want to be a part of it and help us grow in this newfound field that everybody's trying to get into.

SPEAKER_00 8:28

And, you know, our students who are currently in middle school right now, while it's a little bit too early to begin that application process, if they're rising seventh and eighth graders, they can still consider that as they go into their next grades and uh of course let that be their motivation to be able to qualify for such a program like this.

SPEAKER_01 8:48

Absolutely. So one of the things coming from middle school, um, I know how vitally important it is to begin to give students direction. So I I'm definitely, I definitely want parents, I want students to start recognizing what it's going to take to get into the new CIA Magnet Academy. And even as a sixth or seventh grader, really begin to take ownership of their technology classes, really begin to ensure that their academics is up to standard. Um, in order to be to apply for this magnet school program, you have to have a 2.75 GPA. And so kids realizing that the program is here and now all of a sudden, like, oh yeah, I want to get there. You have to do the prerequisites that it's going to take for you to be able to apply to the to the program. So that's one thing that I'm going to encourage parents. I'm going to encourage students. I'm going to encourage middle school uh teachers, especially tech teachers, to really explain to the kids this newfound opportunity here in MPS and really try to keep them on task to build that two to at least that 2.75 GPA so they can get into the program. Um getting into the program is 2.75, to maintain is 2.5. Like I can guarantee you it won't be easy because it is about rigor. It's about not only preparing you for the work world, but if you decide that you do want to go to college or you do want to get a career in something other than these three uh pathways, that you have the GPA, the HTT score to get into any school in the nation. So that's our that's our main focus, and that's what we want to do to give our kids two avenues to be successful after high school.

SPEAKER_00 10:23

That sounds exciting. And so you have several informational sessions coming up. What can parents expect if uh to learn if they're wanting to attend these informational sessions?

SPEAKER_01 10:36

Yeah, so I I would love for parents, students, uh future students, community partners, anybody who really want to know like what is this CIA really about? Like I want them to come and just just just listen to the presentation that we have and ask some questions that they probably have in their mind, but they haven't been able to ask. So our first informational will be tomorrow night, actually at 5:30 at Park Carson High School in the gymnasium. Um we will have um we will have some, we're supposed to have some giveaways. We're also going to have a PowerPoint presentation and we're gonna have a question and answer session. So some of the questions that I've been getting from parents is that if if if my kid is eligible to go, how are they gonna get there? Well, MPS has already provided transportation for everyone inside of the city. So there is a transportation plan being worked as we speak for all students all across the city. And I don't think I've mentioned this, but another unique unique thing about this program is that it allows for kids in the tri-county areas to also join. Remember, I told you Dr. Bird had a vision to ensure that all our kids, whether they're in Montgomery or outside of Montgomery, had an opportunity to succeed and experience success in different programs. Well, he's opened it up to all students in the Tri-County area to come and to be a part of it. And so, parents, if you're in the Tri-County area, if you're in Witumka, Prattville, Tuskegee, any of those towns, and you want to hear a little bit more about this program, come to Park Crossing tomorrow night at 5:30 in the gym, and we'll have a PowerPoint presentation, kind of explaining you some things and answer some questions that you might already have in your head. And if some pop up, you'll be able to answer as well. Also, the following week, we will have another parent informational session on June 3rd. That will be that Wednesday, and we will follow that up with a virtual parent meeting on June 11th. We're trying to get all of these forums and all these parent informational meetings done prior to the close of our application deadline, which is June 15th. So we are really working hot and heavy on trying to make sure that everybody has an opportunity to at least know that the program exists. If they desire to um apply for the program, we want to have and have it open, uh, give them plenty enough time to apply for the program to see if they get in and to see what's the next steps forward.

SPEAKER_00 12:58

And I know there are some people who are still riding the fence. There's some families who may be a little bit unsure. What would you say to encourage them to at least explore the opportunity?

SPEAKER_01 13:09

I would definitely tell parents if they're kind of shaky about what they want to do with their kids' future, think about the world we live in and at least, at least apply. So that once you apply, your gift still gives you time to really analyze if you really like this themed academy or if you want to go a different route. So what people, I don't think a lot of people understand here in MPS, in order for you to graduate high school, you not only have to have your credit hours, but you also have to have a career tech pathway that you have completed. You have to be considered a completer. Yes, there are different ways for you to become a completer, but one of the ways for you to become a completer is to get into that theme academy and have those three consecutive years. Well, if you've got to have those three consecutive years of a theme to themed academy, why not do one that when that student graduates, there's no more education needed. He can go out right then and get a career starting job that can help facilitate any academic learning that they want to go from that point on. And that's why I really love this program because there's not a follow-up class that's needed after you graduate. You're literally gonna be able to graduate from this class from this school and go out into the work world and find employment. What I know is that a couple things are gonna happen is that people are gonna come in our program and try to recruit our kids. Um, the way our program is designed, it's on a block schedule, which means first semester they'll take four classes, which will be a whole year. And the second semester, they will take four classes that will be a whole year. So the way we're planning our curriculum to go, by the time they get to January of their senior year, they are done with their credit hours. So we want that second semester of their senior year to be solely dedicated to dual enrollment or internship. So that's how we're planning for this program to go to really give our kids uh a step up above a lot of other programs in this in the state, you know, trying to help our kids be successful.

SPEAKER_00 15:09

Absolutely. Well, thank you so much, Mr. Adams, for joining us on this episode of Stronger Together, the MPS podcast. And if you're interested in learning more about the Cyber Intelligence Magnet Academy, please be sure to attend one of the upcoming informational sessions on May 28th and June 3rd at the Park Crossing High School Gymnasium. And both of those sessions start at 5:30. And then if you can't make any of those sessions in person, there will be a virtual session on June 11th. We'll send out that link two days in advance. And you can access more information under on our website under the tab a new chapter. And don't wait to apply. Your tomorrow starts now. Thanks for joining us for Stronger Together, the MPS podcast. Our schools, our communities, our future in conversation. If you enjoyed today's episode, be sure to share it with a friend, follow us on social media, and check out our website at mps.k12.al.us. Together, we can keep building brighter futures for every student at Montgomery Public Schools. Until next time, remember, we are stronger together.