BLOOMFIELD, Ind. (WTHI) – As demand for cybersecurity professionals continues to rise across the country, Indiana is taking the lead in training the next generation of digital defenders.
Project Lead The Way recently showcased a new high school curriculum at Bloomfield Middle and High School designed to tackle what officials call a national workforce crisis in cybersecurity. The program gives students direct exposure to tech careers while allowing them to earn dual college credits.
State leaders emphasized the urgency of bridging the skills gap early.
“We have a national crisis around cybersecurity workforce. Too few young people are getting exposed to these kinds of careers and gaining the skills necessary to go and be successful in these careers,” said David Dimmet, CEO of Project Lead The Way. “So it’s imperative that we help more young people see themselves in these kinds of careers.”
Indiana is the first state in the nation to implement this specific pathway, creating options for graduates across college, military, and workforce sectors.
“We have students that will be able to go straight into enrollment, employment, enlistment, studying cybersecurity, they can do a blend of all of those,” said Dr. Katie Jenner, Indiana Secretary of Education. “By Indiana preparing our students and maximizing their opportunities, it also raises the bar for other states and shows what’s possible.”
Bloomfield educators say the coursework is already shifting how students view their digital footprint and career options.
“They know that it’s important now and it’s easy to see that cybersecurity is gonna be a huge need in the future,” said Bloomfield Superintendent Scott Van Der Aa. “So when students identify, hey this is a career I could go into, or even if it’s not a career, it’s something that they’re gonna need in their home lives as well. It is relevant to every one of us to have levels of security.”
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