Growing our own IT employees

The Virginia University student Training and Refurbishing (VA STAR) plan began in 2010 at Forest Park Superior School in collaboration with a state initiative with the objective of introducing pupils to the field of pc repair service. The program has grown swiftly in excess of the several years and is now in 92 universities spanning 56 university districts in the course of the Commonwealth of Virginia.  PWCS boasts 18 schools in the program ranging from elementary to superior university. 

The program teaches students to maintenance and refurbish laptop or computers, which are in flip specified to universities or family members in need. Mike Wiczalkowski, Virginia administrative state coordinator for VA STAR, credits the system with giving pupils the opportunity to earn details technological innovation industry certifications such as A+ and Cisco, when furnishing hands-on, authentic-globe experience. 

The VA STAR program assists prepare college students for the future step in their job and in PWCS, supplying them the one of a kind opportunity to secure a job back in the schools they as soon as attended. In fact, 6 recent Forest Park High graduates who participated in the program have been hired as technological know-how support specialists (TSSPECs) in PWCS this calendar year. Their tough operate and substantial content knowledge are invaluable assets to PWCS. 

“By using the services of students who have occur by means of the Virginia STAR method we are ready to build an superb pipeline of our individual learners who graduated significant school and can go straight into gratifying profession paths without acquiring to go to college,” shared Matt Guilfoyle, PWCS’ main data officer. This will allow the Place of work of the Main Details Officer to provide “support to just about every university student and teacher to make sure that they have the technology they require to be profitable in the classroom and at dwelling.”