Tulsa Public Schools Partners With TU For Cybersecurity Student Program

Tulsa Public Schools is working with the University of Tulsa so high school students can get college credit in a new cybersecurity program.

“I just think that it’s super important for the world that’s going digital we have like a lot of people that are getting more involved with the internet. The importance of cybersecurity is getting more important," said Michael Kelley.

Kelley is a junior at Rogers High School and is currently enrolled in the new program at TPS. He said he's learned a lot of new skills and even taught some things to his family.

“Passwords have definitely been re-written since I’ve taken this class," said Kelley.

There are 77 students enrolled in the cybersecurity program. The curriculum is taught jointly by a Rogers High School teacher and a professor from the University of Tulsa.

“I know that this is going to be able to expand even past Rogers High School so that our students here in Tulsa can really understand the technology and help us build that technology hub that a lot of people are working on here in Tulsa," said Timothy Crisp.

Crisp said while the students are learning cybersecurity skills, they are also earning college credit.

“If they meet certain qualifications at the end of the course, they receive college credit for the computer science principles class at the University of Tulsa, and next year’s cybersecurity basics course will also have that opportunity for our students," said Crisp.