Success Stories

Camara Williams - Network Administrator

Classes Sometimes Teach You About Yourself…

Camara Williams began her career in computers with CTE courses in her junior and senior years of high school. “We studied computer information systems, and learned computers, peripherals, software…all the fundamentals. We would even do small troubleshooting jobs inside the school. “

During those years, Camara attended Norview High School for half a day, then spent the rest of the day at Norfolk Technical Center (NTC).

She continued her studies at NTC after high school, and pursued an externship with Norfolk Public Schools—an achievement that would prove to be a gateway to her current job.

“When I got my externship, I was interviewed by the department I currently work for (Network Services). Ten of us tried out, and three were picked; I started working here the spring after I graduated.”

Camara’s education certainly didn’t end when she entered the workplace full-time. “They’re always sending us to training for new operating systems, new servers…. They make sure we’re well-trained to keep up with industry standards.”

Asked about her current job, Camara replies, “I love everything about it. I love working in the school system. I love the atmosphere; the students are awesome. I particularly like being based in one school. You know what’s going on, and you have a better grasp of what you have to do the next day.”

Camara reflects that her Career and Technical Education study taught her about more than just computers. “ It brought out something in me: a talent for fixing things. Once that talent was discovered, I just moved forward. It helped me become the person I am.”

Josh Madagan - Web Application Developer

CTE Courses Helped this Student Turn an Interest into an Occupation

“Both of my older brothers were very interested in computers, “ recalls Josh Madagan, “I saw my brother doing his thing with his computer; that was really cool to me.”

Josh was able to pursue his interest through a whole series of IT-related CTE courses at Sherando High school. Through those courses, Josh says, “we learned about software development, a couple of different languages (Pascal and C++), CISCO, Web development, and multimedia development.”

Now working as a developer for an IT consulting firm, Josh says his high school studies “introduced me to problem-solving, especially in coding. Networking stuff, definitely. I’m doing a lot now that I learned then. There are basics and fundamentals of programming that are true for every language, and that’s where I learned them.”

Laura Daigle - Desktop Support Technician

A Co-op Becomes a Career

"Computers have always been interesting to me,” says Laura Daigle. “I’ve always picked up on the languages easily. My sister kind of prodded me in that direction--and once I was actually exposed to [the IT field], it was a given that’s what I would do."

Her formal computer training began with CTE classes at Kempsville High. "I took the business route, and started out with keyboarding,” Laura recalls. "They were basic computer classes, learning new operating systems…things like that."

During her junior and senior years, Laura served in a co-op with Virginia Beach Public Schools. "I worked 1:00 to 5:00 five days a week. I was hoping to be employed there after graduation, and luckily, a position opened up."

She became a Desktop Support Technician with the school system, and credits her CTE courses with giving her a solid start for her career.

"The courses I took [in high school] were the foundation for what I know now…they’ve been my foundation ever since."

Jimmel Martin - Information Technology Specialist

Network Connections

Computer networks: every sizeable office and organization has them. Fortunately, sharp people like Jimmel Martin are becoming experts on those networks to keep them operating properly.

“I always liked computers, and saw that there’s a lot you can do with them,” says Jimmel. “I was eager to learn more.” So he dove into computer and network classes at Norfolk Technical Center (NTC) during his junior and senior years.

“Once I heard you could get certifications at NTC, I jumped at the opportunity.” He pursued post-graduate studies at the Center to earn a key network certification. Other certifications followed, and Jimmel is now working on an AAS degree program at a local technical college, with the goal of earning a BS.

Jimmel has discovered that you can learn about more than cables with IT studies. “Logic made me think about things more logically—not just computers, but life in general.”

Nick Waddell - Network Engineer

Connecting CTE to a Career

As a high school senior, Nick Waddell took a Telenetworking class through a dual-enrollment program at Central Virginia Community College. Two weeks after completing that class, he was an employee at Tyco Electronics—and his employer soon had him back on the campus of CVCC in a work/study plan that eventually extended to the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Now a network engineer, Nick is still quick to point out the value of his high school dual-enrollment experience. “Being on campus helped you get into the college environment a little bit, it helped with time management...and then there was the actual course content itself: those telenetworking classes were the foundation of what I do every day now.”