Tech support in action: Mira Loma’s cybersecurity CTE class prepares students for real-world careers

Students enrolled in the cybersecurity Career Technical Education (CTE) pathway at Mira Loma High School are putting their skills to work by supporting their school through a hands-on tech support internship that mirrors the demands of real cybersecurity and IT careers.

Every Friday, students step into the role of a real technology support team for the internship part of the class, troubleshooting and repairing minor issues across campus.

Teacher Josh Stinson describes the internship portion as a consulting-style experience where students not only fix physical computer issues, but also work directly with teachers on technology-related projects and challenges.

Beyond the technical repairs, students quickly learn that communication plays a major role in their work. Scotty, a 12th grader, emphasized the importance of explaining the technical aspect throughout the support process.

“I’d say half of what we do is communication, and giving people knowledge behind their technology, like educating them on how to connect to something like a printer,” he said. 

Each week, students work through a ticketing-style system similar to what professionals use in the field. Stinson explained that teachers email him with tech support questions, and at the end of the week, some of the minor repairs are assigned to students, who then go out to assess and address the situation.

In class, students are taught to follow a four-step process: identifying the problem, identifying solutions, implementing the solutions and reflecting on the project afterward. Stinson said the process is intentionally designed to help students develop a mindset that will benefit them beyond the classroom.

“A lot of times, you can do everything right, and the problem still isn’t solved,” he said. “That doesn’t mean you did anything wrong, it just means now we have to figure out what else could we do.”

Learning to reflect and adapt, he added, is a skill students can apply far beyond computer science.

Artyom, a 12th-grade student, said the sense of community cultivated in the classroom has been one of the most rewarding parts.

“Everyone helps each other with any problems that come up. If you don’t know something, someone else will be able to explain it to you,” he said. 

To help foster that sense of connection, Stinson incorporates a Swedish practice called “fika” into his classroom. The tradition encourages students to take a break for coffee, tea and pastries, allowing them to socialize and connect with classmates before each new unit.

12th-grade student Adam said that the biggest thing he has taken away from this class is the understanding of solutions. 

“Knowing what to search for is way more important than knowing how to fix something right away,” Adam said. 

By the end of the internship, Stinson’s goal is for students to walk away with something deeper than technical skills.

“I want them to have an instinct of trust in themselves,” Stinson said. “If they learn how to be good at something they weren’t sure about, they can apply that process to anything.”

Through real-world responsibilities, collaboration and problem-solving, Mira Loma’s cybersecurity tech support internship is preparing students to be career-ready and confident for life beyond high school.