Wise County Career-Technical Center

🚨 Big things are happening in the Information Technology Pathway at WCCTC — all thanks to the incredible leadership of Mrs. Ashley Lawson. Let's brag on Mrs. Lawson! It is an incredible testament to the rigor and quality of her instruction at WCCTC that her students are not just passing courses, but demonstrating a level of mastery that allows them to bypass introductory collegiate requirements at local educational institutions. By blending cybersecurity fundamentals with industrial manufacturing, she is preparing students for a high-demand career path in Cybersecurity for Southwest Virginia.

Innovation in the Classroom
The "Vulnerable" Lab: Using the Virginia Cyber Range and cyber.org, Mrs. Lawson has created a safe "bubble" where students use Kali Linux to ethically attack Windows 7 OS machines, which are the most vulnerable. The ability for the instructor to "reset" the range allows students to identify and exploit vulnerabilities, ethically and safely. The environment can be used for network scans, web application vulnerability exploitation, basic penetration testing, as well as a plethora of built-in exercises.

Safe Competition: Students can launch "Range Attacks" against one another without risking external networks.
Fearless Learning: Students are encouraged to experiment; if a system crashes or is compromised beyond repair, the instructor can instantly reset the machine to its original state.

PLC & Industrial Robotics: Moving beyond just computers, the program explores Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs). This is where Cybersecurity meets Manufacturing (OT - Operational Technology). Students see how code affects physical objects—like the robotic database model, where a developer's logic determines which object is loaded to a predetermined destination.

Microbit "Cyber Attacks": Students aren't just building robots; they are learning to overtake them. Using Python, students simulate cyber attacks on robots to understand how to defend critical manufacturing infrastructure. This Microbit activity serves as a powerful "proof of concept" for industrial security. By using Python to intercept or override commands, students move beyond theoretical hacking and see the immediate physical consequences of a breach.

Academic Pathway & Credits
Transfer Partners: Since these are weighted DE (Dual-Enrollment) credits toward an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) at MECC, they typically transfer seamlessly to:
UVA-Wise (Software Engineering/Cyber focus)
Radford University (Strong Cybersecurity program)
ETSU (Computing/Digital Media)

Cost/Credits: At MECC, the cost per credit hour for in-state students is roughly $160–$170. Completing 35 credits via DE can save a student over $5,500 before even stepping onto a college campus.

Certifications & Skill Sets
The curriculum aligns with entry-level roles (cyber analyst, or business analyst) by stacking industry-recognized certifications with programming languages.

Industry Certification: Microsoft Certified Fundamentals - Microsoft SC-900 (Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals).

Building the Pipeline
Lego Robotics provides support for middle schoolers, ensuring the next generation of technicians is ready for WCCTC courses, and post-secondary opportunities at MECC, UVA Wise, Radford, and ETSU. Also, in our school division, St. Paul Elementary teaches an Information Technology (IT) Fundamentals course.

Growing Our Own
Eli Hopkins, a current Information Technology Technician is employed with Wise County Public Schools and is a product of Mrs. Lawson’s programming at WCCTC. Students who excel in Mrs. Lawson’s course may qualify for entry-level positions that include cyber analyst, or business analyst.

Why It Matters
By connecting Microsoft Security Fundamentals with the shipping and manufacturing logic used by companies like Amazon, Mrs. Lawson is turning "Cyber Fundamentals" into a high-demand career path for students in Southwest Virginia.

By navigating to https://www.cyberseek.org/heatmap.html, students and parents are able to explore the interactive heat map to view a snapshot of demand and supply data for cybersecurity jobs at the state and national levels.

The students and families of Wise County Public Schools are very fortunate to have knowledgeable instructors like Mrs. Lawson, who are equipping our students with skills for high demand job opportunities in Southwest Virginia!

Wise County Public Schools Achieve Full Accreditation and Statewide Recognition

We are honored to share that every school within the Wise County Public School division has earned full Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) accreditation, reflecting strong academic performance across the division, region, and state with 7 of 11 schools achieving “Distinguished” status, and 4 of 11 schools earning an “On Track” rating. Congratulations to students, staff, and administration on this amazing accomplishment!

Press Release: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1x4bunzJIflmvX16fF3EdPXN3RM6ao6_w/view?usp=sharing

🍎✨ Happy Substitute Educators Day! ✨🍎

Today, Wise County Public Schools proudly celebrates our incredible substitute educators — those who step in with flexibility, care, and commitment whenever they’re needed most. Our substitutes provide stability and guidance, keeping learning moving forward for every student, every day.

Thank you for your dedication, adaptability, and the positive impact you make across all our schools. You truly help light the way for student success in Wise County!

Thanksgiving Break Closure Notice:

Please be advised that all schools will be closed Monday, November 24 through Friday, November 28 in observance of the Thanksgiving Break. Regular classes and school operations will resume on Monday, December 1.

We wish our students, their families, and our faculty and staff a safe and joyful Thanksgiving holiday.

This week, November 17th-21st, Wise County Public Schools proudly celebrates American Education Week — a time to shine a light on the students, educators, staff, families, and community members who make our schools strong. Just like a lighthouse, our schools guide every learner toward success, illuminating the path with knowledge, compassion, and opportunity.

Join us in recognizing the dedication of our teachers, the hard work of our students, and the unwavering support of our community. Together, we’re lighting the way to a brighter future for Wise County! ✨

#AmericanEducationWeek #WiseCountyPublicSchools

EARLY DISMISSAL NOTIFICATION - FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14:
In observance of the mid-point of the second nine-weeks grading period, schools will dismiss early at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, November 14. Teachers are reminded that they are expected to participate in scheduled professional development activities until 3:30pm.

Wise County Public Schools releases 2025-2026 Altered Schedule Codes:

Wise County Public Schools will utilize the following codes when altered schedules are required. While traditional snow days will remain an option, the following codes may be announced.

School Closed - Traditional Snow Day - 12 Month Employees Report at 10:00 am and stay until 4:30 unless otherwise notified (No Virtual Learning)

Code 0 - Schools are closed and no employees report to work (No Virtual Learning)

Code 1 - Virtual Learning Day. Students will not report to school but all contracted employees report at 10:00 am. Virtual Learning will begin at 10:00 am for students. Virtual Learning Day Schedules will be shared by your child(ren)’s teachers. Teachers will be required to work from school.

Code 2 - 2 Hour Delay. All school activities begin 2 hours later than our regular schedule.

Code 3 - Virtual Learning Day. Students, teachers, and counselors will work from home. Instruction will begin at 10:00 am and will follow the Virtual Learning Day Schedule. Twelve month employees, 180 day contracted employees, 185 day contracted employees, and 200 day contracted employees will report to work at 10:00 am and stay until 4:30 unless otherwise notified.

*All altered schedule announcements will be made by 6:00 am.
*If a 2 Hour Delay is called, any change to that schedule will be announced by 8:00 am.