The WCPS January 2026 Newsletter is now available for viewing.
You may access the newsletter by clicking the following link:
https://wisecova.edurooms.com/engage/wise-county-public-schools/newsletters/january-2026-newsletter
A message from our Food Services Department:
In anticipation of virtual learning days due to inclement weather, the Food Services Program will be sending home with students two days of meals, including 2 breakfasts and 2 lunches on Wednesday, January 14.
***This does not mean virtual learning is scheduled.
SCHOOL CALENDAR UPDATE: We’ve released an updated school calendar for the 2025-2026 school year. To view the updated calendar, click here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QSxFf9yV71tht4WoMmc7SZf8bL4LHTKv/view?usp=drive_link
Good evening students, families, faculty and staff:
Welcome back and Happy New Year! We hope the holiday break brought time for rest, reflection, and celebration. As we return refreshed and ready to learn, we look forward to a year filled with new opportunities, goals, and successes. Please be advised that school operations will resume tomorrow, Thursday, January 8th, with an early dismissal schedule for students, both, on Thursday, January 8th and Friday, January 9th at 12:30pm.
Thursday, Jan. 8th: Student Early Dismissal at 12:30pm
Friday, Jan. 9th: Student Early Dismissal at 12:30pm
Teachers are expected to participate in scheduled professional development activities until 3:30pm on both early release dates.
Wishing our students, their families, and our faculty and staff a joyful holiday season, and a restful break filled with peace and happiness!
🚨 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
