Wayne Valley High School Wins $63K Grant For Cybersecurity Education

WAYNE, NJ — Wayne Valley High School has been selected to receive a Computer Science grant from the New Jersey Department of Education, supporting the creation of a cybersecurity program. The initial grant award was $41,500, with an additional $22,216 offered due to the strength of the school's application, bringing the total to $63,716.

This funding will enable the school to enhance educational experiences for students and acquire new computer equipment. The grant also covers professional development for staff, expenses for the Cyber Patriot competition, and plans for a summer camp focused on cybersecurity.

Principal Jennifer Grimbilas said the grant will allow the program to create better educational and embedded experiences for students. She added that it will afford new computer equipment to explore career avenues such as cybersecurity.

Dr. Kimberly Moreno, vice principal and author of the grant, said securing this grant is a monumental milestone for the school community. She added that the program offers a transformative opportunity for students to bridge the gap between classroom learning and the digital workforce, equipping them with high-demand technical skills and industry certifications.

“We've always taken pride in developing first-class STEM pathways for our students. This is an incredible opportunity to help us meet society’s growing demand for cybersecurity professionals," said Patrick Slater, the lead teacher on the project. "But, perhaps more importantly, this course is going to help prepare our students to safeguard their digital lives regardless of which fields they choose to pursue."

Planning activities have begun, and orders for new technology purchases are underway. The school intends to offer the summer camp this summer and introduce competitions and a new course in September. Superintendent David Cittadino said he is incredibly proud of Wayne Valley High School for receiving the grant, noting it reflects the district’s commitment to forward-thinking instruction and real-world learning opportunities.

This article includes AI-assisted reporting. Editors reviewed all content for accuracy.