Teacher: La Rocca-Mitchell

District: Miami-Dade County

At Miami Lakes Educational Center, Monica La Rocca-Mitchell is shaping the next generation of cyber talent as the lead instructor for the Cisco Networking Academy within the IT Academy. She delivers advanced coursework for 10th–12th grade students in the CCNA program and AP Cybersecurity, equipping them to earn college credit and in-demand industry certifications, including CompTIA Security+ and Network+.

Drawing on 16 years of classroom experience, Ms. La Rocca-Mitchell prioritizes immersive, real-world learning through high-impact competitions such as Cyber Launch and CyberPatriot, where students sharpen their technical expertise while practicing ethical decision-making and teamwork. Her students consistently perform at high levels, earning top placements in district contests and advancing to state-level competitions.

Through an ongoing partnership with Cyber Florida, she is expanding access to rigorous, hands-on cybersecurity education and opening doors to future academic and career opportunities for her students.

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