Sentinel Soundbytes

Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering

Join us on Sentinel Soundbytes, the official podcast of the Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering (ASCTE). This series offers a deep dive into the unique experiences and opportunities available at ASCTE, a tuition-free magnet school focused on integrating cyber technology and engineering across all academic disciplines. From the school's inception to its current status as a leader in STEM education, each episode provides insights into various aspects of life at ASCTE.

  1. 12.11.2025

    Episode 12: Inside ACCEL: Inspiring Alabama’s Next Generation of Cyber & Engineering Leaders

    In this episode of Sentinel Soundbytes, we dive into ACCEL — Advancing Cyber Concepts & Engineering Learning, ASCTE’s statewide outreach initiative delivering hands-on cyber and engineering education to schools across Alabama and beyond. MaryClair Wright and Dr. Chris Brown — educators who transitioned from industry to the classroom — share how ACCEL is expanding access to high-quality STEM learning. From coding micro: bits and “teleporting ducks” to launching water rockets, ACCEL brings interactive engineering and cybersecurity experiences to middle-school students who may have never seen technology like this before. The goal? Spark curiosity, build confidence, and help every student realize:You belong in the world of cyber and engineering. We then welcome two ASCTE seniors and ACCEL interns, Phoebe and Micah, who share their first-hand experience traveling the state (and even to rural Alaska) to teach and inspire younger students. They discuss mentoring future innovators, having meaningful conversations about AI with middle-schoolers, and what it’s like to serve both as students and as part of the ASCTE team. From statewide impact to student leadership and global outreach, this episode highlights how ACCEL is shaping the next generation of cyber and engineering leaders — one school visit, one rocket launch, and yes, even one teleporting duck at a time.

    26 Min.
  2. 13.08.2025

    Episode 10: Teaching Cybersecurity and Ethics at ASCTE

    In this episode of Sentinel Soundbytes, we’re joined by two Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering faculty members who are shaping the next generation of leaders in tech: Beth Blair, Lead Counselor and Ethics Instructor, and Peter Speak, Cybersecurity Instructor. Beth shares her journey to ASCTE, starting before the school’s opening in 2020, and how her role has evolved to include developing and teaching the school’s ethics curriculum. She explains how she helps students—many just beginning high school—develop critical thinking, personal values, and the ability to navigate complex decisions in both life and technology. Peter reflects on his transition from industry into teaching, the advanced skills ASCTE students are learning at an early age, and the responsibility that comes with giving them “dark arts” cyber capabilities. He describes how ethics is woven into his cybersecurity classes, from analyzing real-world breaches to hands-on simulations of attacks and defenses. Together, they discuss the balance between technical skills and moral responsibility, how ASCTE prepares students for high-stakes environments, and why critical thinking and perspective-taking are as vital as technical expertise. If you’re interested in how future innovators are being trained to combine cutting-edge cyber skills with strong ethical foundations, this conversation offers a unique inside look at ASCTE’s approach.

    21 Min.

Info

Join us on Sentinel Soundbytes, the official podcast of the Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering (ASCTE). This series offers a deep dive into the unique experiences and opportunities available at ASCTE, a tuition-free magnet school focused on integrating cyber technology and engineering across all academic disciplines. From the school's inception to its current status as a leader in STEM education, each episode provides insights into various aspects of life at ASCTE.