/Portals/2/logos/cropped-213dbc26-994b-468d-be36-c8fd21d3986f-viper logo wide.png en-us Copyright 2008 - All Rights Reserved. Thu, 23 May 2013 11:48:16 GMT 15 By Jose Fernandez/Managing Editor
Cisco, a leading brand in computer networking products is reaching out to women in the community and telling them they want them to join. Here in Varela Ms. Laroche, computer teacher, along with the Cisco academies are trying to recruit more girls so that they can even the number of women working in the computer industries. “We had an activity called Technology Tea in which girls were invited to see what the information field had to offer and how this was one of the few careers in which women were paid just as much as men,” said Mrs. Laroche. Besides Technology Tea, Ms. Laroche puts up posters, flyers, and tells teachers to speak to there students and see if they might be interested. There are approximately 20 percent of women in the information field and only 10 percent hold a high position. “Girls at a young age get bored by it [technology] and get the message that computers are for guys. Like videogames, they tend to be violent, more appealing to boys,” said Ms. Laroche. “Women, nation-wide make less than men to the point where a lot of working women are at the poverty level.” Ms. Laroche teaches two Cisco classes and two PC Support classes and has a total of 14 girls in all. The Cisco classes average in about 15 students and her PC support classes’ average in about 30 students. Litice Tasama-Mendez, a current PC Support student and a graduate of the Cisco course, is one of the 14 girls and doesn’t let the fact that the technology field is dominated by men stop her. “Women can do just as good as guys in this field,” said Litice. The course provided here at Varela prepares a student for the Cisco Certified Networks Associate (CCNA) test. With a certificate a person can earn an average of $45,000 a year without a college degree and after this can go for the Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) and earn even more and continue your study to earn more certificates. “If I pass the exam I want to continue and learn more in the field, this field makes good money” said Christina Gomez, 12th grader. ]]> Wed, 16 Feb 2005 16:21:00 GMT