Brittany Mazzaferro

My professional journey began with a psychology degree, but I found my true calling when I earned my bachelor's degree in cybersecurity and computer forensics. This led me to become New York State's first cybersecurity CTE teacher, where I spent about two and a half years creating and getting certified what became New York State's first cybersecurity program. I taught cybersecurity for 8 years before moving to BOCES as their educational technology leader for a year, which was essentially an IT director role with the same exact tasks and responsibilities. The district where I created the cyber program called me back to fill a new position as their work-based learning coordinator because they wanted original CTE people who knew it very well. From there, they asked me to come to their new STEAM high school (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math), where I currently serve as the work-based learning coordinator. In this role, I connect CTE programs with collaborators, help teachers get certified, and help manage and guide the CTE teachers while still being their equal. While doing this work, I started my own business called Sign Me Up Cyber, which grew out of my own experience after college when I learned that certifications can be more valuable than a college degree because employers know exactly what you learned. I had wasted money on expensive boot camps that didn't teach me anything, but then discovered TestOut online courses that prepare you for CompTIA certifications. I used these during COVID with my students and saw a huge rise in grades because we could do real simulated work. After I left teaching cyber, I noticed they were constantly looking for new teachers who wouldn't stay, which made me sad, so I created this business so anybody can still do these online courses with real cybersecurity, real IT, and real data work in a simulated environment. What makes my approach different is that I go live weekly, offer office hours weekly, and stay in contact with students who can text or call me. My goal is not only to teach the course, but when they complete it, I help them sign up for the certification exam and offer them a lifetime mentor until they get a job and get their foot in the door. I want to help people avoid what I went through - spending all that money and wasting all that time trying to figure out the proper route. For businesses, I offer customized cyber awareness training that I make interactive and fun, even gamifying it, rather than the videos people just mute and minimize. When I did this at NYCM Insurance, we saw a huge decrease in human errors because people were actually paying attention. For schools, I help set up CTE programs and create custom curriculum and material because I went through that whole process of creating the whole program. People were always reaching out to me for help with boot camps and programs, and with the explosion in CTE education, there was such a need that no one could fill, so by doing this hybrid business, I'm able to help everybody in different areas.