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Centriq Training instructors aren’t just pros, they’re Champions of the classroom. Our instructors take the time to make sure each student not only understands the content being delivered but also helps create a fun and welcoming environment no matter the skill level of those in class. Though all our instructors are great at what they do, every year we recognize those who go above and beyond in and out of the classroom. Congratulations to our Trainer Champions for 2020!

2020 Coding Trainer Champion: Jenna Beckett

Jenna Beckett is our Coding Trainer Champion for 2020! Not only does Jenna put time in the classroom getting our Career Track students ready for a new career in IT, but she is also involved in the local IT community!

Here are some of the accomplishments Jenna achieved this past year: 

• Winner of KC Tech Council’s No Coast Tech Educator 2020 Award
• Developed the Centriq Training Full Stack Hack Hackathon – Developed the concept, process, technology, documentation, leadership, and support for two incredible hackathons that took place from Friday through Monday
• Student portfolio reviews
  • Reviewed and provided in-depth project feedback for every Full Stack Web Developer graduate that is job searching
  • Wrote a one-hour portfolio lab into each class as well as student checkpoints and percentage of project completed so students have constant feedback on their progression
• Created and presented a Freelancing Lunch & Learn to provide our IT Career Program students and grads with additional employment options
• Authored new curriculum for a dedicated IT Career Program for Veterans United – including a custom class on Angular.
• Positive/innovative attitude at all times, including providing virtual training on WebEx in one day’s notice
• Voluntarily conducts additional virtual office hours and evening mentoring for our students
• Created and enlisted help for an additional project outline to provide our developer grads (who graduated during the COVID-19 outbreak) to gain more experience
• Continues to attend, lead, and participate in community developer groups (Coder Dojo, KCWIT, SHEnovator, Rails Girls)
• Created agile methodology for curriculum updates
• Provided exceptional program overview and technical moderation at our first-ever Full Stack Advisory Board Meeting in January 2020
• Pervasive demonstration of Centriq’s Core Values

And here is what some of our students have to say:

• “Jenna was very good, she had a good knowledge of the subject matter. She was also good at keeping the classroom lighthearted and engaging.”
• “Jenna was very encouraging, thoughtful, and patient. Couldn’t ask for more in a teacher.”
• “Very knowledgeable and did a great job of answering questions and explaining items in new ways so everyone could understand.”

2020 IT Pro Trainer Champion: Caleb George

Caleb George is our IT Pro Trainer Champion for 2020! Caleb was a pivotal part in helping Centriq IT Pro instructors prepared to teach remotely as we entered the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Here are some of Caleb’s accomplishments from this past year:

• Rewrite of Systems & Security Administration curriculum to be taught in a hybrid environment
• Created instructor onboarding course in Canvas
• Voluntarily authored and presented a Personal Finance Lunch & Learn for our students
• Worked with CertMasterteam for CompTIA Network+ and Security+ 
• Onboarding of four new instructors
• Created video quick guides
• Created extra videos to assist instructors in teaching labs online
• Assisted with creation of new audition format and offered extensive assistance to auditioning candidates
• Prep of new contract instructors and went above and beyond as a resource to them
• Pervasive demonstration of Centriq’s Core Values

And here is what some of our students have to say:

• “Was very helpful and if there was truly an issue that we couldn’t figure out he would turn it into a learning opportunity.”
• “Patient, professional, and respectful. Encourages a person to push through insecurities.”
• “Caleb George has been very helpful this week helping through our project build and structure. Our first 2 days were virtual which was something of a new experience for our class, and Caleb was there to keep everyone on track and doing the right things. In the classroom he does a good job of keeping the overall project on track.”

2020 Corporate Trainer Champion: John Hardin

John Hardin joined our team late 2019 and is already making a name for himself as our Corporate Trainer Champion for 2020! 

Here are some of John’s accomplishments from this past year:

• Earned certifications in CompTIA A+ 1001 and 1002, Network+, Security+, ITIL® 4 Foundations, ITIL® Intermediate (ITIL® Service Operation, Service Design & Service Transition), CompTIA CTT+
• Successful first teaches: CompTIA Security+ Certification Bootcamp, ITIL® 4 Foundation, CompTIA Network +, CompTIA A+ (220-1001 and 220-1002 objectives), and our IT Career Program CompTIA training
• Instrumental in Systems & Security Administration Curriculum and CertMaster meetings and changes, and then using this knowledge to shape our Security+ bootcamp. Participated in CompTIA instructor roundtable for Security+.
• Great team player, resourceful, strong ability to build relationships with various team members
• Flexible and cooperative team member; always up for a challenge and faces it with grace and grit
• Takes great care and concern with his students’ ability to retain information, pass the exam, creates great rapport with students and encourages them to come back for more classes
• Continues Centriq Champion mindset and growth potential, team player, exemplary reviews and takes feedback well
• Pervasive demonstration of Centriq’s Core Values

And here’s what some of our students have to say:

• “Subject matter expert. He truly does care and is willing to go above and beyond any expectations. 15/10! I would take additional courses with this instructor and will recommend him to others.”
• “John was very effective as a trainer. He repeated a lot of content and gave many examples along the way. I really appreciated his cadence. He spoke clearly, answered all questions. “
• “Going into this week, I was nervous that the material was going to be dry and monotonous, but John made it entertaining, engaging, and relatable. He was very knowledgeable on the material and did a great job applying what we were learning to real-world experiences.  You can tell that he loves what he does and genuinely cares about the success of his students, which can be a rare quality in teachers.”
• “John provided many real world examples I found useful. I’m relatively new to IT and some of these concepts were things I’ve struggled with for a long time.  John helped solidify things for me.  Hardin was jovial, energetic, and presented the concepts very well. “

Congratulations to all our Trainers of the Year for 2020! Are you ready to take your next training course with one of our Champion Instructors? Contact us or fill out the form below and we can get you started!