OCM BOCES · Camillus, New York

Richard Tokar

Computer Technology Teacher — cybersecurity, networking, hardware & software

I teach high school students how real computer systems are built, secured, and kept running. My courses are dual-enrollment through a SUNY partnership, so students leave with transferable college credit and the practical grounding to keep going. Before entering the classroom, I spent eight years in IT leadership for a 1,000-employee organization across ten locations, advancing from Network Administrator to IT Director.

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Portrait of Richard Tokar, Computer Technology teacher at OCM BOCES.

Current certifications: CompTIA CySA+, PenTest+, Security+All valid through 2028
Classroom since: August 2018Recognized by Cisco for eight years of instruction
Education: MBA, Management Information SystemsBinghamton University

Profile

Two careers, one subject

I came to teaching from inside the field. As Director of IT at ARISE, I was responsible for the infrastructure, strategy, and day-to-day execution that kept a thousand people working across ten sites. That experience is what I bring into the classroom — not just what a technology does, but what it costs when it fails and who depends on it.

Since 2018 I have taught Computer Technology at OCM BOCES, where high school students take dual-enrollment Information Technology coursework in cybersecurity, networking, and computer hardware and software. The partnership with SUNY means the work counts twice: as career and technical preparation, and as college credit that transfers.

I keep certifying alongside my students. My most recent credentials, in artificial intelligence, were issued in 2026. That commitment is the clearest evidence I can offer that this field rewards people who never stop being students — which is exactly what I am asking of the young people in my classroom.

Current role

What I teach

Dual-enrollment Information Technology instruction for high school students, delivered in partnership with SUNY so that coursework carries transferable college credit.

Computer Technology Teacher

OCM BOCES · Camillus, New York

Aug 2018 — Present

01 Computer Hardware & Software How machines are assembled, configured, maintained, and repaired — the physical and operating-system foundation everything else sits on.
02 Networking How devices find and talk to one another: addressing, routing, wireless, and the troubleshooting discipline that makes networks supportable.
03 Cybersecurity How systems are attacked and defended — access control, vulnerability assessment, and the professional ethics that have to come with them.

Dual enrollment SUNY partnership Transferable college credit Career & technical education

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Professional experience

Background

Computer Technology Teacher

OCM BOCES

Aug 2018 — Present

Instruct high school students in dual-enrollment Information Technology courses covering cybersecurity, networking, and computer hardware and software. Through a partnership with SUNY, the curriculum gives students both foundational technical knowledge and transferable college credits, preparing them for continued education and careers in the technology industry.

Cybersecurity Networking Hardware & software Dual enrollment

Director of Information Technology

ARISE

May 2010 — May 2018

Directed all IT infrastructure, strategy, and execution for an organization supporting 1,000 employees across ten locations.

1,000 employees 10 locations Infrastructure Strategy Execution

Digital credentials

Verified through Credly

Twenty-seven badges issued by CompTIA, Google, Cisco, IBM, Amazon Web Services Training and Certification, the Python Institute, and the JS Institute. Every credential below is independently verifiable on Credly.

CompTIA CySA+ ce — Cybersecurity Analyst Valid through 9 August 2028
CompTIA PenTest+ ce — Penetration Testing Valid through 28 August 2028
CompTIA Security+ ce Valid through 28 August 2028
Coursera Google AI Professional Certificate Issued 29 March 2026
Amazon Web Services AWS Academy Graduate — Cloud Foundations Issued 19 August 2021
Python Institute PCEP — Certified Entry-Level Python Programmer Issued 3 August 2023

View all digital credentials on Credly (opens in a new tab)

Skills & expertise

Where the depth is

Key technical and professional skills.

Cybersecurity

Network Security
Access Control
Risk Management
Vulnerability Assessment
Application Security
Cryptography
Penetration Testing
Threat Management
Incident Response

Networking & Systems

Computer Network Management
Routing Protocols
Linux
Cloud Infrastructure
System Administration
Virtualization
Operating Systems
Technical Support

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence
Machine Learning
Computer Vision
Natural Language Processing
Prompt Engineering
AI Ethics

Programming & Web

Python
SQL
Bash
HTML5 & Semantic HTML
CSS
Web Development
Programming Concepts

Teaching Practice

Teaching
Communication Skills
Discussion Facilitation
Giving Presentations
Problem Solving
Professional Development Programs

Education & licensure

Academic background

Binghamton University MBA — Management Information Systems
University at Albany Bachelor of Arts
New York State Education Department Computer Technology 7–12 teaching credential

Contact

Get in touch

Camillus, New York. I welcome conversations with school and district leaders, CTE and STEM organizations, and colleagues working at the intersection of education and technology.