Ross Kondo Presented Visionary Award

On July 11th the North Central Career Connect Washington Network presented the 2022 Visionary Award to Ross Kondo, teacher at Quincy High School. Four years ago Mr. Kondo brought the first Computer Science (CS) TEALS course to the region. In the years that followed, he expanded the student path to include an AP CS course, which established a CS-specific graduation pathway option for high school students in Quincy. Two years ago, Mr. Kondo added a third TEALS course, Project Management in Technology, in response to student requests.

Last fall, Mr. Kondo was approached to help build the first Career Launch program for data centers in Quincy and he jumped in to help build a new program once again. With the support of Seattle-based nonprofit Computing for All, Big Bend Community College, and the Grant County Industrial Alliance, Mr. Kondo has been working for the last year to establish the courses, write the frameworks, and recruit the inaugural class for this very special program.

The Data Center Prep Program will allow students to complete their first year of a two-year certificate program while at Quincy High School. Students will then transfer to courses at Big Bend Community College and have the opportunity to complete a paid internship program with one of the Grant County-based data centers. This new program creates a way for local youth to earn a credential and become competitive candidates for in-demand Data Center Technician roles with excellent wages and benefits, just one year after high school graduation!

Bringing this kind of opportunity to students year after year is truly remarkable. Ross Kondo is truly a visionary with a heart for education and a willingness to partner with others to find ways to make dreams possible for youth in Quincy.

Quincy High School Career and Technical Education Director, Nicole Monroe has been working alongside Mr. Kondo for many years:

“Each school year, Ross Kondo has consistently been a teacher who strives to provide his students with the most up-to-date industry knowledge that he can provide. The learning for students has taken many forms. It may be through virtual or in-person guest speaking appearances by industry professionals, trips to industry locations where all students can shadow a professional for the day, pushing his students to present their work to the public for viewing and judging, and connecting his IT females with professional IT females so they can see someone like them doing what they love. I could go on and on. But the bottom line is that Ross is passionate about introducing all of his students to the possibilities of many different future career options. He will do whatever he needs to do to ensure that they “see” themselves in that career. Ross is their champion.”