Can a farming town keep pace with the AI revolution?

In Quincy, Washington, the answer is yes. For more than a decade, this rural community in the heart of the Columbia Basin has been building something that many cities are still chasing: a real pathway into technology careers, one that starts in public schools and leads directly to opportunity.

In 2017, Quincy High School became one of the first in the state to partner with Microsoft's TEALS program. That partnership brought volunteer software engineers into the classroom to co-teach introductory computer science. Then teacher, Ross Kondo, worked side by side with those professionals during the first year. He learned the curriculum, absorbed their industry insight, and, most importantly, built the confidence to take the lead. The following year, he launched the course himself.

From there, the momentum grew. Quincy High added AP Computer Science and expanded the curriculum to include project management in technology. What started as a single course evolved into a meaningful career pathway for students. For his leadership and vision, Kondo was named a regional STEM Champion by the NCW Tech Alliance in 2023.

What makes Quincy's story stand out isn't just the addition of computer science classes. It is the way the entire district has approached technology education with purpose. In 2019, Quincy was selected as one of only three North Central Washington districts to participate in a SCRIPT strategic planning workshop and join the national CSforAll movement. Supported by Microsoft and led by the North Central Educational Services District, the workshop helped district leaders design a long-term plan to ensure that every student, not just the ones who opted in, would gain access to computer science and digital skills. That vision spanned elementary, middle, and high school, and it centered on inclusion as much as it did technical skills.

Quincy School District Superintendent, Dr. Nik Bergman emphasizes the intentionality at the start of developing the technology career pathways for all students to think beyond adding one or two classes, “We wanted to design clear, well-lit college and career pathways that would give every student, not just those already interested in tech, a chance to build the skills they'll need throughout their K-12 journey."

That strategic plan anchored the district to the shared vision during the challenges of the pandemic, providing structure and direction when schools were forced to shift and adapt. It also laid the groundwork for one of Quincy's most innovative programs: a Data Center Prep track that helps high school students earn industry certifications and college credits aligned to the needs of local employers. Developed in collaboration with Big Bend Community College, nonprofit partners like Computing for All, the Apple STEM Network, and industry leaders including Sabey Data Centers, the program opens doors to high-wage jobs right in the community. Many students now leave high school prepared to enter careers in Quincy's growing data center industry.

Behind the scenes, this progress has required strong coordination. District leaders have carefully balanced the need for employer alignment with the importance of supporting students' full development. These are high schoolers, not just future workers. Their academic, social, emotional, and cultural needs are considered as carefully as the credentials they earn. 

Bergman emphasizes this whole student approach, "Everything we do comes back to the kind of graduate we want to develop. It's not just about earning certifications or developing technical skills for a specific industry; it's also about helping students grow into creative, collaborative, forward-thinking, and kind individuals. All QSD career pathways are designed in collaboration with community and industry partners to support the whole student. When students leave Quincy, we want to ensure they are prepared to thrive, both professionally and personally, no matter which pathway they choose."

That balance has become part of Quincy's identity and even applied to the District as an employer. Today, Ross Kondo serves in a District role supporting broader CTE and tech pathways, and Chris Quintero, one of his former students, has just wrapped up his first year teaching the computer science courses he once took at the high school. Their story reflects the values Quincy has held all along: invest in people, build with intention, and grow from within.

Today, the district is once again stepping forward, this time into the world of artificial intelligence (AI). Bergman is once again leading at the forefront as the District approaches teaching “about AND with” AI. He's been asked to share how Quincy is preparing students to use AI responsibly and ensuring students not only understand how AI works, but are ready to use it in ways that reflect their values and aspirations.

Bergman says, "We are in the early stages of shifting our focus away from simply 'AI-proofing' assignments and assessments to designing opportunities for students to demonstrate authentic mastery of their learning through project and mastery-based assessments. This moment calls for a shift in how we think about learning. With AI, if we give copy-and-paste assignments, we will inevitably get copy-and-paste results. As educators, it's our responsibility to create the conditions for students to use AI safely and ethically. Most importantly, we must ensure they use it in ways that authentically enhance their learning and future success."

Throughout this technology adoption journey, Microsoft has remained a partner that the Quincy School District can count on. From classroom support to resourcing district-wide strategic planning, and now through AI literacy and innovation efforts, the relationship has spanned years and evolved to meet new challenges. What began as a single course to expand access to computer science has grown into a foundation for a rural community to rise to meet the growing expectations of youth in a changing world and Quincy's story is proof that with vision, commitment, and the right partners, even a small town can lead in the age of technology.