MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake High School ag teacher Tony Kern said he nominated James Yonko for the FFA District 9 Administrator of the Year award because Yonko found ways to make things happen.

Yonko is a MLHS vice-principal and director of the district’s Career and Technical Education program. Kern said Yonko figured out how to fulfill some requests that had been stalled for a while.

There were machines in the woodshop and metal shop that needed updating, Kern said, and there were good intentions to replace them. But it was Yonko who figured out how to do it, he said.

“It’s always been, ‘yeah, we’ll see,’ as opposed to it becoming a priority,” Kern said. “James has taken it upon himself to look for funding, through grants, through other ways, to really identify needs.

“James is like, ‘OK, let’s figure out how to do this,’” Kern said.

A plaque recognizing the award and made by CTE students shows the result. It’s precision-cut from metal, made with the laser cutter purchased for the metal shop. Students designed and created it, Kern said.

Yonko said the upgrades were a team effort.

“The award is good, but it’s not mine. It’s an entire team,” he said. “I have a great secretary, I have support at the district level, I have teachers that have a passion and just want the best for their kids. It’s a team effort. It’s all of us working together to build that agriculture program.”

The ag program, and the district’s CTE program in general, is growing, Yonko said.

“I think that shows the enthusiasm from our staff,” he said. “The teachers, in a good way, are saying, ‘We need this equipment. Help us find this equipment.’”

The MLHS staff identified what was needed to give students skills that would help them in the job market, or as they pursued post-secondary education and training.

“That’s why we went out and got the grants, and tried to find funding sources, because these machines aren’t cheap. It’s the push from the staff, and that passion that the teachers have, saying, ‘hey, this is what our kids need.’ It’s definitely a team,” Yonko said.

Kern said Yonko’s commitment extends past the CTE department. If there’s a shortage of custodians, Yonko is out there emptying trash cans.

“That’s somebody that puts skin in the game,” Kern said. “Somebody looks and sees a need, and is willing to do what he needs to do. Whether that be going and finding money that hasn’t been found before, or using money that’s been allocated in a different way, or just being there to put in the effort.”

Yonko and his wife Beth have purchased livestock from MLHS students as well, supporting the students with their own money.

“It’s all the other little things. All the things that a person does, not to win an award, and it goes unnoticed by a lot of people, but it is noticed,” Kern said.

In turn, that support encourages the staff as the district’s CTE program grows.

“He’s putting in this effort, and it keeps you going, too,” Kern said.

The MLSD’s CTE program has expanded, and is still growing. The classes cover a variety of subjects, from the metal and wood shops to auto mechanics, culinary and cosmetology, welding and horticulture, among others.

“The gifted and talented kids that we have coming out of these programs – these kids are doing an awesome job,” Yonko said.

Students get hands-on experience and skills they can take anywhere, he said.

“This is practical, real-life experience, something they’re going to carry with them for a lifetime,” Yonko said. “If they go on to college, if they go back out and work at the family farm, wherever they’re headed, the skills they’re getting, they’ll keep them for life.”

A college education is not the only path to success, he said.

“College is great. But (youths) do not have to be at college to be successful in their careers,” he said. “Each student is different. And each student is going to take their own path to success and our job is to help them get on that path.”

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at [email protected].