Walla Walla teacher Ben Vong outlines local roots and support for data-driven instruction

Ben Vong, a teacher at Sharpsteen Elementary School with Walla Walla Public Schools, told the board he has taught in the district for 14 years (15 including student teaching) and grew up attending local schools.

Vong said he was "born and raised in Walla Walla," named Prospect Point Elementary School, Garrison Middle School and Edison among his local schools, and described a family teaching legacy: his father taught in the district for about 40 years. He said several of his former teachers are now his colleagues.

Vong said he attended Whitman College as a scholar and later earned a master's degree at Walla Walla University, completing his student teaching at Sharpsteen before being hired there. "I was privileged enough to be set up for success and to actually be able to do that," he said.

He described longstanding involvement in the district's Professional Learning Community (PLC) work, saying he is "thrilled to be a part of the district's PLC Institute efforts." Vong credited collaborative teams, naming colleagues Kate Keys and Justin James, and described using spreadsheets and other data to track student growth so teachers can adjust instruction early. "Every kid can grow and learn," he said.

Vong also shared personal background, noting participation in music and athletics in middle and high school and hobbies including competitive board gaming and playing in a local band. He closed by restating his name and affiliation to the district.

The comments were presented as a personal introduction and professional statement of support for the district's PLC and data-driven practices; no formal motion or board action was recorded during this segment.