The TASSP Principal of the Year program celebrates remarkable leaders that provide high-quality instruction and demonstrate excellence in student and professional growth.
Porter High School Principal Cesar Condarco received the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals (TASSP) Region Principal of the Year award for Region 6. The TASSP Principal of the Year program celebrates remarkable leaders that provide high-quality instruction and demonstrate excellence in student and professional growth.
In mid-June, TASSP hosted their annual summer conference, where Mr. Condarco was named Region 6 Principal of the Year for the upcoming 2023-2024 school year. To win Principal of the Year, a principal must be nominated and complete the application process. A committee looks at the principal’s application, along with their involvement in TASSP, years of service, and accomplishments. During his time with TASSP, Mr. Condarco has served on the Board of Directors. In this role, he regularly works with other principals to solve problems and help both students and other school leaders in any way he can.
“Mr. Condarco is very dependable,” TASSP Region 6 Coordinator and A&M Consolidated High School Principal, Gwen Elder said. “I think he is well deserving because of his dependability and his desire to be a difference maker, and not only in the Porter area. He is always willing to help.”
Mr. Condarco became an educator because he wished to make an impact on students the same way that his coaches made an impact on him. Over the course of his career, he has worked in a variety of schools and districts, including Midlothian ISD, Conroe ISD, and an international school in Singapore before landing in New Caney ISD as the principal at Keefer Crossing Middle School and now Porter High School.
When asked about his time in New Caney ISD, Mr. Condarco explained that he knew he wanted to work here after his first tour of an NCISD campus.
“I toured the schools and just looked at what was involved [in New Caney ISD],” Condarco said. “I saw the population of kids and I felt like I could make an impact because we have a high population of Hispanic and economically-disadvantaged students, and that's the way I grew up. I knew that I could be a role model for our kids and I really enjoy our kids. I love our kids.”
Throughout his time at Porter High School, he has focused on creating a friendly environment where students and staff feel supported.
“He genuinely cares for the students and faculty, and he works hard to maintain a warm climate throughout the school,” PHS Media Specialist Holly Ogata said.
For Mr. Condarco, supporting his students and watching them achieve their goals is one of his favorite parts of his job.
“I love seeing our kids have success, especially those students that have never had success,” Condarco said. “That smile on their face when they stop by specifically to come and talk to me about those [achievements], shaking their hand at graduation, them telling me thank you for not giving up on them, that’s what makes our job worthwhile.”
This year will be Mr. Condarco’s fourth year as the Porter High School principal, and he will serve as the TASSP representative for Region 6. As the 2023-2024 Principal of the Year, Mr. Condarco will complete another application process for Principal of the Year for the entire state of Texas.
When asked about this accomplishment, Mr Condarco said “It's not just me that should be recognized, because I have a great team around me of principals, administrators, counselors, teachers and our students too. Our students help our school shine.”
