Every Spirit Week, you can count on Kathy Quick.
From mismatched socks to ‘80s workout gear, she doesn’t just dress up—she shows up. No matter how wild the theme, she leans all the way in because she knows it brings her students joy. Over the years, Quick amassed an entire closet of costumes, which she now plans to donate to fellow teachers.
“[Hopefully they] keep the tradition going,” said Quick.
Her blend of commitment, creativity and just the right amount of quirk is exactly what Summit will miss as she wraps up her final year of teaching. She is the mother of computer science as she pioneered the program for all Bend-La Pine schools. After more than two decades at Summit and 30 years in education, she’s stepping into a well-earned retirement—though not because she is ready to slow down.
“I started teaching when I was 20,” said Quick. “I always said I’d do 30 [years] and go while I was still happy—while I still had time to really live.”
Her plans for what’s next are as open-minded and adventurous, much like herself.Quick plans to travel, spend time in Sisters and possibly freelance web design from a boat or a beach.
“I’m just excited to have space for whatever comes next,” said Quick.
Quick’s journey at Summit began in the school’s second year, when the paint was still fresh and traditions hadn’t yet taken root.
“Teachers and students had been pulled from other schools, and not everyone wanted to be here,” said Quick. “It took time to build something people believed in.”
Summit’s strong sense of community did not just happen overnight. It took time, communication and teamwork to build what we have today. When she first arrived, Quick dove right in. One of her earliest memories includes a team-building exercise where staff tossed around real dead fish, inspired by Seattle’s Pike Place Market. Her willingness to show up and embrace the moment laid the foundation for years to come, shaping the culture at Summit.
Originally hired to teach math, Quick found herself drawn to the collaborative, forward-thinking spirit of the department. It was that same openness that led her to take a chance on teaching computer science, launching a program that did not exist in the district at the time without any previous experience in tech.
What began as a curiosity became a full-fledged program that continues to shape Summit students’ futures.
“She built it from scratch. She was curious, motivated, and just dove in. Without her, it wouldn’t have happened. That kind of initiative is going to be hard to replace,” said Summit math teacher Heather Bussmann.
However, Quick’s greatest legacy isn’t just in her influence in the curriculum—it’s in her ability to create connections. She has had a lasting impact on many students. Her approachable, humble teaching style created space for curiosity and exploration.
“I learned so much from my students,” said Quick. “Especially in computer science, they’re often ahead of the curve. It kept me young, and it kept me open.”
Quick brought that same spirit of openness to her relationships with colleagues. Bussmann remembers meeting her before either of them even worked at Summit. At a district conference, bonding over a card game of Euchre Later, it was Quick who encouraged her to connect with teachers outside her department, a bit of advice that would shape Bussmann’s entire approach to teaching.
“She told me early on: go meet people in other departments,” said Bussmann. “And she lived that advice. She connected with everyone.”
Quick also never shied away from silliness if it meant building community.
“I can’t dance to save my life,” said Quick. “But I do it anyway during the teacher’s dance. That’s the whole point of Spirit Week, right? Show up, have fun, build community.”
Although Quick is packing up her classroom, her imprint is nearly everywhere—in every Spirit Week costume, every line of student-written code and every new tradition that continues to take root in the Summit community—Quick has left a lasting impact.
With her teaching career coming to an end, Quick has shared that what she will miss most is learning.
“In computer science especially, there’s always something new,” said Quick. “Even after teaching it for over a decade, it kept surprising me. I’ll miss that. I’ll miss the energy.”
Because in this house—our house—we don’t forget the ones who built it. And Quick? She didn’t just teach here. She helped make Summit feel like home.
