Quest Early College High School to be Renamed
Quest Early College High School will become Guy M. Sconzo Early College High School, beginning in the fall semester, to honor the legacy of the retired Superintendent.
Dr. Sconzo served as Humble ISD Superintendent from 2001 to 2016 and passed away from cancer on April 21, 2020. Humble ISD Trustees voted unanimously on the new name at the Dec. 8, 2020, School Board meeting.
“Dr. Sconzo was a champion of the Quest Early College High School and oversaw the program’s transition to an early college program in 2010,” Robert Sitton, School Board President, said. “Quest has grown to an enrollment of over 400 students, and is gaining a renovated campus, a permanent home once and for all, something he championed for years.”
“The building is due to be completed in 2021 and will be able to serve 600 students,” Mr. Sitton said. “Quest has helped hundreds of students from all backgrounds to earn associate’s degrees and college credit at no additional cost to the students, reducing barriers to higher education and setting these students in as strong a position as possible to be successful in college and beyond.”
Trustees noted Dr. Sconzo’s commitment to preserving and promoting Quest as a choice for students.
“Quest would not be here without Guy Sconzo,” School Board Trustee Keith Lapeze said. “It is very much appropriate to have his name on that school and on that building forever. I’m very proud to be part of this. I’m very glad that we are doing this.”
School Board Parliamentarian Lori Twomey agreed. The new name will be on “an amazing school that’s path was set into motion by Guy Sconzo,” Ms. Twomey said.
Dr. Sconzo devoted more than four decades of his life to education, serving students in New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma and Texas. His career included 26 years as a superintendent including his 15 years as Superintendent at Humble ISD. In Humble ISD, he led the district through a 60 percent student enrollment increase and the opening of 14 schools. Under Dr. Sconzo’s leadership, Humble ISD was named the Best Large District in Texas in the 2015 H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards. Since retiring from Humble ISD, Dr. Sconzo continued to serve Texas public schools as Executive Director of the Fast Growth School Coalition.
“I would hope that this would please Guy, the recognition, but he wasn’t one who ever sought recognition -- although it followed him because of all the great things he did over his career, helping children as well as adults,” School Board Secretary Robert Scarfo said. “The standards he set. The integrity that he displayed each and every day. How he treated people, regardless of their position in the organization.”
It was an emotional vote for the School Board.
“I might cry,” Nancy Morrison, School Board Trustee, said. “I think it’s perfect. It suits him.”
“It’s an honor and a pleasure to be a part of this vote tonight,” School Board Vice President Martina Lemond Dixon said. “I’m humbled. Dr. Sconzo, I probably didn’t know him as well as some of the people on the Board, but I did know him, and he was very warm, always.”
School Board Trustee Brent Engagele expressed thanks to the Sconzo family for their support throughout Dr. Sconzo’s years of service as a public education leader.
“Diane, you’re a wonderful lady and Guy would not have done what he did without you. So even though we are going to have seven people vote here in a minute, really if this was ever a community vote, tonight would be the night,” Mr. Engelage said. “What a special night.”
It was noted that the timing for the honor is ideal because the building is being renovated and expanded to provide a unique, permanent home with capacity for more students and enhanced visibility.
Humble ISD Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Fagen said there will be “a prominent, new, beautiful building with Dr. Sconzo’s name for all of us to remember the huge impact he had, the Humble ISD Family that he created.”
She added “to have him right in the center, the heart of the district, in the City of Humble, on that campus, really is the right set of circumstances.”
In addition to being Superintendent, Dr. Sconzo was a community leader and devoted volunteer, serving on the Boards of the Flaming Arrow District of the Boy Scouts of America, Humble Area Assistance Ministries, Humble Intercontinental Rotary, Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce, Lake Houston Family YMCA, Lone Star College Chancellor’s Executive Advisory Council, Memorial Hermann Northeast Hospital, and University of Houston Impact Council. After Hurricane Harvey, he was asked to help lead Recover Lake Houston to repair and protect communities from flooding.
“Dr. Sconzo was nothing but supportive and kind and generous. He didn’t have to be, but that’s just who he was,” Dr. Fagen said.
