Beaverton math teacher Kossi Komlassan woke up a Captain in the Michigan Army National Guard Thursday morning, but he went to bed that night with a new title.
Beaverton Jr./Sr. High School was the ceremonial site for Komlassan’s promotion to Major, and he was surrounded by his family, his commander and the entire sophomore class he instructs every day.
“Capt. Komlassan is an exceptional individual,” LTC Peter C. Mason told the assembled crowd before the promotion. “There are about a million people in the U.S. Army; he’s an officer, of which there are only about 275. Of that, only about 16 percent get to the rank of Major.”
After he reaffirmed his oath of office, Komlassan thanked his family and friends for their support and the community for welcoming him so warmly when he first moved to the area.
“From Day One when we came here, there’s never been a day when we haven’t felt loved,” Komlassan said. “For the school community, thank you for providing me - a young, inexperienced teacher - the resources that I needed to be successful.”
BJSHS Principal Renee Inscho presented a gift to Komlassan and a bouquet to his wife, Rebecca. After the ceremony, Inscho lauded Komlassan’s impact in the classroom.
“With his background in the military, Kossi shows students a different kind of teacher than they might be used to,” Inscho said. “He knows all about leadership, commitment and getting the job done well. He’s an excellent role model for our kids, and it’s a proud day for Beaverton Schools.”
