Dear Durango School District Families,
What a start to the school year! Over these first few weeks, our hallways, classrooms, and buses have been full of energy and excitement, and I want to start by simply saying thank you — for getting your students to school ready to learn, for partnering with our teachers and staff, and for trusting us with what matters most to you.
I also want to share something worth celebrating: our students' proficiency on CMAS and the PSAT/SAT continues to climb, and as a district, only 14 of Colorado's 178 districts scored higher than we did in math and reading across grades 3-11. Out of 178 districts across our entire state, our students are in the top group.
That achievement belongs to all of us. It happens because our teachers plan powerful, engaging lessons. It happens because our support staff and leaders create safe, well-run schools where learning can thrive. It happens because our community partners with us. And most of all, it happens because of you — the conversations you have at home, the encouragement you give, and the partnership you bring — and because of your students, who show up every day ready to grow. Thank you for being such an essential part of this success.
We're also proud of how our schools work to make learning meaningful and relevant for your children — connecting what they learn to real life, to careers, and to who they're becoming — and we're committed to keeping communication with you clear and consistent all year long.
Experiences to look forward to this year
- The Ignite Mobile Learning Lab will be visiting schools throughout the year, bringing hands-on, high-engagement learning right to your student's classroom.
- Our SOIL Outdoor Learning Lab offers powerful outdoor learning experiences that complement what students are learning in the classroom — ask your student's teacher about opportunities to visit.
- Students can engage in career-connected learning at the Impact Career Innovation Center, helping them see real-world connections to what they're studying.
- Through the Durango Education Foundation, our teachers can apply for grants that bring new ideas and resources directly into classroom instruction — support from our community makes this possible.
A more streamlined Portrait of a Graduate portfolio
Our Portrait of a Graduate framework helps students build skills like empathy, resilience, creative problem-solving, and confident communication alongside their academics. This year, each student's e-portfolio is more streamlined: students keep a single Google Slides deck where they document their growth all year and add real examples of their work. That same deck becomes their capstone presentation — a wonderful opportunity for you to see your student reflect on and share how far they've come.
We want to hear from you
We have a Parent/Guardian Advisory Council as well as a Student Advisory Council, and we would love for you or your student to be part of the conversation.
Here are the links to sign up:
A couple of other updates
- Our district housing complex for staff is nearly full, and we are pursuing the purchase of townhomes to expand that support — helping us attract and retain the great educators your children learn from every day.
- The Board of Education will discuss the possible Sunnyside Elementary consolidation decision at the next Board meeting on Sept. 22. We know this is a sensitive issue and impacts many families and children, and we will continue to keep our community informed as this process moves forward.
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for the trust you place in us. Everything we do is in service of one mission: helping every student find and live out their Ikigai — their reason for being. Your partnership makes that possible, and I am grateful to be on this journey with you and your family.
With gratitude,
Karen Cheser, EdD
Superintendent
Durango School District