Durango School District

Durango School District Durango School District (DSD, formerly known as 9-R) is a high-performing, award-winning K-12 district in Southwest Colorado.

We focus on academic excellence, bold discovery, and future-ready learning. Ask about our Portrait of a Graduate! Our page is a space for constructive conversations related to our schools. We ask everyone to uphold the following guidelines to ensure this page remains respectful and focused:

FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS
Durango School District 9-R respects the First Amendment rights of all user

s. These guidelines are intended to allow constructive comments related to district matters while maintaining a safe and respectful environment. RESPECTFUL DIALOGUE
Comments must remain courteous and appropriate for all ages. Hate speech, personal attacks, obscene or vulgar language — including acronyms or abbreviations for swearing — threats of violence, advocating illegal activity, and discrimination based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or ethnicity will not be tolerated. STAY ON TOPIC
This page is not a platform for unrelated political commentary, personal agendas, or debates not tied to the subject matter of the post. All comments must be related to the subject matter of the post. PROPER CHANNELS FOR FEEDBACK
If you wish to address the Board of Education, please use appropriate methods such as:
* Public comment during Regular Meetings
* Emailing the board directly at [email protected]
The comment section is not a replacement for those official channels. NO COMMENTS ON BOARD MEETING POSTS
All comments will be disabled during Facebook livestreams of Board meetings or on posts about upcoming Board meetings. Please use the official channels listed above to share feedback or concerns with the Board. MANAGING HARMFUL DISCUSSIONS
Posts with comments that violate this policy such as hate speech, personal attacks, threats, or harassment, may be removed at the district’s discretion. PRIVACY MATTERS
Do not share personal or private information such as phone numbers or email addresses. Such content will be removed to protect privacy. ACCOUNT AUTHENTICITY
Comments must come from real, identifiable accounts. Accounts may be considered "fake or anonymous" if they:
* Lack a profile picture or use a generic placeholder image.
* Have minimal or no visible activity, friends, or interactions.
* Use clearly fictitious names (e.g., "John Doe123" or "Account User").
* Engage in repetitive posting or spam-like behavior. Accounts that appear fake or anonymous may be blocked after review. PROHIBITED CONTENT
Spam, commercial promotions, links to external sites, documents or materials written by others, or solicitations, will be removed. HOLD HARMLESS
All comments are the responsibility of the commenter. The District doesn't endorse the comments or opinions of visitors to the site. By posting, you agree to hold Durango School District 9-R harmless from any liability. Thank you for helping us keep this space a positive, respectful environment for all.

12/23/2025

🔥 It’s Trailblazing Tuesday! 🔥 Last week, Superintendent Dr. Karen Cheser represented Durango School District as a featured expert at the Four Corners AI Conference at Fort Lewis College, joining hundreds of educators, business leaders, and community members to explore how artificial intelligence can serve rural communities.

Her message centered on people, not just technology:

“AI is actually making our classrooms more human. And it’s providing access and opportunity to students who may not have had that before.”

From education to workforce readiness, the conference focused on practical, ethical ways AI can expand opportunity in the Four Corners region. We’re proud to see DSD leadership helping shape that conversation—thoughtfully, responsibly, and with students at the center.



12/22/2025

👋 It's Meet Us Monday! 👋 Who is the Chaos Coordinator of Escalante Middle School? Why, it's the one and only Tami Jantz. Ask her about the movie "Avalanche"!

Our schools' front desk staff are the friendly faces that somehow know everyone’s name, schedule, and snack preferences. They juggle ringing phones, unexpected visitors, lost lunches, and nervous parents — often all at once — and still manage to smile. If schools had air traffic control towers, the front desk would be it. We truly couldn’t do school without them. 💝


12/20/2025

📣 What’s New in Our Schools?
Stay in the loop with the latest updates, stories, and happenings in Durango School District!

📅 Check out this week’s Community Update (Dec. 19): https://ow.ly/Yp0O50XMN93

💌 Delivered fresh to your inbox every Friday evening!

👉 Don’t miss out—subscribe today: https://ow.ly/P9Cv50XMN95

Let us keep you connected!

☃️ It's time to relax, connect, and celebrate. All DSD schools will be closed for Winter Break from Dec. 22 to Jan. 2. S...
12/19/2025

☃️ It's time to relax, connect, and celebrate. All DSD schools will be closed for Winter Break from Dec. 22 to Jan. 2. Schools will reopen on Monday, Jan. 5. We hope all our staff, students, and families have safe travels and joyful holidays.

🤗 It's Friday Feels! 🤗 As we head into Winter Break, our hearts are full.Across Durango School District, students have ...
12/19/2025

🤗 It's Friday Feels! 🤗 As we head into Winter Break, our hearts are full.

Across Durango School District, students have been putting learning into action through community drives that show what it truly means to be an Empathetic Collaborator — noticing needs, working together, and giving with care. These projects are powerful examples of project-based learning rooted in real-world impact and community connection.

🧸 At Animas Valley Elementary School, the PAC chose Toys for Tots as their community impact project. Together, families and students collected more than 125 toys to help brighten the holidays for children in our region.

🥫 At Florida Mesa Elementary School, Student Council leaders organized a food drive to support local families — gathering an incredible 891.7 pounds of food. To celebrate the teamwork, the top three classes earned a well-deserved hot chocolate party.

We are grateful to the families, staff, and students across our schools who gave generously, led with empathy, and showed up for one another.

Wishing our DSD community a peaceful, joyful Winter Break filled with warmth, kindness, and moments of connection. ✨


🕰️ It's Throwback Thursday! 🕰️ We are intrigued by the Picklement Players and their connection to Sesame Street. Do you...
12/18/2025

🕰️ It's Throwback Thursday! 🕰️ We are intrigued by the Picklement Players and their connection to Sesame Street. Do you know any of them? Guess the year of this Durango High School Toltec.

12/18/2025

👣 It's Wandering Wednesday! 👣 We peeked into Leigh Gillette’s chemistry classroom at Miller Middle School, where learning is hands-on and curiosity leads the way. 🧪 Students aren’t just reading about chemical reactions — they’re measuring, mixing, observing, and asking big questions as blue copper sulfate crystals spark real-time discoveries.

This is how our middle schools engage learners: through project-based experiences that build critical thinking, confidence, and a genuine love of learning.




🔥 It's Trailblazing Tuesday!🔥 Durango School District is leading the way toward a cleaner future! We’ve just been awarde...
12/16/2025

🔥 It's Trailblazing Tuesday!🔥 Durango School District is leading the way toward a cleaner future! We’ve just been awarded a major state grant to expand our electric school bus fleet with three new all-electric buses. This builds on our first electric bus launched in 2021 — the first vehicle-to-grid ebus in Colorado and a statewide pioneer in clean transportation. 🚍⚡🌱 Thank you, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment!

This investment supports healthier, quieter, and low-emission rides for our students across DSD’s 1,079 square-mile district and reflects our ongoing commitment to sustainability and responsible stewardship of community resources. Together, we’re reducing pollution, conserving energy, and protecting the air we all breathe — because a greener future starts with bold steps today. 🌎💚

Learn more in this story: https://ow.ly/Gz3z50XKiRk


12/15/2025

👋 It’s Meet Us Monday! 👋 Jessica Stumme is an Assistant Principal at Escalante Middle School. She loves to share about Crew, a unique part of the school’s Expeditionary Learning (EL) framework.

At Escalante, “We are Crew, not passengers” isn’t just a motto — it’s a way of learning and growing together. In Crew, every student and teacher works as a team, building strong relationships, supporting one another, and developing the skills and character to tackle big challenges. Crew helps students take ownership of their learning, think deeply, and contribute with courage, kindness, and respect — because we learn best when we’re all in it together. 



12/13/2025

Want the inside scoop on local schools, projects, and programs that lift our whole community? Sign up for Durango School District's Community Update weekly email newsletter: https://ow.ly/wpvA50XIIaB

Read the Dec. 12 Community Update here: https://ow.ly/riuw50XII7n

12/12/2025

🤗 It's Friday Feels! 🤗 Durango Big Picture High School staff took a very special walk this week — exploring their future new school at 281 Sawyer Drive! The top floor above the District Administration Office is still a construction zone, but the excitement was real as staff imagined all the possibilities in their much larger space.

💰After three years in a tight Tech Center building, this move means… no more leasing. The renovation helps the district fully exit leased facilities, a key goal supported by the 2024 bond.

🚶‍♂️‍➡️The new Big Picture home expands from 7,817 sq ft to 10,384 sq ft — an increase of 2,567 sq ft. That means more room for programs, projects, and students.

🗓️ The renovation cost is estimated at about $2.4 million, primarily funded by the 2020 bond (with a small portion expected from the 2024 bond). Work is on track for a late-August 2026 opening.

🍲 What will students love? Bigger classrooms, flexible layouts, and even a small kitchen for warming and serving food — all designed to support the creative, hands-on learning that Big Picture is known for.

🎀 Construction should wrap up this spring, and we hope to host a community open house before school starts. Stay tuned for more updates!

Enjoy this first look as our Big Picture team explores their future home.

Looking for meaningful work that makes a difference? 👋Join us at the Durango School District Career Fair on Wednesday, J...
12/12/2025

Looking for meaningful work that makes a difference? 👋
Join us at the Durango School District Career Fair on Wednesday, Jan. 7, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

We’re hiring for a wide range of full- and part-time positions — from teachers and classroom support to bus drivers, maintenance, and more. Bonus: full benefits start at just 24 hours per week.

Come meet our team, learn about open roles, and see how you can make an impact with DSD.
📍 District Office | 281 Sawyer Drive, Durango

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Address

281 Sawyer Drive, Suite 100
Durango, CO
81303

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+19702475411

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