Across the country, public education is changing. The old model – where every student marched through the same schedule, tests and expectations – is giving way to something far more personal and powerful: education designed around the learner.
Colorado is leading this shift, and Durango School District is ahead of the curve. Under the leadership of Superintendent Dr. Karen Cheser, our district has spent the past four years building an approach that meets each student where they are, while keeping expectations high.
That philosophy drives everything from kindergarten reading lessons to high school career pathways. It’s the antidote to the “one-size-fits-all” myth.
- Personalized pathways for every student: Colorado’s graduation guidelines already recognize that students show readiness in different ways – through college credits, capstone projects, industry certificates or work-based learning. Durango took that idea and ran with it. Today, students can choose from 14 Career and Technical Education programs at the Impact Career Innovation Center. Whether their passion is aviation, welding, health care, business, robotics or computer science, they graduate with real-world experience, credentials and often college credit. These aren’t detours from academics; they’re deeper applications of them.
- College courses before college: Statewide, concurrent enrollment participation is growing, saving Colorado families millions in tuition each year. At Durango High School, concurrent enrollment combined with credits earned from passing Advanced Placement tests saved our families more than $7 million in college costs. This proves that our small-town schools can offer big opportunities.
- Literacy grounded in science: As many states overhaul reading instruction, Durango has already trained all K-2 teachers in the evidence-based Science of Reading approach. The payoff is visible: Early literacy proficiency has climbed dramatically – kindergarten proficiency increased by 39% in just one year – and more students are mastering foundational skills that set them up for long-term success.
- Math momentum: Nationally, math achievement has been slow to rebound from pandemic disruptions. Yet DSD data show consistent growth – especially in middle school grades. Behind the test scores are dedicated teachers using high-impact tutoring, small-group instruction and real-world problem-solving lessons that make math meaningful again.
- Whole-child support: Education trends aren’t just about academics. Across the U.S., schools are investing in social-emotional learning and mental-health supports. Durango has expanded counseling, peer-mentoring and wellness programs so that students learn resilience and empathy alongside reading and algebra. In an era when youth anxiety is rising, that balance matters more than ever.
- Portrait of a Graduate: Perhaps the most visible change is the district’s Portrait of a Graduate, a community-created vision launched in 2022. It defines the competencies our students need to thrive: Confident Communicator, Empathetic Collaborator, Courageous Leader, Creative Problem-Solver, Agile Thinker and Resilient Risk-Taker. These traits are now embedded in classrooms, projects and performances, from kindergarten art shows to senior capstones. In other words, we’re not just preparing students to pass tests – we’re preparing them to contribute.
Critics often say public schools are slow to change. In Durango, we’re proving the opposite: Evolution is part of our mission. From robotics and outdoor learning to AI literacy lessons and sustainability projects, our educators are constantly adapting to the world students will inherit, not the one we grew up in.
Cheser’s tenure has emphasized courage, creativity and community partnership. Those principles have carried Durango through tough conversations and into a more collaborative future. State and national data show that students in districts emphasizing personalized pathways and career-connected learning are more engaged and more likely to graduate. That’s exactly what’s happening here.
Public education is not broken – it’s transforming. And DSD is proof that when innovation meets heart, every student can find their path.
Karla Sluis is the public information officer at Durango School District (DSD, formerly known as 9-R). She can be reached at ksluis@durangoschools.org.
