In education, we often talk about “future-ready skills” – but what does that look like?
Here in Durango School District 9-R, we’re seeing the future take shape in classrooms every day. Whether it’s a fourth grader using artificial intelligence to outline a story idea or a high schooler building a solar-powered phone charger, our students are exploring real-world problems with confidence. And they’re doing it through the lens of STEM – science, technology, engineering and math – which is at the heart of how we prepare young people for what’s ahead.
See STEM in action
April 22, 8-10 a.m., Bridging Rivers, Connecting Worlds event on Earth Day at Impact Career Innovation Center, 2410 Main Ave. on the Durango High School campus. Middle school students from Durango and India, who have spent months exchanging virtual lessons on river sustainability, will copresent their original public service announcements during a live Q&A panel featuring local and state scientists and conservationists from both Colorado and India.
April 24, 5-7 p.m. SOIL Outdoor Learning Lab Open Hours, Riverview Elementary School campus, 2900 Mesa Ave. See the new Grow Dome, with technical improvements that are a lesson-in-progress for engineering and math students at Durango High School. From 5:30-6:30 p.m., kids and adults can join a free workshop to learn about innovative composting techniques and get their hands dirty.
This isn’t happening by chance. It’s part of a clear vision embraced by our schools and recently recognized at the national level. On April 3, Durango School District Superintendent Karen Cheser was named the 2025 EmpowerED Digital Superintendent of the Year by the national School Superintendents Association and the Consortium for School Networking, a recognition for bold leadership in integrating technology and hands-on learning.
The need is real. According to the 2025 Driving K-12 Innovation report from CoSN, one of the top national challenges is preparing students for a workforce that’s evolving faster than ever. STEM jobs are projected to grow 10.4% by 2033 – more than twice the rate of all occupations – yet only 20% of U.S. high school graduates are ready for college-level STEM work.
Durango isn’t waiting to catch up. This year, students have explored AI tools in class, collaborated with peers in India to create public service announcements about river health and participated in career pathways programs at the Impact Career Innovation Center. On April 5, students of all ages presented their bold ideas for solving global challenges at the “A Vision for the Future” STEM Exhibition” – from climate change to community wellness.
Innovation isn’t about flashy gadgets. It’s about giving students real voice and purpose. The CoSN report highlights “learner agency” as a top national accelerator, and that’s something we’re proud to champion in Durango. From student-led engineering at the new SOIL Grow Dome to student-designed projects at Big Picture High School, our kids are in the driver’s seat of their learning.
Cheser’s recognition reflects the direction our district is headed: forward. It also speaks to a community-wide belief that public schools must be more than places to memorize facts. They must be places where kids learn to solve problems, think critically and use technology with both skill and purpose.
Durango may be a small district, but the work happening here is huge. It reflects a deep commitment to helping every student thrive in a complex and connected world – not someday, but now. Our future depends on it.
Karla Sluis is the public information officer at Durango School District 9-R. She can be reached at ksluis@durangoschools.org.
