Durham Elementary School -

It is the time of year where we have some well-deserving employees receive awards as evidenced by this week’s Classified and Certificated Employee of the Year events sponsored by the Butte-Glenn County chapter of the Association of California School Administrators. Stacy Blake, Dana DelCarlo, Erica Montgomery, Jenna Juanarena, Emily Abshier, Carmina Vital, and Ed Hernandez earned the outstanding awards for the extra mile they all go in the name of supporting the students of Durham Unified. Even though these employees received the awards this year, they are symbolic of the efforts our staff makes every day

1) Why did you become a teacher? I became a teacher because I personally did not enjoy school, and always felt like an oddball. I wanted to make a change within my own classroom so that all students felt welcome, and that they all had the ability to learn no matter what stood in their way. 2) What are your hobbies and interests outside of work? I love to relax and hang out with my husband and our cats! I also enjoy playing video games, listening to audio books, and going for long walks in Target! 3) A fun fact about yourself or unique talent you possess, if any? I taught myself in 6th grade how to modify video games on the computer by changing the core codes! 4) Favorite book, movie, or music (pick only one to share) and why it is your favorite? I love any book by Colleen Hoover, her books are full of drama and suspense. 5) Favorite part about working at Durham Elementary School? My favorite part of working at DES is the school community and staff, especially my team! We truly feel like a family!

Tiger Spotlight of the Week: Rhiannon Benson, Kindergarten Teacher 1) Why did you become a teacher? I wanted to and still want to have an impact on children being lifelong learners by loving school! I want them to be so excited about coming to school that they forget they are learning! 2) What are your hobbies and interests outside of work? If I am not at one of my 3 children’s sporting events you could find me hiking, walking my dog, swimming, biking, or hanging with friends. Basically anything outdoors and even better if it is near water! 3) A fun fact about yourself or unique talent you possess, if any? I played hole set on the Chico State water polo team in college! 4) Favorite book, movie, or music (pick only one to share) and why is it your favorite? I love all things country! My boys have been raised listening to country music! It feeds my soul! If possible I love to see country concerts live like Megan Moroney and Kenny Chesney last summer! 5) Favorite part about working at Durham Elementary School? I love the connections in Durham. I love the connections I have developed with staff, the families I teach and my kids! It is a family and everyone always supports each other.

Tiger Spotlight of the Week: Gianna Noonan, Third Grade Teacher 1) Why did you become a teacher? I find so much meaning in helping to educate future generations. Kids have ways of viewing life that are inspiring, passionate, hopeful, and hilarious! 2) What are your hobbies and interests outside of work? I have far too many hobbies for the amount of time there is in a day! I love riding my horses, running, playing guitar, cooking and baking (to offset the running..) and spending time with my wonderful friends and family. 3) A fun fact about yourself or unique talent you possess, if any? I am very good at doing handstands! 4) Favorite book, movie, or music (pick only one to share) and why is it your favorite? Very unsurprisingly, I have to admit that I am a "Swifty" through and through! 5) Favorite part about working at Durham Elementary School? The staff at DES is unlike any that I have experienced. They are a supportive, helpful, encouraging and fun crew who I am so grateful to be able to rely on. The feeling of community is prevalent in every aspect of this school, and I am so lucky to be a part of it!

Durham Unified is excited to announce that we will be offering Summer School for students TK-11 this year. Parents, look out for the sign-up links coming your way via email on Monday, March 24th.

Tiger Spotlight of the Week: Holly Rowe, DES and DHS Office Clerk 1) What made you decide to work as a DES and DHS Office Clerk? I attended DUSD school from 1st-12th grade, and now all 3 of my boys are doing the same thing. I enjoy getting to know the staff and kids that my children spend most of the day with! 2) What are your hobbies and interests outside of work? I love to read! I also enjoy movies, fishing, hiking, and all of the activities that my boys participate in. 3) A fun fact about yourself or a unique talent you possess, if any? I have always been able to memorize song lyrics very easily. If it's a song from the 80's or 90's I can probably sing it. 4) Favorite book, movie, or music (pick only one to share) and why is it your favorite? I love the movie My Fair Lady! Everything from the costumes to the music just makes me happy! 5) Favorite part about working in Durham Elementary School and Durham High School? Truly my favorite part is all of the students. They are sweet, silly and funny everyday!

This is a reminder to all DES parents that tomorrow is Camo Day at DES. Let's show our school spirit. We can't wait to see all the creative outfits.

Tiger Spotlight of the Week: Dayna Gibbs, aka "Ms. Dayna," DUSD Food Services Manager 1) What made you decide to work in Food Services? I have worked in food service for all of my adult life. The rewarding experiences came from elderly customers at a diner, until I came to DUSD. After leaving the private sector of food service, I found much appreciation for the love of food and food creation. Although the little people don't tip in money they sure do tip with smiles and love. I appreciate being able to try new food, and creative ways of making it for them. Bringing back nutritious options to our students was very important to me when I was granted this opportunity as a food service manager. In this exciting time in food service going back to scratch, quick scratch and fresh foods, I am proud of being able to provide a non pre packaged meal to our students daily. 2) What are your hobbies and interests outside of work? If you know me, you know! I volunteer a bit, so my spare time is filled with helping concessions, exchange students (I have 2 this year) or anything else that needs help. I also love to golf a short course. 3) A fun fact about yourself or a unique talent you possess, if any? I LOVE LEGO! 4) Favorite book, movie, or music (pick only one to share) and why is it your favorite? My favorite book is The Giraffe and a Half. It is close and dear to my heart. I used to read it to my kids every night, and no matter how old they are or got, they would all end up in the room I was reading it in. That's what keeps it special to me. I was honored to be able to read it to Mr. Coffee's class last year on read around day. 5) Favorite part about working at Durham Elementary School? DUH!!! The amazing kids, Staff and Parents!! This exceptional group of people who all come together everyday in some way, to make our end goals about how much we can make it better for our kids, simply leaves me speechless.

This is a friendly reminder that school will be closed tomorrow and Monday, January 17, 2025. Enjoy the time off!

Tiger Spotlight of the Week: Lesleigh Brunelle, First Grade Teacher 1) Why did you become a teacher? Kids are so fun and I enjoy how inquisitive they are. I love being part of helping students learn and grow. 2) What are your hobbies and interests outside of work? Spending time with my family, crafting and taking photos. 3) A fun fact about yourself or unique talent you possess, if any? I enjoy reading and writing poetry. 4) Favorite book, movie, or music (pick only one to share), and why is it your favorite? A few of my favorite modern day poets are Beau Taplin and Tyler Knott Gregson. 5) Favorite part about working at Durham Elementary School? I appreciate the inspiring people I work with, the sweet students, and the loving community. My favorite part of working at DES is having the opportunity to teach students, and learning from them along the way.

Tiger Spotlight of the Week: Dina Buttitta, Kindergarten Teacher 1) Why did you become a teacher? I always loved school, learning new things, and working with kids. I wanted to be able to share that with the students in my classes. I love the excitement and curiosity that all the little ones in my class have everyday. 2) What are your hobbies and interests outside of work? I enjoy reading and spending time with my family. 3) A fun fact about yourself or a unique talent you possess, if any? N/A 4) Favorite book, movie, or music (pick only one to share) and why is it your favorite? I have so many favorite books; it is hard to choose just one. 5) Favorite part about working at Durham Elementary School? My favorite part of working at Durham Elementary School are the people. We have such a strong sense of community and family here - it was the first thing I noticed when I started working in Durham.

This week, DES hosted its third Family S.T.E.A.M. Night. Families came together for an evening filled with learning activities. Alongside this event, the Music Boosters organized a fundraiser hamburger dinner for all the guests. Everyone had a great time connecting and enjoying the activities.

Kira Montgomery was the DHS class of 2022 salutatorian, and she attended Durham schools from kindergarten through graduation. She currently attends the University of California, Irvine as a double major in Dance Performance and Education Sciences. She grew up in the competitive dance scene and has trained in various styles including hip hop, tap, jazz, contemporary, ballet, and modern. Kira has trained with prominent industry choreographers such as Chloe and Maud Arnold, Kent Boyd, Brooke Lipton, Kevin Maher, Ryan Lohoff, and more. She currently tours the US with Hollywood Vibe Dance Convention as a choreographer's assistant and event coordinator and is a member of UCI's Kaba Modern Hip Hop Crew. Within the past few years, she has grown her passion for choreographing and creating pieces for studio showcases, UCI's Barebones Dance Theater, and Kaba Modern. She is looking forward to finishing her degrees to begin industry and professional work in LA and surrounding areas. Kira, we are so proud of you and love seeing you pursue your dream! Keep inspiring others to go after their dreams, too. Your passion and determination are truly motivating

Tiger Spotlight of the Week - Katlin Redding, TK Teacher 1) Why did you become a teacher? I became a teacher because I believe in the power of making a difference in students' lives. I want every student to feel welcome, heard, and valued, creating a safe environment where they can thrive. My passion lies in inspiring students to fall in love with learning, helping them discover their potential and develop a lifelong curiosity. By fostering a positive and supportive classroom, I hope to make an impact that extends beyond academics, shaping confident and curious individuals for the future. 2) What are your hobbies and interests outside of work? Outside of work, I enjoy spending quality time with my family, going camping or just watching a movie on the couch. I’m also passionate about turkey hunting, which allows me to connect with nature and challenge myself. Additionally, I love attending my sons sporting events, and doing crafty things with my sweet daughter. 3) A fun fact about yourself or unique talent you possess, if any? A fun fact about me is that I really enjoy the outdoors and I love shooting my bow with my dad and brother on the weekend when I have free time. 4) Favorite book, movie, or music (pick only one to share) and why is it your favorite? I love the old school Matilda movie. Growing up it was one of my favorites and when my kids were small they loved it too. So we've watched it many times in my house and it's definitely an all time fav. 5) Favorite part about working at Durham Elementary School? This question is so easy to answer!! My favorite part about working at Durham Elementary School is the incredible sense of community and support. Being new to Durham this year, I felt so welcomed and included by everyone. The amazing students and families have made my transition smooth and so enjoyable. Every day, I look forward to coming to work and doing what I love most- teaching! The supportive environment here truly makes a difference and inspires me to give my best each day! I'm so beyond lucky to be a part of this wonderful community!

Shane Buzza graduated from Durham High School in 1983 and participated in baseball and cross country. He served as Student Body President in his senior year. He showed a strong interest in math and physics and aimed to attend the Air Force Academy. Shane attended Chico State for a year before receiving nominations to West Point, Annapolis, and the Air Force Academy, ultimately choosing West Point. Graduating in 1988 with a BS in Mathematics, Shane became a Second Lieutenant in Field Artillery and served in Operation Just Cause in Panama. He transitioned to the Army Reserve in 1991 to pursue physical therapy, earning two Master's degrees from CSU Fresno and a Master of Strategic Studies from the Army War College. Shane settled in the Monterey Peninsula, raising two sons and running a small physical therapy business. Following 9/11, he served stateside and in multinational exercises, commanding at various levels before becoming a General Officer in 2016. Currently, Shane is a Major General and Chief of Staff at the U.S. Army Forces Command. His military training includes numerous advanced courses, and he has received various awards, including the Legion of Merit. He has two adult sons and enjoys multisport racing. He holds a private pilot certificate and has recently taken up skydiving, hoping to serve one final assignment before semi-retirement. We thank you for your service and for being a shining example of what it means to give back to our nation. We are very proud of you.

Tiger Spotlight of the Week: Brian Glover, Physical Education Teacher 1) Why did you become a teacher? After a lifetime of loving sports, I wanted a job where I could coach everyday! I’m blessed my “work” is encouraging children to have fun while learning to be a team player and enjoy healthy pursuits… I love seeing parents out and about and hearing that their child loves a particular unit. 2) What are your hobbies and interests outside of work? I love spending time with my wife and our 3 adult children. Even though they are all grown (In fact I am going to be a grandpa soon!), we still all get together to go camping and fishing as often as possible. Golfing also tops my list! 3) A fun fact about yourself or unique talent you possess, if any? Meeting Steve Garvey at a Giants game as a child and him being so kind to me and my group of friends actually converted me to being a Dodgers Fan. Not easy in Durham- ask Anne Marie Spafford! 4) Favorite book, movie, or music (pick only one to share), and why is it your favorite? The Natural- the best baseball movie ever made! Every baseball fan needs to watch it at least once. 5) Favorite part about working at Durham Elementary School? The kids, the parents, and our community. I am lucky to have a team of like minded coworkers that want to do right by our students every day. I love when students stop by our house to say hi when I am doing yard work, and I am glad our house has become a home base on Halloween where I can catch up with former students. Not all towns have friendships like Durham creates, usually starting with our school.

We are hiring an Intermediate School Principal to join our excellent team. If you’re ready to lead, inspire, and shape the future, we want to hear from you. https://www.edjoin.org/Home/JobPosting/2030671

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT! Rose Flores is a proud graduate of Durham High School, class of 2016. After high school, Rose pursued her education at Sonoma State, earning her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a focus in Marketing in 2020. Rose then went on to graduate from Sonoma State again in 2022 with a Master’s in Business Administration With a strong foundation in supply chain logistics and manufacturing, Rose has made an impact as a buyer/planner at Lundberg Family Farms for the past two years. We are so proud of your accomplishments, Rose. Keep inspiring others.

Join our team! We are hiring a Utility/Bus Driver. Be part of our excellent team and a member of this incredible community.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT! Mark Davis, who graduated in 2023 and enlisted in the US Air Force. He officially graduated from basic training on March 6th and 7th, 2024. One of our favorite stories about Mark is how he looked forward to lunchtime each day, eagerly anticipating the sweet surprise of candy from home for dessert. The surprise always brought a smile to his face. Thank you for your service, Mark. We’re proud of you.