Durham Elementary School -

Happy School Board Appreciation Month. We want to give a big thank you to our amazing school board members for their leadership, hard work, and dedication. Our staff, students, and the entire community are grateful for your commitment to making our schools the best they can be. Thank you for always putting our kids first and guiding us toward a bright future.

Durham community.
We’re excited to announce that we have a few job openings available.
Bilingual Paraprofessional
Van Driver
JV Softball Coach
If you or someone you know is interested in joining our team, please apply at https://www.edjoin.org/durhamunified or reach out to Chloe at cbartel@durham. We look forward to welcoming new members to our amazing team.

Hello Durham Community!
We wish you a Merry Christmas. We hope you’re enjoying a wonderful holiday with your family. We look forward to seeing everyone back at school on January 5th, 2026.

Tiger Spotlight of the Week: Ms. Maria Montante, Reading Discovery Instructional Paraprofessional/Yard Duty Supervisor

This week, we got to celebrate one of Durham’s best traditions, the Durham Elementary School Christmas Boutique. It was such a fun time, and our students loved browsing, shopping, and soaking up all the holiday spirit. Huge thanks to everyone who made it extra special for the kids!

Durham Community
Just a friendly reminder that we’re on Thanksgiving break this entire week. We hope you enjoy this special time with family and friends, and we wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving. Can’t wait to see everyone back at school on December 1st.

Join us at 8:45 AM tomorrow, Thursday, morning to send off our Varsity Volleyball Team as they head to Santa Cruz for the SECOND ROUND OF STATE PLAYOFFS! Help us line Putney Drive and wear Durham Blue. Let’s make some noise! 💙🏐

Tiger Spotlight of the Week:

When I Was A Kid......
Katie Harvey, 5th Grade Teacher

Tiger Spotlight of the Week: Mrs. Bailey Martin, Kindergarten Paraprofessional/Yard Duty Supervisor 1) Why did you become an instructional paraprofessional? Before becoming an instructional para, I worked in childcare for 17 years, I knew once my daughter started kindergarten, I wanted to be fully involved in my daughter's education and schooling. Which included getting a job at her school. I have always had a passion for teaching and watching children grow, and when the position became available I knew immediately that I had to apply, I was so over the moon that I got the job, so I can continue my passion, while being on the same schedule as my daughter. 2) What are your hobbies and interests outside of work? When I’m not working and doing mom life, I enjoy baking sourdough bread and all things farm life. 3) A fun fact about yourself or unique talent you possess, if any? I used to be a part of a 4-wheel drive club( NorCal Crawlers) and I'm a huge baseball and football fan. 4) Favorite book, movie, or music (pick only one to share) and why it is your favorite? I am a country girl to the core. 5) Favorite part about working at Durham Elementary School? I absolutely love being able to watch the kids grow and learn everyday. My amazing co-workers make it so enjoyable to come to work everyday. The small town community is absolutely incredible; I feel so incredibly blessed to be a part of it.

Dear Durham Community Let's give a warm welcome to our new DES Teacher, Kelly Bischel. Let’s all give her a warm and friendly welcome as she joins our fantastic DES team. We're so excited to have her with us, and I know she’ll feel right at home in our wonderful community. Let’s make sure to show her all the love and support that Durham is known for. Welcome aboard, Kelly

Tiger Spotlight of the Week: Dana DelCarlo, First Grade Teacher 1) Why did you become a teacher? After changing my major 3 times at Chico State, a counselor informed me that I was only 2 classes from having a Liberal Studies Degree. The next thing I knew, I was in the credential program and had discovered my dream job. After 31 years, I still can’t imagine doing anything else. 2) What are your hobbies and interests outside of work? I love fabric, planting in my yard, reading, music, pickleball, paddleboarding, 4 wheeling, and the mountains. 3) A fun fact about yourself or unique talent you possess, if any? I LOVE the water! Put me on a boat in the middle of a lake any day! 4) Favorite book, movie, or music (pick only one to share) and why is it your favorite? My favorite movie is Top Gun because “I feel the need for speed!” 5) Favorite part about working at Durham Elementary School? I get to see kids, family and friends every day!

Tiger Spotlight of the Week: JoAnna Richer, Behavior Intervention Paraprofessional 1) What made you decide to work as a Behavior Intervention Specialist? Becoming Mrs. Jo began studying Behavioral Science/Psychology in college, followed by years working in Probation. After the birth of my daughter, I stayed home to raise my daughter and pursue Art. Then a friend, who worked at DES, shared my history with administration at the school. At that time there was a class that was struggling with behaviors and had a high percentage of children with a history of ACES (Adverse Childhood Experiences). I worked, part time, with only that class for three months and the focus was the whole class Social and Emotional instruction and 1:1 connection building. It was so successful that efforts were made to continue building a SEL program. What started out very specialized 15 years ago has become a normal practice nationwide. Durham Unified recognized, early on, that the social and emotional needs of our children directly relate to their academic and social success. But the best part!...I get to support the foundations of friendship and curiosity to last a lifetime. 2) What are your hobbies and interests outside of work? If I'm not re-designing, building, or creating some form of art then you probably won't be able to find me...because...I'm probably hiking, fishing, or gold panning off grid. 3) A fun fact about yourself or a unique talent you possess, if any? Fun fact, by the time I was 14 years old I moved with my family 12 times to different locations all over the world. My upbringing with my family is a Rags- to-Riches tale with parents from exceedingly humble beginnings that worked hard to get educated, disciplined enough to save money, and were brave enough to pursue interests. 4) Favorite book, movie, or music (pick only one to share) and why is it your favorite? Favorite movie of all time is 300. Although I love the Greeks, Spartans knew how to collaborate. Close second...Speilbergs' The Color Purple...takes me home to Mississippi. 5) Favorite part about working in Durham Elementary School? Laughing...a lot... with kids, parents, and DES staff!

Over the weekend, the DHS Jazz band went to a competition in Santa Cruz where they took 1st place in their division and 2nd overall out of 14 schools! Alex Grandstaff won the overall jazz soloist award. They did an awesome job!

This is an excellent opportunity for children to attend our Durham High Volleyball Team Fundraiser during an awesome week-long volleyball camp from July 14-17, 9 AM to Noon. This is a fantastic opportunity for incoming 2nd - 8th graders to have a great time, learn new skills, and make new friends on the court. Sign up now, and let's serve up some excitement. Volleyball Camp Registration: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfqlO_JP-l4dtsaDnNYGnPN245-2U9kFQO_4-oAlbrwoGX1Jg/viewform

Exciting News! We are thrilled to announce that we have successfully installed over 50 Verkada cameras on our campuses. This upgrade is an essential step towards improving the safety and security of our students and community. Safety is our top priority, and these advanced security measures will help us protect our students, staff, and visitors, making our community a safer place to learn and grow. So, when you visit Durham Unified, remember to smile because you’re on camera! 😊 Together, we’re building a safer environment for everyone. Thank you for your support, Durham Community.

We finally made it to Spring Break! I hope everyone has the opportunity to regroup, visit with loved ones, and have some fun during spring break. It is kind of crazy that we only have 23 days of school remaining when we return from break. We all have to work hard to make the final sprint as positive and meaningful as possible for all of our students. As we hit May, we will hit the season of end of year events very quickly. Here are some of the bigger events:

Tiger Spotlight of the Week: Hayley Hughes, 3rd Grade Teacher 1) Why did you become a teacher? I became a teacher because I have always loved working with kids. After being a social worker for many years and a substitute for a few years I realized how watching students learn and grow is such a fantastic experience that I knew I wanted to be a part of on a deeper level! 2) What are your hobbies and interests outside of work? Outside of work I love spending time with my family and friends. I especially love watching my boys play sports and do all the things they love! 3) A fun fact about yourself or unique talent you possess, if any? I am teaching in the same classroom I was in as a 2nd grader! 4) Favorite book, movie, or music (pick only one to share) and why is it your favorite? Music is one of my favorite things! I love all types of music! 5) Favorite part about working at Durham Elementary School? There are so many reasons I love working at Durham! Durham is my hometown and where my kids are growing up. Also, I love the staff and families in Durham, it is such a unique and special place!

Attention Parents Just a reminder that this Friday, April 18, 2023, all three schools will have a minimum day to kick off Spring Break. We wish everyone a fun break and can't wait to see everyone back at school on Monday, April 28.

We have the SWEETEST WAY to support Durham High School PTS! Just in time for all of the upcoming springtime festivities, you can purchase vouchers for yummy treats from Chico Nothing Bundt Cake. They can be used any time, don’t expire, and make great gifts!!! Place your order TODAY! Click the link - https://durhampts.ejoinme.org/cakes

Tiger Spotlight of the Week: Molly Knobbe, 2nd Grade Teacher 1) Why did you become a teacher? I became a teacher because of all the amazing teachers I had growing up. I loved school as a child. My teachers made me feel safe, valued and heard. I aspire to create that same environment for my students. 2) What are your hobbies and interests outside of work? I have a lot of hobbies, my main focus outside of work is coaching high school golf. I played golf in HS and college and it brings me so much joy to help my team gain skills and achieve their goals within the sport. 3) A fun fact about yourself or unique talent you possess, if any? I’ve lived in Norway. 4) Favorite book, movie, or music (pick only one to share) and why is it your favorite? My favorite movie is My Fair Lady. It’s a classic. 5) Favorite part about working at Durham Elementary School? I love working at DES because of my amazing colleagues. It is also an added bonus that I get to see my wonderful nephews more often!