Feature Friday: Shaping futures, one middle schooler at a time

Middle school is when everything changes. When friendships shift overnight. When a student discovers they're good at something they never knew existed. It's messy, electric and full of possibility.

At three DSST middle schools, the leaders steering these communities understand that middle school isn't just a phase to survive, it's a moment to shape who students become. Briana Mesa, Jenny Trainer, and Eva Rodrigues each bring something distinct to their schools, but they share a refusal to settle for anything less than transformational.

The Bulldog with no quit

Briana Mesa is a Denver native, which means she knows these neighborhoods, these families and these stakes. For the past four years, she's led the Bulldogs at DSST: Elevate Northeast Middle School, and under her leadership, the school went from Orange to Green on the state's School Performance Framework. That kind of turnaround doesn't happen by accident.

Mesa believes in “holding fast to equity and an unwavering belief in the brilliance of our students and communities, especially when political climates challenge that stance.”

"It's about showing up with love, care and persistence, knowing that every child deserves to be seen, supported and celebrated,” she said. “Leadership today requires us to lean into our Core Value of courage. Courage to advocate, to listen deeply and to act with integrity in service of what's right."

Mesa doesn't just talk about high expectations; she lives them. She holds students and staff accountable because she believes in what they can achieve. 

"Briana is an inspiring, committed leader who is laser-focused on student outcomes and supporting her staff," said Kat Van Wyhe, Managing Director. "Mesa is a bulldog with no quit."

Unique hornets, united swarm

Jenny Trainer has been with DSST since 2011, and she's been at DSST: Conservatory Green since the founding team launched the campus in 2014. She's taught social studies, served as Dean of Students, led as an Associate School Director, and now, in her fifth year as School Director at CGMS, she's building something that reflects her deepest beliefs about what school should be.

"To be a leader in education right now means building schools where access and belonging are lived every day," Trainer said. "It means creating the conditions for teachers to find joy and feel empowered in their classrooms, knowing their impact shapes how students see themselves and the world. When our kids feel loved by the adults around them, learning takes root."

This year, the Trainer shared that the CG community is grounding itself in a quote from Cynthia McKinney: "We are way more powerful when we turn to each other and not on each other, when we celebrate our diversity… and together tear down the mighty walls of injustice." 

This is the lens through which Trainer makes decisions.

"As a leader, my job is to pave the way, remove barriers, build trust, and ensure that joy and learning live side by side in every classroom," she said.

The results speak for themselves. In their most recent benchmark, 56% of students met growth targets in math, including 51% of multilingual learners and 51% of students with disabilities. In writing, 62% of students met their growth target, including 69% of multilingual learners. And in science, 7th grade reduced the proficiency gap between multilingual learners and non-multilingual learners by over 13%.

"Jenny is very mission-driven and centers students in all she does," Van Wyhe said. "She is very serious about her responsibilities as a school director, but also has a great sense of humor, which makes the work fun.”

Leading with empathy and excellence

Eva Rodrigues has been with DSST for 15 years and has been leading DSST: Green Valley Ranch Middle School since last year. She's someone who sees what's possible and then figures out how to make it real.

For Rodrigues, honoring every learner and educator while turning expansive possibilities into shared practice is what fuels her.

"I'm energized by advances in technology that widen access and creativity, and I harness that momentum to dream with and for our students and staff, in true partnership with families," she said. "I feel privileged to lead this charge with our school community, to remove constraints and align our people so the right practices become the default and effort becomes evidence.”

Rodrigues sees a future where the school community can do what once felt impossible: co-create a future in which every student leaves us seen, prepared, and empowered.

Her vision has inspired deep investment from staff and students. GVR MS has the second-highest attendance in the network and the highest staff retention among middle schools. When people feel valued, they stay.

"Eva leads with love and cares deeply about her team, and it comes across in all she does," Van Wyhe said. "Eva is passionate about the work, serving all students and leads with a collectivist lens. Everyone knows they can always go to her for help, and that she will support them with whatever they need.”

More than a middle school

Mesa, Trainer and Rodrigues are doing something essential: creating schools where middle schoolers, at one of the most vulnerable, confusing and exhilarating moments of their lives, can figure out who they are and what they're capable of. Where teachers feel empowered. Where families feel like partners. Where joy and rigor aren't opposites but companions. And it's worth celebrating.