For almost two years now, engaged students at both the middle and high schools have dedicated countless hours and tons of energy to both the idea of changing the name of DSST’s founding school, and successfully implementing the change. At the middle school, students were led by Writing teacher PJ Shields, who dedicated extensive class time over two years to work through these changes. At the high school, this was done in partnership with Colorado Youth Congress (CYC). From collaborating with their peers, staff members, DSST leadership, and the Stapleton community as a whole, we are proud of the leadership that these students have demonstrated as they embarked on this challenging and valuable work. It all culminated in a very special morning meeting today, where the school formerly known as DSST: Stapleton announced a new name - DSST: Montview.
Both evaluating the merits of a name change and choosing a new one were driven entirely by DSST students through an academic exercise designed to promote our students’ civic voice and critical thinking. Through a reflective 18 month process, students thought through the meaning of school names, if their school name should be changed, and if so, what should replace it. Students wrote essays arguing their points both for and against a name change. Ultimately, after much debate and deliberation, the entire school voted in favor of changing the name. Next, they contemplated several replacement options, within the framework of our network naming guidelines. Throughout this time, DSST staff and students coordinated with DSST network leadership to formalize the name change process, and engaged in conversations with our larger school community to reach this conclusion.
DSST: Stapleton is of course located in the eponymous Denver neighborhood, which in turn was named after Benjamin Stapleton - a controversial mayor in the 1920’s who was a member of the KKK. When our school was founded in 2004, the name was simply the Denver School of Science and Technology. It was not until DSST opened its second campus, in Green Valley Ranch, that we felt the need to distinguish between the first and second DSST schools. The decision to change the founding campus name emerged as many of our students come to believe that the Stapleton name no longer represents the rich and diverse community our school serves.
Why was DSST: Montview ultimately chosen? Montview is a street that stretches throughout much of northeast Denver and into Aurora - all the way from CU Anschutz, through Park Hill, and to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science in City Park. DSST: Montview is a symbolic name that represents the very real connection that this founding school has to the broader city.
Central Park was a very popular choice, and of course a strong geographical marker that other local organizations have begun to adopt. It also happens to be part of DSST: Conservatory Green High School’s official address, and would potentially cause some confusion.
While the school’s name may have changed, our core values remain the same. We are proud of our students for having the courage to speak out for what they felt was right, working collaboratively to make a change, and showing deep respect for their community throughout the entire process. Two claps on two for the DSST: Montview Knights!
