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Take a look at these highlights from DSST's first T.O.A.S.T event

Last week DSST hosted an event at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science celebrating our incredible school-based teachers, leaders and staff across the network. DSST's first ever T.O.A.S.T celebration was a huge success and we Toasted our Achievements, Successes, and Talents. People enjoyed food and drinks, and the opportunity to explore a few of the exhibits at the museum.

Take a look at some highlights from the evening:

A huge thanks for out to George Sparks, CEO of the Denver Museum of Nature and Science and a board member and supporter of DSST, for letting us host this fun event at the museum. Also shoutout to Katie Glenn and Ashley Wiegner for putting the event together and giving us a chance to celebrate with each other! 

Click here to see all the photos from the event! 

Ednium: Championing financial literacy is an investment in the future

Last year, Ednium: The Alumni Collective and its alumni partners gathered in full force during the Board of Education meeting where they provided public comment in support of adding financial literacy to high school graduation requirements.

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Some schools are already teaching financial literacy classes for students, and these are the models alumni hope to build upon in the initial learning community at high schools this fall.

At DSST: College View, chemistry teacher, Matthew Boumphrey had an epiphany about what he was doing:  ‘Am I teaching something that can help these students now, giving them information to share with their families and improve upon their lives currently?’ It was then he decided to pitch the financial literacy course which he now teaches in addition to his chemistry course. 

Senior Highlight: CG senior shares how DSST helped him find the right path

DSST: Conservatory Green senior CJ Jones plans to join the US Navy. We sat down to ask him about his time at DSST, his goal to make a career in the Armed Forces and more:

Neurodiversity: The diversity we don’t see

The diversity spectrum is farther reaching than any definition that meets the eye. Diversity is inclusive of multiple intersecting identities including age, religion, ethnicity, sexuality, beliefs, abilities and thought. The diversity of “being” - to simply exist as a unique individual - is often met with violence via categorization, pathology, criminalization, discrimination, segregation and exclusion.

Senior Highlight: Byers Senior Rana Abdellatif is using her voice to make an impact in her community

DSST: Byers Senior Rana Abdellatif is a true leader and advocate! We sat down to ask her a few questions about her time at DSST, her role as a young leader and more:

Welcome, Danielle Felder: DSST's new Chief External Affairs Officer

A note from DSST CEO Bill Kurtz:

Colorado kids could get bigger say in abuse and neglect cases

Makita Cotto got home from school one day to face unwelcome news from her foster mother. A judge had forbidden Cotto, who was 15 at the time, from ever speaking with her biological mother or brother.

“If I did, then I was facing contempt of court at 15,” Cotto, now 36, recalled. She immediately got on the phone with her state-provided attorney, also known as a guardian ad litem, who had asked for the court order.

2022 Ariel Berryman scholarship winner, Sarah Portillo-Enriquez, hopes to one day pave the way for other women of color

Jim and Teresa Berryman launched the Ariel Berryman Memorial Scholarship Fund after the passing of their daughter, Ariel. Ariel’s passion for helping people reach their full potential inspired the creation of this scholarship, which helps eliminate barriers to higher education for young women graduating from DSST Public Schools by providing financial assistance to attend the University of Colorado Denver (CU Denver).

FAQs: What you need to know about the changes to the bonus structure

We will be doubling our network investment in the returning staff bonus this year. Governor Polis’s mid-year budget included new one-time funding for public education this spring, and when DSST has additional dollars from state, federal or other funding, we always look to first put those dollars towards valuing you as best we can.

Spring Break recap: Here are some of the exciting experiences our students had over the break

Last week was Spring break for all of our campuses in Denver. From a trip to Spain to a leadership conference, here are some of the highlights from some of our schools.