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Montview alumna shares her journey from DSST to designing dreams

Aspen Harris is a Denver native. Raised in the Parkhill, Montbello, and Green Valley Ranch communities, her journey from DSST: Montview (Class of 2015) to the drafting tables of her architectural firm is a testament to the transformative power of education and determination.

Her passion for architecture began early, sparked by the sight of houses being built around the city.

“I would see residential projects come up all around the city, and the sight of a building being erected from the underground up was mesmerizing to me,” Aspen said. “I would always have my parents drive me around the construction areas or take us to tour a model home just for the fun of it! I think that’s when I knew I was invested.”

Aurora school teams up with experts at Anschutz Medical Campus to foster future medical careers and better understanding of the brain

Bryan Castaneda has his sights on becoming a surgeon. A heart surgeon to be more precise. A thoracic heart surgeon to be exact.

“I’ve always been interested in the health care field. I like helping people, and to experience empathy,” said the high school sophomore. “Medicine is never bland. It’s always innovative and exciting.”

Innovation is the cornerstone of Aurora Science & Tech (AST), where Bryan is one of nearly 800 students in grades 6 through 10 where STEM, short for science, technology, engineering and math, takes center stage.

The AI revolution is here. DSST teachers see big benefits and challenges with ChatGPT.

A little more than a year after ChatGPT was released, tech-savvy educators in Central Park have no doubt that an educational revolution is afoot. But big questions remain about how and when to bring generative artificial intelligence into the classroom.

“There are huge potential benefits to AI (artificial intelligence) in the classroom, and I think we have an obligation to be at the forefront of that,” said Kirk Anderson, director of academic and business systems for DSST Public Schools, a network of 16 charter middle and high schools in Denver and Aurora; four DSST schools are in Central Park – DSST Montview MS/HS and DSST Conservatory Green MS/HS.

Rayan's journey from academics to advocacy

Rayan Elhanan (DSST: Montview ‘24) has an impressive academic record. She has a 4.5 GPA, is taking five AP classes this semester alone, has been admitted to six excellent universities* including Stanford and USC and was selected for the highly regarded LEDA Scholars Program.

But Elhanan truly shines when she shares her passion for diversity and equity in the medical field. 

GVR MS celebrates creativity, community spirit at parent-teacher conferences

DSST: Green Valley Ranch Middle School is thrilled to share the joyous success of our recent parent-teacher conferences, which featured an enchanting Art Expo for all our families to enjoy! The event was a vibrant celebration of creativity and community spirit. Thank you to our Art teacher, Mr. Kantz, for putting this Expo together.

Sky's the limit for Future Leader winner pursuing aerospace engineering in Colorado

CBS Colorado is partnered with Chevron and Colorado School of Mines to highlight high school students who are excelling in STEM. The Future Leaders award is given to six students throughout the school year and comes with $1,000.

The current winner is Caleb Woldemichael is a senior at DSST: Montview High School in Denver. Woldemichael is one of the leaders/mentors for a student-led extracurricular that builds CubeSats.

From student to educator: DSST alumni inspires during Black History Month

Sophonias Paulos, a proud alumnus of DSST: Green Valley Ranch, has come full circle, returning to DSST Public Schools where he has worked for four years as a 12th-grade teacher and advisor for the Black Student Alliance (BSA) at DSST: Conservatory Green. His journey from student to educator embodies the spirit of perseverance and dedication.

Navigating the path to educational leadership at DSST

Victoria Cruz's journey to becoming a school leader at DSST Public Schools wasn't exactly what she had envisioned for her career, but it turned out to be a transformative experience that she cherishes deeply.

Long-time charter educator to become new leader of DSST schools

Nella García Urban, a Texas charter school educator, was named Friday as the next CEO of DSST Public Schools.

She said Friday she is driven to lead and was excited when she got to visit DSST schools and learn about the network’s mission.

“I’m very much called to the space,” García Urban said. “Every experience I’ve had thus far has left a real mark on me.”

Announcing DSST's Next CEO

After a national search process, we are thrilled to announce Nella García Urban as the second CEO of DSST Public Schools. Nella was chosen from an identified candidate pool of over 170 diverse leaders in an extensive national search process.