Weekly SPARK: DPS Announces New Principal, Building Services Leader, Externship News, and more

Dec. 10, 2024

DPS Welcomes New Principal and Leader of Building Services

The Durham Public Schools Board of Education has named Brandon Hodges as Principal of Southern School of Energy and Sustainability and Micheál P. Lynch as Senior Executive Director for Building Services. Read more about these dynamic leaders by clicking the button below.

Jordan High Agriscience Students Selected for N.C. State Externship

Congratulations to Jordan High School Agriscience students Lila Christie and Olivia Ko for being selected for the Robert’s Global Agriculture Research Externship with N.C. State University’s Plant Sciences Initiative! They'll research global food security and agriculture with top mentors. We're proud of our Jordan FFA leaders!

Lottery to Open Jan. 6 for Magnet Options, Specialty Schools, Early Colleges, CTE Pathways, and Montessori Pre-K

Durham Public Schools' annual application lottery will open on Jan. 6. The lottery will be open for magnet options, including Montessori programing, year-round schools, international baccalaureate programs, and Dual-Language Immersion programs. The lottery will also be open for specialty schools, early college programming, and Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways.

A special reminder that those who would like to apply for Montessori Pre-K options must do so through the annual lottery and NOT the NC Pre-K application.

The lottery will close at 5 p.m. on Jan. 31. Lottery results will be announced on March 3. Lottery application assistance will be provided on Jan. 25 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Minnie Forte-Brown Staff Development Center, 2107 Hillandale Road.

For more information about the lottery, please visit https://www.dpsnc.net/magnet.

Panel on Navigating Disability Accommodations to be Dec. 16

Join Durham Public Schools and the Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development for a panel on Navigating Disability Accommodations on Monday, Dec. 16, from 5-6 p.m. via zoom. The session will cover student accommodations, Individual Education Plans (IEPs), 504 plans, and more. Panelists will include parents and representatives from Durham Public Schools and the Duke Children's Law Clinic. Please register by clicking the button below.

Be a Driving Force for Change: Become a Bus Driver for Durham Public Schools

Apply to become a bus driver for Durham Public Schools and help to support students, parents, and educators. With this job, you won't just be driving a bus; you’ll be building community.

Bus drivers with Durham Public Schools start at $18.86 an hour, and they enjoy bi-weekly pay and benefits. Durham Public Schools also has a special partnership with the Department of Motor Vehicles that allows us to provide our drivers training ON SITE. You can earn your CDL much more quickly, so you can get on the road to your new career fast.

In addition, when you drive for Durham Public Schools, you will be learning how to operate the latest electric vehicle technology. Our district will be adding a fleet of 38 electric buses, giving you the chance to grow your skills as a driver and remain competitive in the rapidly changing marketplace.

Apply now to become a bus driver for Durham Public Schools and help drive change in your community!

Apply Now

Family Academy Lunch and Learn Session to Provide Overview of Section 504 Process

Join Family Academy for its next Lunch and Learn session on Dec. 18 at 12 p.m. to learn how to plan, request, and engage in the Section 504 process. Participants will also learn the specifics of Section 504, which includes the history, eligibility, documentation requirements, accommodation plans, parent and student rights, team development, varied meetings, and the process from requesting eligibility to discontinuation. A distinction between Section 504 and the IDEA (an Individual Education Plan) will also be made. Click here to register.

Community Asked to Provide Feedback on Durham Bike + Walk Plan

The DPS Safe Routes to School program is working with the City/County of Durham to identify and advocate for improvements to transportation infrastructure that would make travel to and from school safer for DPS students. As a part of this effort, the community is being asked to share their thoughts, experiences, and ideas specific to their neighborhood or school community to help shape the 2025 Durham Bike + Plan.

Opportunities include in person meetings well as an online survey platform. Community meetings will be hosted on Dec. 14 at the WG Pearson Center, 600 E. Umstead St., from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and on Jan. 16 at the Avila Center, 711 Mason Road, from 6-7:30 p.m. Register to attend at bit.ly/bikewalkevents.

If you are unable to attend a community engagement session, you can take the survey at bit.ly/durhambikewalk.

DPS Game of the Week: Hillside vs. Southern

Come watch the Hillside Hornets take on the Southern Spartans in men's and women's basketball games on Saturday, Dec. 14, at the Southern School of Energy and Sustainability, 800 Clayton Road. The men will play at 2:30 p.m., and the women will play at 4 p.m. Enjoy a great day of family fun and support your local high school teams!

School Spotlight: Ignite! Online Academy

Interested in learning more about Durham Public Schools’ only K-12 virtual school? Join us for one of our upcoming information sessions on Zoom on Dec. 10 at 5:30 p.m. or Jan. 9 at 12 p.m. To register and receive a registration link, email Ignite! Magnet Coordinator Madison Ambrose at madison_ambrose@dpsnc.net.

To apply for Ignite! Online Academy, you must enter the annual application lottery at https://www.dpsnc.net/magnet. The application window is Jan. 6-31.