DURHAM

👏 Shoutout to Ebony Ross! 👏
Our DPS McKinney-Vento Liaison was nominated by her peers and honored at the national Homelessness Services Provider Appreciation Day Luncheon for her incredible work to end homelessness in Durham.

Beyond her role with DPS, Ebony chairs the Durham Homeless Services Advisory Committee and serves on the leadership team of the North Carolina Homeless Education Program — all while advocating tirelessly for our home-insecure neighbors.

💛 Thank you, Ebony, for your compassionate, results-driven leadership! #DPSProud #WeAreDPS

🌟 Our DPS Montessori educators leveled up this summer! 🌟

At this year’s Summer SPLASH, teachers, assistants, and leaders from across Durham Public Schools deepened their expertise in Montessori education. From aligning Montessori with the Science of Reading, to outdoor learning at the Hub Farm, to culturally responsive classrooms and adolescent routines—our teams trained hard to be even stronger for our students this fall. 💪🍎

Thank you to every educator who showed up ready to grow. The commitment to student-centered, equity-driven Montessori education is real—and it starts here. #WeAreDPS #DPSProud #DPSMontessori

Heidi Perez, DPS Secondary Literacy Integration Specialist, has been named 2025-2026 President of the North Carolina Reading Association. Perez, a 30-year educator, has been with DPS since 2009.
"Serving as president of the North Carolina Reading Association is both an honor and a responsibility that deeply connects to my life’s work as an educator in Durham Public Schools. Literacy is the foundation for every child’s right to self-determination, and this role allows me to advocate for equitable access to high-quality reading instruction for all students across our state. My work with NCRA amplifies the voices of teachers, students, and families while championing the joy and power of reading—a mission that aligns perfectly with my commitment to Durham’s children and community," said Perez.

🚀 Our DPS IT Interns had an incredible day at Lenovo’s Executive Briefing! From exploring cutting-edge tech to hands-on repair sessions, our students connected with industry leaders and got a front-row seat to real-world innovation.

👏 Big thanks to @Lenovo for inspiring the next generation of tech professionals! #DPSInterns #FutureInTech #WeAreDPS

🌟Stars Spotted at the Lemur Center! 🌟

Meet Madisyn Burrus from Jordan High School and Benjamin Wike from Durham School of the Arts — two of our incredible students in the DPS Rising Stars Program, a paid summer internship for rising juniors and seniors.

This summer, Madisyn and Benjamin brought their curiosity and dedication to the Duke Lemur Center, assisting with educational tours and getting hands-on experience in wildlife research and nonprofit operations. 🐒🔬

The Rising Stars Program gives students real-world work experience, training, and a stipend — setting them up for success beyond the classroom.

👏 Help us celebrate Madisyn, Benjamin, and all our Rising Stars who are making the most of their summer by learning, earning, and making an impact!
#WeAreDPS #DPSProud #DPSRisingStars

School Social Worker Kafi Hill has completed the portfolio process to become a National Certified School Social Worker (NCSSW), an advanced certification that demonstrates mastery of competencies of the National School Social Work Practice Model! As an NCSSW, Hill exemplifies leadership, commitment, and competent practice in the field of School Social Work. Thank you for going above and beyond the call of duty Ms. Hill. Your commitment to our students is greatly appreciated! #WeAreDPS #DPSProud

⚽ Did you know that two Durham Public Schools alumni are currently playing professional soccer? 💥🔥

Say hello to the Pinto siblings, repping Charles E. Jordan High School on the national stage:

BRIANNA PINTO
🎓 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
💪 Midfielder for the North Carolina Courage (NWSL)

MALIK PINTO
🎓 Princeton University
⚡ Midfielder for Colorado Rapids 2 (MLS Next Pro)
(also made appearances with FC Cincinnati in MLS)

The Pinto family is soccer royalty in Durham—and these two are still rising. 🏆
👀 Who’s the next DPS athlete to take the pro stage?

#DPSDidYouKnow #DurhamProud #PintoPower #WeAreDPS

☀️🌍 Solar Festival Shined Bright! 🌟🚌 #ICYMI

What an incredible day at the Solar Festival hosted by the N.C. Climate Justice Collective at Lyons Farm Elementary on July 12! Families came out to explore the power of solar energy — and the magic of learning — through hands-on activities, educational booths, and interactive performances. 🔆Highlights included the solar car races, solar oven bake off, and more. Huge thanks to our partners at the N.C. Climate Justice Collective and all the DPS staff who made the day such a bright success!
Let’s keep the energy going as we get ready for the new school year. ☀️📚
#WeAreDPS #SolarFestival #CommunityStrong

Laura Parrott, Director of Advanced Academics for DPS, recently presented at the global AP Advanced Placement/AP Annual Conference in Boston, where she led a session entitled, Targeting the AP Success Trajectory: How Intentional AP Teacher Development Changed Student Learning, based on the work done to increase participation and performance in AP courses.  She also served as one of three panelists on the College Board’s BigFuture Session on leveraging BigFuture tools.  Congratulations and thank you for your excellent representation Ms. Parrott!

🎒 Fill That Bus! Fuel the Year – Starts Today! 🚍 Durham, let’s kick off the school year right! The annual “Fill That Bus! Fuel the Year” school supply drive begins today, running through August 8. Our good friends at the DPS Foundation will be leading the effort in restocking the shelves at Crayons2Calculators so every DPS teacher has the tools needed—completely free—for student success 📝📚 What’s happening: Community-wide efforts to gather essential supplies—pencils, notebooks, art tools, rulers, folders, tissue, and more. Drop-off bins are set up around the city (libraries, churches, businesses) and at Crayons2Calculators warehouse, 808 Bacon St., open Tuesdays & Thursdays, 11 am–3 pm. Prefer to support digitally? Financial donations help purchase high-need items efficiently. Why it matters: Last year, Crayons2Calculators distributed over $129,000 in supplies, supporting 96% of DPS teachers at 59 schools—and many teachers still spend hundreds out-of-pocket. 👉 How YOU can help: Donate supplies: drop off at Crayons2Calculators or community bins. Give online: support via financial contributions. Share & volunteer: host your own drive or help pack supplies. Let’s come together and ensure no teacher—or student—goes without this school year. 🔗 Visit www.fillthebus.org for more details and a full list of needed items. #FillThatBus #DPSStrong #FuelTheYear #Crayons2Calculators

Scholar. Athlete. Falcon. 🦅📚

Jordan High’s own Noah Clark is officially committed to play football at the University of South Carolina! 🏈

📈 4⭐ Recruit
🏅 #8 in NC | #21 defensive lineman | #126 in the nation (Class of 2026, 247Sports Rankings)
📊 75 tackles | 18.5 tackles for a loss | 4 sacks
⚡ Team captain | All-State First Team
🎥 Signing streamed LIVE via @on3recruits (https://www.youtube.com/live/rEVhLGhACDg)

Noah’s drive, dominance, and discipline built his legacy at Jordan. Now he’s taking that fire to the SEC. 🔥

Proud of you, Noah. The best is just getting started. #WeAreDPS #DPSProud

🚀 Big Congratulations to Rustina Sharpe! 🌟 We're thrilled to celebrate Rustina Sharpe, STEM Teacher and Science Specialist at Eno Valley Elementary, for being selected as one of just 15 educators statewide to join Crew 5 of the North Carolina Space Education Ambassadors (NCSEA) program! 👩🏾‍🏫🌌 Through this prestigious program, Ms. Sharpe will connect classrooms and communities with NASA resources and hands-on space science learning. Her leadership will help inspire the next generation of scientists, explorers, and innovators—right here in Durham Public Schools! 🌍✨ Learn more about the NCSEA program and Crew 5 here: 🔗 ncspacegrant.ncsu.edu #DPSProud #STEMeducation #NASAinClassrooms #WeAreDPS

🌍🎉 MAJOR congratulations to Forest View Elementary’s Odyssey of the Mind team for placing 7th out of 61 teams at the World Finals held at Michigan State University! They competed against over 700 teams from across the globe — including Poland, South Korea, China, Switzerland, Hong Kong, France, and teams from across the U.S. — and represented Durham Public Schools with pride and creativity. 💡✨ After taking 1st place at both Regionals and State, they capped off an incredible season on the world stage. Huge shoutout to the team, their teachers, and families! 👏👏👏 #OdysseyOfTheMind #GlobalThinkers #DPSProud #WeAreDPS

✨ Big news from C.C. Spaulding Elementary! 🎭 Their historic auditorium just got a stunning renovation — blending the building’s legacy with fresh, modern upgrades! 🏫🎉 Here’s what’s new: 🎨 Fresh paint & carpet 💺 Brand new seats 💡 Upgraded lighting, sound system & new aisle lights 🎭 New stage curtains, refinished stage, and ceiling fans ♿ Chair lift added so every student can shine 🖼️ Hand-painted murals were preserved on canvas and reinstalled to honor the space’s history A beautiful space, reimagined — ready for the next generation of performers, speakers, and stars! 🌟 Stay tuned as we continue transforming the capital landscape of our schools — one campus at a time. 🔧🏫 #WeAreDPS #CIPforDPS

🌟 Shoutout to Jennifer Painter of Jordan High! 🌟 Ms. Painter has earned Honorable Mention for the English Language Development Recognition Award for her outstanding work in the DPS ESL program! 👏📚 Recognized for her passion for teaching, ability to create a welcoming classroom, and her dedication to student success, Ms. Painter continues to make a lasting impact on her school and community. 💬❤️ “She’s earned the respect of both students and colleagues,” said Dr. Kristi Day of the Office of Teaching and Learning. As part of this honor, Ms. Painter will attend the Growing Success for MLs Summer Conference with full sponsorship! 🎉 #WeAreDPS #DPSExcellence

🎨 Huge Congrats to Hillside’s Shanea McLaughlin! 🎉 Shanea has been selected as the student artist for the 2024–2025 DPS Foundation Annual Impact Report — creating all the artwork for this major project! 👏🖌️ Chosen through a competitive interview process, Shanea worked side-by-side with the Foundation’s professional graphic designer, gained mentorship, and earned a stipend for her incredible work. Shanea brought vision, discipline, and serious creative talent to the table — and we couldn’t be prouder. The future is bright for this rising star! 💫 #DPSArts #HillsideHigh #StudentSuccess #DPSProud #WeAreDPS

🎶 Big News from Jordan High! 🎶 The Jordan High Jazz Combo has been selected to perform at the 2025 NC Music Educators Association (NCMEA) Conference — the highest honor a student ensemble can receive in North Carolina! 🎷👏 📍 Held at the Benton Convention Center in Winston-Salem, NCMEA is the largest gathering of music educators in the state. Only two other groups statewide were chosen — and they're one of them! This marks just the second time in school history that a Jordan ensemble has earned this honor. The last? 1976. Proud is an understatement. Let’s hear it for our incredible student musicians! 💙🎵 #JordanJazz #NCMEA2025 #DPSArts #WeAreDPS

💰 Scholars securing the dollars! 💰 Congrats to Robert McNair of Jordan High School — awarded the prestigious Diehl Scholarship to Rhodes College, valued at $136,000! Excellence, leadership, and a fully funded future. 🎓📘 #DPSScholarsSecuringDollars #RhodesCollege #DiehlScholarship #WeAreDPS #DPSProud

💰 Scholars securing the dollars! 💰 Huge congratulations to Zahid Pinkard of Jordan High School — awarded multiple scholarships to Wingate University, totaling $154,000, including: 🎓 Honors College Merit Scholarship 🎓 Porter Byrum Scholarship 🎓 Bulldog Pride Scholarship 🎓 And more! Academic strength, leadership, and excellence — fully recognized and fully funded. 🐾🎓 #DPSScholarsSecuringDollars #WingateUniversity #HonorsScholar #WeAreDPS #DPSProud