POINTS of PRIDE: Durant Community School District

What makes Durant unique?
Just ask Tony Neumann, high school principal, and he will begin with the fact that Durant cares about every student, caring enough to bring the very best in instruction through departmentalization grades 1-12.  This allows teachers to specialize in their focus of standards-based instruction.  Durant also cares about its community, and the district has organized service learning activities (a graduation requirement) on Friday to capitalize on the high school youth's heart to serve.


DISTRICT DEOMOGRAPHICS:
District enrollment  - 703
Free and Reduced Lunch  - under 30%
One building with a PK-grade 4 wing, a grade 5 - grade 8 wing, and high school
Technology - year 4 as a 1:1 school - K-2 ipads; 3-12 Macbooks

The high school has developed creative Language Arts options - poetry/creative writing, American Gothic, American West Lit, War Lit, and Adventure Lit.  Students can earn concurrent credit for classes through Eastern Iowa Community College - Muscatine.  There's a "BE THE CHANGE" club, organized by parents and providing opportunities for high school students to mentor younger students.  Late start Mondays allow for staff to work in collaboration.   Working for continuous improvement, topics of discussion are organized in a January to January format as they strive to enhance instruction for all students.

Mr. Neumann is a reflective leader who likes to challenge both his students and his staff.  Instead of using the term CHANGE, he prefers to use the word EVOLVE.  It is his belief that we evolve as we challenge ourselves to set goals and improve.  He asks those around the following questions:

• What are you going to do to improve yourself this year?
• What are you going to do to help someone else improve this year?
• What are you going to do to help your school improve this year?

Tony knows what it means to evolve through goal setting, having gone from 340 pounds to 210 pounds.  His example of goal setting and committing to that goal speaks volumes to others.

This year's challenges for students and staff?

• Build positive relationships each day!
• Do one great thing every day!
• Make this the BEST experience it can be!

  

  Tony and a returning teacher who is giving back to the school as a sub

"The purpose of life is to build doors for yourself.  You don't have to go through them but you do have to build them."

Durant is one example of a district that is providing opportunities for students to build doors with many possibilities ahead as they choose their own direction to travel.