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Thank You Douglas County for Saying Yes to 5A

Thank You Douglas County Voters!

The passage of 5A is a huge celebration for our district, our staff, and our students! Our teachers and staff will receive salary increases that will make their pay more competitive with surrounding school districts. In addition, DCSD will be able to enhance security staffing in our schools.

Hear from DCSD staff on what 5A means to them

One thing is clear — our community is behind our schools and our staff and we are incredibly grateful. 

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Funding their Future

DCSD Funding Challenges

Schools are an integral part of our neighborhoods, our economies, and our lives. A high-quality school system, which requires high-quality teachers and staff, attracts businesses and residents to our thriving community, keeps our home values strong, and provides a pipeline of educated future workers to the businesses in our community. 

DCSD Funding Challenges

DCSD faces many funding challenges that can only be solved with voter-approved measures. It’s important to plan now to ensure that future classes have the same opportunities for success as previous classes. We can do this by:

Did You Know?

90 schools

DCSD is the third-largest school district in Colorado with 90 schools and 63,000 students. 

$2k less

DCSD's Mill Levy Override is $2,000 per student less than neighboring school districts.

$45,209

Starting teacher pay at DCSD is $45,209.

$20k less

DCSD teachers are paid $15,000-$20,000 less than neighboring school districts.

From Our Teachers

Sue Tymkew: Shining in the Classroom and on the Field

Not many shine as brightly as “Sparkle” Sue Tymkew. From sun up to sun down, Sue is working for the students of Chaparral High School. She spends her days teaching in the gym and in the classroom. In the evenings, Sue can be found on the sidelines, as the physical trainer for the competing athletes of Chaparral. Sue gives her all to Chaparral, and when she needed them the most, the ChapFam was right there to gave it right back.

Officer Dave Knight and his four-legged partner

He's no stranger to Castle Rock Middle School, as he attended CRMS as a young child. With a deep passion for his community, he now serves as the School Resource Officer for the Blue Knights! Meet Castle Rock Police Department Officer Dave Knight. He recently added a four-legged partner to his routine and Ru, a two-year-old Husky Malamute mix, are quite popular on campus!

Liliana Burke: Connecting through Language

Liliana Burke has taught Spanish to Sierra Middle School students for three years. She is originally from Columbia but has called Colorado home for quite some time. Liliana's classes are fun, interactive, and also offer an opportunity for her students to get to know each other through the use of a second language.

Mark Elliot: Bringing Classrooms to Life

Mark Elliot, a social studies teacher at Mountain Ridge Middle School, worked in the financial services arena and studied psychology before becoming an educator. He now brings his diverse life experiences to his classroom. It’s Mark’s ninth year at Mountain Ridge and his twenty-third year of teaching. Although for years he was told by friends he would become a teacher just like his mom, he didn’t automatically turn to education as a career.

Julie Crawford: Beyond the Walls of the Classroom

DCSD roots run deep for Julie Crawford. She attended Northeast Elementary School as a child and graduated from Ponderosa High School, and her own children are Chaparral High School graduates. Julie's 26 years of teaching have only strengthened her love of the Parker community.

Kevin Fopma: Educator in and Outside the Classroom

Kevin Fopma is a social studies teacher and golf coach at Chaparral High School in Parker. He has been with the Douglas County School District for over six years. Mr. Fopma’s love for teaching is literally in his blood – his grandfather was a government teacher for 30 years and his father worked for a Congressman.