Miller Middle School

Miller Middle School Welcome! Miller Middle School is a part of Durango School District 9-R. Miller is an internationally minded middle school that inspires global awareness.

We strive to create a learning environment where all students own their learning, act on their learning, and positively impact their community. Our young leaders make a positive difference in our changing world through inquiry, cross-cultural understanding, and a shared vision of academic excellence. We are committed to an innovative educational system, guaranteeing our learners acquire critical t

hinking and problem-solving skills necessary to compete and succeed in the 21st century. In partnership with the Durango community, our students achieve confidence and success in their learning through equitable opportunities and rigorous interdisciplinary experiences, sparking a passion for life-long learning. Distinguishing Characteristics of Our School:
•Focus on student ownership of learning
•Community garden
•AVID College Readiness System
•Health, Wellness, and Mindfulness Focus
•Action and Service

🎓🦋 Eighth graders at Miller Middle School shared their Portrait of a Graduate capstones today, reflecting on how much th...
05/21/2026

🎓🦋 Eighth graders at Miller Middle School shared their Portrait of a Graduate capstones today, reflecting on how much they’ve grown during their middle school years before heading off to high school.

One powerful presentation came from Maddie Martin, who used the metaphor of a butterfly to describe her own transformation through the Portrait of a Graduate competencies. From recovering after a skiing accident as a Resilient Risk-Taker, to learning patience on a joint school project as an Empathetic Collaborator, to guiding younger students as a Confident Communicator and WEB Leader (We All Belong), her reflections showed real growth and self-awareness.

One of her quotes especially stayed with us:
“Change doesn’t always come at the right time, and growth doesn’t happen when I’m comfortable.”

Moments like these are a reminder that Portrait of a Graduate is more than a framework — it’s becoming part of how our students see themselves, face challenges, and prepare for what’s next.



05/06/2026

🍎 This week, we celebrate the heart of Durango School District — our incredible teachers and staff.

Thank you for the early mornings, late nights, steady encouragement, creativity, patience, and care you pour into students every single day. Whether you work in classrooms, cafeterias, buses, offices, libraries, maintenance, technology, counseling, or behind the scenes, you make a difference for kids and families across our community.

Public education is powered by people who show up with heart, even during challenging times. We are grateful for each and every one of you. 💙


⏰ Save the date- Friday evening! ⏰ Join us for a sneak peek and tour of the new Durango Big Picture High School buildin...
05/06/2026

⏰ Save the date- Friday evening! ⏰ Join us for a sneak peek and tour of the new Durango Big Picture High School building (281 Sawyer Drive, Suite 300) on Friday, May 8, from 5-6 p.m. This event is specifically for families and students interested in enrolling for the 2026-27 school year. Visitors can take a self-guided tour of the facility, connect with Principal Samantha Tower, and meet student representatives.

While this preview is for prospective students, the general public will be invited to a fall Grand Opening and Ribbon-Cutting event, currently planned for Tuesday, Sept. 15.

The renovation project was made possible through community support of the 2024 Investing in Our Schools Bond, and DSD staff members will move into the permanent facility in August. For more information, visit the Durango Big Picture website or call (970) 259-0203.

Learn more: https://ow.ly/fOUS50YUPUW



👣 It's Wandering Wednesday! 👣 Miller Middle School athletes took a break from evening practices on Tuesday evening to st...
04/15/2026

👣 It's Wandering Wednesday! 👣 Miller Middle School athletes took a break from evening practices on Tuesday evening to step into a different kind of spotlight — presenting to the Board of Education and showing how Portrait of a Graduate skills are coming to life in real ways.

🧊 Shelby Opilla (8th grade) is thinking globally, developing a full business plan for an authentic ice shop with frozen treats— entirely in Spanish.
💪 Jia Turgeon (8th grade) is building strength in more ways than one, serving as a personal trainer for staff and leading a “Taking a Stand” project centered on student-athlete voice.
🍲 Stella Shipp (7th grade) is connecting science to real life, studying Blue Zones to design meal plans that support long-term health and wellness.

Principal Vernadette Norman introduced the students and praised them for their unique projects. From communication to leadership to real-world problem solving—this is what learning looks like at DSD.



The Board of Education will meet at 5:30 p.m. tonight for a Work Session at Miller Middle School. MMS students will shar...
04/14/2026

The Board of Education will meet at 5:30 p.m. tonight for a Work Session at Miller Middle School. MMS students will share a Portrait of a Graduate showcase.

The public is welcome. Work Sessions are not livestreamed and do not include public participation.

The agenda, along with presentations, can be found here: https://ow.ly/mOXN50YJ6tU

🤗 It's Friday Feels! 🤗 This week, Miller Middle School 8th graders took on an important and challenging topic—genocid...
04/10/2026

🤗 It's Friday Feels! 🤗 This week, Miller Middle School 8th graders took on an important and challenging topic—genocide and the Holocaust—through their Resilience & Moral Courage Virtual Museum.

Students in Jenny Fitts Reynold's class created exhibits that honor survivors, remember those who lost their lives, and highlight stories of people who chose to stand up for others.

This project goes beyond learning facts. It helps students think about responsibility, empathy, and the role each of us plays in shaping the future. We’re proud of the thoughtfulness and effort our students put into this work—and the way they approached it with care and respect.

💻 The museum is virtual. You can explore it here: https://ow.ly/AqjE50YFZZB



🎉 Save the date! 🎉 Looking for summer youth activities, support, or just a fun evening with your family? Mark your calen...
03/26/2026

🎉 Save the date! 🎉 Looking for summer youth activities, support, or just a fun evening with your family? Mark your calendar for the 2026 Durango Education Foundation Spring Resource Fair! It will be held April 1, 4-6:30 p.m. at the La Plata County Fairgrounds. Connect with 50+ local organizations offering programs, services, and resources for kids and families across our community.

✨ Free dinner!
🎈 Balloon animals with Ruby Balloons
🎨 Face painting, stickers, and giveaways
💡 Financial help for summer camps and activities

Families can learn about two powerful funding opportunities — Team Up La Plata’s scholarship fund and the new Holland Opportunity Fund — helping open doors for students all summer long.

🌱 Thanks to its growing middle school curriculum and field trip offerings, DSD's SOIL Outdoor Learning Lab recently host...
03/17/2026

🌱 Thanks to its growing middle school curriculum and field trip offerings, DSD's SOIL Outdoor Learning Lab recently hosted all 7th graders from Miller Middle School and Escalante Middle School to learn about the cycling of matter. Students participated in fun, hands-on activities: planting seeds and studying photosynthesis in the Grow Dome, digging around in compost and worm bins to explore the science of decomposition, and playing a competitive soil-food-web game.

🥕 The addition of the Grow Dome has enabled SOIL to offer winter field trips in all weather — and students are able to harvest and enjoy fresh, colorful winter salads when they visit!

🥗 Follow SOIL on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soillearninglab/

✅ Tomorrow is lottery day for one of the middle school options in our community. We know many families are weighing impo...
03/03/2026

✅ Tomorrow is lottery day for one of the middle school options in our community. We know many families are weighing important decisions right now, and we wish every student the very best wherever their path leads.

🍎 At Durango School District, we’re proud to offer middle schools where every student can explore their interests and grow into who they want to become.

🖼️ Through our Portrait of a Graduate vision, students build skills like leadership, collaboration, and creative problem-solving from kindergarten through graduation. Because Durango School District is a connected K–12 system, our middle schools are intentionally designed to prepare students for the academic pace and expectations they will experience in high school.

🤖 Our middle schools open doors to robotics, performing arts, athletics, outdoor learning, 14 Career & Technical Education pathways, and project-based learning that connects to real life.

If you’d like to see what middle school looks like in action, explore our video library featuring students from Escalante and Miller:

🎥 Miller Middle School videos of curiosity-fueled projects: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLueFxxr8LWsoOaVyBVWHP3mjGtV6iheIA&si=9dkg1F6Vw2TOvf9w

🎥 Escalante Middle School videos of joyful learning: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLueFxxr8LWsoQ97hTDWFlqjYpsR6XqMhO&si=PFV_xCvvLl1rvMNG


🗓️ TODAY, 8:30 a.m. to 1: 30 p.m. – Join us at the the Southwest Colorado Educator Recruitment Fair, held at Miller Midd...
02/28/2026

🗓️ TODAY, 8:30 a.m. to 1: 30 p.m. – Join us at the the Southwest Colorado Educator Recruitment Fair, held at Miller Middle School, 2608 Junction St. in Durango.

🍎 Ready to teach where community, opportunity, and the outdoors go hand in hand? School districts from across the Four Corners are coming together for in-person connections and interviews.

🏠 Workforce housing is available for new DSD staff starting in the 2026–27 school year! Learn more: https://ow.ly/wxuV50YnjWT


Address

2608 Junction St
Durango, CO
81301

Telephone

+19702471418

Website

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