Durham Public Schools

10/02/2026

Shout out your favorite DPS custodian in the comments, and take a moment to thank a custodian today! Share their name, school, and what makes them special.

This School Custodian Appreciation Day, Durham Public Schools celebrates the people whose hard work and care help make our schools welcoming places to learn and grow.

Our custodians prepare our buildings before the first bell and care for them long after the final bell. They keep our buildings safe and clean, providing a space for our scholars to learn and our staff to educate our future leaders. Cleanliness brings about safety, and safety is the foundation of a sound learning environment.

Their impact goes beyond clean spaces! It’s in the friendly greetings, helping hands, and pride they bring to their work. Our custodians bring about a sense of pride and joy to their work that is felt throughout our hallways.

To our DPS custodians: We see your dedication, appreciate your care, and thank you for all you do for our scholars and staff. You are an essential part of the DPS family!

10/02/2026

🎨 What’s Happening in DPS? A little Shepard creativity is making a BIG splash in Chapel Hill!

Shepard Middle School art teacher and renowned artist José Manuel Cruz is bringing color, culture, and movement to a bus stop shelter with his artwork, “Cultural Dancers”!

The piece celebrates ancestral rhythms passed down through generations, honoring unity, equality, and the preservation of cultural history. Its vibrant colors reflect the energy of life and nature. 💃🏽🌿

Mr. Cruz’s creativity reaches far beyond the classroom! Drawing inspiration from his Colombian and Puerto Rican heritage, he creates colorful works exploring identity and the Afro-Latino experience. His art has also been featured in the North Carolina Museum of Art’s The Creative Lives of Educators exhibition.

🛍️ Shopping at Village Plaza? Make a little art stop while you’re there! Take a peek at the eastbound bus shelter near E. Franklin Street and Elliott Road and show some love to one of our own.

📲 Check out our Instagram repost of the reel from Chapel Hill Community Arts & Culture or visit their page to learn more!

Congratulations, Mr. Cruz! Thank you for sharing your talent with our scholars and bringing your creativity into the community. ❤️

📸 Photo courtesy of the Town of Chapel Hill.

10/01/2026

It's National Principals Month! Shout-out your favorite principal!

This October, we’re celebrating National Principals Month and the leaders who help make the DPS Difference. From welcoming scholars each morning to supporting teachers and partnering with families, our principals help build school communities where students feel valued, encouraged, and ready to succeed.

To our DPS principals: Thank you for your dedication, compassion, and commitment to our scholars and staff. We appreciate all you do! 👏

💬 Give your principal a shout-out in the comments! Share their name, school, and something that makes them special.

10/01/2026

📚🌎 What’s Happening in DPS!

Little River Montessori celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with a Spanish Read-In on September 25! Community members visited classrooms to read Spanish-language books to our scholars, sharing stories and celebrating language and culture.

The DPS Multilingual Resource Center joined the fun, reading to students and helping bring the celebration to life! 💛

Thank you to everyone who shared their time and voices with our scholars. Your participation helped make this a special day of reading, learning, and community connection!

09/30/2026

DURHAM STUDENTS, YOUR VOICE MATTERS!

What does it mean to be “We the People” in America? 🇺🇸

Durham County invites K–12 students to take the stage at the We the People Poetry Slam!
This is your opportunity to share your story, celebrate your identity, express your perspective, and show Durham what the next generation has to say!

Whether you're an aspiring poet, a creative storyteller, or someone with something meaningful to share, we want to hear YOUR voice.

📅 October 12, 2026
📍 Carolina Theatre – Cinema One, Durham
⏰ 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Doors open at 5:30 PM
🏆 Prizes awarded for 1st and 2nd place!

Open to all K–12 students. Original poetry only. Performances are limited to 3 minutes, with a 30-second grace period.

📩 Interested in participating? Submit your original poem to [email protected] at least 7 days before the event.

Your story. Your perspective. Your stage.

09/28/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Laverne Mattocks-Perry on graduating from the inaugural Dudley Flood Center Ambassador Program!

Dr. Mattocks-Perry was one of fewer than ten educational leaders selected for the 18-month program, which helps prepare current school and district leaders to become future North Carolina superintendents. Through book studies, transition planning, and other learning experiences, the cohort strengthened the skills needed to lead public school districts.

Please join us in celebrating Dr. Mattocks-Perry and this achievement!

09/28/2026

What’s Happening in DPS? The Lady Gryphons are making history!

On September 24, the School for Creative Studies volleyball team earned its first win in school history!

After dropping a close first set, 23–25, the Lady Gryphons rallied to win the next two, 25–16 and 15–6. They kept the momentum going with a 15–10 win in the friendship set, too!

With athletics still new at the School for Creative Studies, this is a milestone worth celebrating. Congratulations to the Lady Gryphons and their coaches on a victory powered by teamwork, determination, and Gryphon Pride! 💙

09/28/2026

ICYMI: Historic Hillside High School graduate Joshua Suiter tells CBS17 of the importance of getting an education and talks about his new role in the Netflix reboot of "A Different World." See the interview here:

Durham native Joshua Suiter is now streaming in Netflix’s reboot of the beloved series “A Different World”.

09/25/2026

The Durham Public Schools Board of Education has appointed Johnell Daye, III as the district's chief legal counsel, Danielle Boyd as principal of Glenn Elementary School, and Rhonda Bradley as principal of Sandy Ridge Elementary School. Read more at dpsnc.net.

09/25/2026

| Mi Éxito, Mi Camino is a bilingual (English/Spanish) postsecondary exploration event for middle and high school students and their families. The event will feature colleges/universities, community-based organizations, employment opportunities, and guest speakers for participants to start planning for their futures and learn about the resources available to them. Mi Éxito, Mi Camino is hosted by the Emily K Center’s Game Plan: Future program in collaboration with the North Carolina Society of Hispanic Professionals, LatinxEd, and UNC Greensboro.

This event is intended to be fully in Spanish/bilingual. Open to anyone in the community, and completely free!

Mi Éxito, Mi Camino es un evento de exploración postsecundaria bilingüe (inglés/español) para estudiantes de secundaria y preparatoria y sus familias. El evento contará con colegios/universidades, organizaciones comunitarias, y oradores invitados para que los participantes comiencen a planificar su futuro y conozcan los recursos disponibles para ellos. Mi Éxito, Mi Camino es organizado por Game Plan: Future en colaboración con North Carolina Society of Hispanic Professionals, LatinxEd y UNC Greensboro.

Este evento está destinado a ser completamente en español y bilingüe.¡Abierto para la comunidad y completamente gratis!