Head of School
Animas High School
Animas High School (AHS) is a tuition–free, public charter school open to all. Founded locally in 2009 and chartered through the Colorado Charter School Institute (CSI), AHS has a proven track record of preparing students for college and postsecondary success. Our innovative, project-based curriculum engages students in their education, creating critical thinkers, strong problem solvers, articulate presenters and emotionally intelligent young adults. We are located on the Fort Lewis College campus, in a beautiful, newly constructed, solar-powered building specifically designed to support our unique curriculum and programs.
We are driven to cultivate a community grounded in respect, curiosity, and authentic relationships. Our community is one where young people are seen and heard, and where their voices shape the learning experience. We believe in honoring the professionalism, creativity, and deep commitment of our educators, fostering an adult learning culture that is strengths-based, collaborative, and always striving to get better. We are committed to project-based learning, and we value thoughtful, student-centered instructional leadership that equips teachers with tools, not prescriptions, to grow. We care about clear systems, intentional planning, and follow-through that support both efficiency and humanity. We hold close our partnerships with Fort Lewis College and the wider Durango community, and we are committed to being a school that listens, engages, and leads with purpose.
Animas High School operates within a national education landscape marked by rising student needs and heightened expectations for both instructional excellence and social-emotional support. Schools across the country are balancing increased compliance demands, political pressures, and the challenge of doing more with limited resources, all while striving to deliver meaningful, relevant, future-ready learning. For charter schools in particular, and in Durango and the surrounding communities certainly, shifting demographics and growing competition require ongoing attention to enrollment – both attracting new students and retaining current ones – which adds another layer of strategic focus for school leaders.
Charter schools are increasingly taking a hard look at their models to examine what’s working, what needs to evolve, and how to remain both mission-driven and responsive. This reflective posture is not only common but essential, ensuring that schools stay aligned with their founding purpose while adapting to the changing needs of students, staff, communities, and the broader landscape in which they operate.
Notwithstanding the challenges that exist, AHS is poised for a next chapter that builds on strong foundations. The next Head of School will inherit a community rooted in trust, belonging, and authenticity whose small size enables close connection and nimbleness. With a beautiful new campus, a supportive board, financial reserves, strong local ties, and a deep well of faculty dedication, Animas High School is ready to be led by an inspiring, values-aligned leader.