Durango teachers at an IMSE Refresher Course

 

In Durango School District (DSD)—a rural district serving over 4,300 PreK–12 students in southwest Colorado—literacy instruction once looked very different across classrooms. Teachers had been trained in Structured Literacy through IMSE’s Orton-Gillingham+ program as early as 2016, but a lack of district-wide consistency meant that implementation varied greatly. Educators either did not use the program at all or applied different elements, followed different pacing, and often felt unsure about what to teach and when.


A Strategic Shift Toward Consistency

 

The turning point came when district leaders noticed a trend: classrooms with high-fidelity IMSE implementation consistently posted stronger student outcomes year over year. In response, DSD adopted a unified plan in 2021 to train every K–2 teacher through IMSE’s Orton-Gillingham+ program and to provide ongoing support with implementation. The district also launched regular refresher trainings to maintain fidelity and help educators adapt their instruction with confidence.

 

 

To lead the initiative, the district appointed Rachel Tabor—an experienced early elementary teacher—as a district-wide IMSE-certified literacy instructor. Tabor now supports K–2 teams across all seven elementary schools, providing coaching, modeling of lessons, and helping teachers calibrate their instructional routines and materials.

 

 

Immense Gains Across Student Groups

 

The results of this intentional approach are impossible to ignore. During the 2024–2025 school year, proficiency levels on DIBELS 8 assessments at DSD rose significantly across all early elementary grades and student subgroups, with the most striking gains among Kindergarten students.

The district’s success highlights four key takeaways for others: start with a long-term vision, lead with empathy, protect time for literacy, and go beyond training with sustained support. By investing in educators and trusting the science, Durango School District is proving that Structured Literacy works when implemented with fidelity —for all students.

 

 

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