Durham Elementary School

Started off very positive but increasingly disappointing over the past 3 years.

We love Durham Elementary! The school has wonderful teachers and a knowledgeable and hard working principal that seems to really care about the students and staff. We wouldn't hesitate in recommending this school to our friends and family. We have spent a lot of time in the different classrooms with our children and know that they are getting a quality education. Nice job Durham!!

Congratulations to Durham Elementary for receiving the Distinguished Schools Award! Thanks to Barbara Jelicich for providing quality leadership and pursuing this opportunity to promote the amazing teachers, supportive staff, and outstanding volunteers that function together to create a safe, pleasant environment in which students can learn. Despite the significant budget cuts that are impacting schools nationwide, DES' principal, Barbara Jelicich, remains steadfast in her efforts to secure the needed tools to invest in educational enrichment of K-5th grade students. The teachers at DES have clear goals and are determined to see each student succeed to the best of their ability. In doing so, they sacrifice their own personal time, they maximize intervention resources made available to them, and encourage parent participation and a teamwork approach for student success. My children are prepared to meet the challenges that will be laid before them in Intermediate School.

The teachers at DES are amazing! They are hardworking and very dedicated. Unfortunately the principal is hurting the school. She has created an environment of fear and stress among the staff and with the parents, because of several of her actions. She is cruel and unkind to students, parents, and teachers alike. Many people are worried about the direction she is taking this school. I am seriously considering removing my children from the school because of the lack in leadership. But the teachers are great and my kids are happy there. However, I just can't get over the terrible actions recently taken by the principal.