Gallery

Ignacio third-grader Micah Chee, 8, has a little fun with magnifying glasses during Alison deKay’s science class Thursday at the elementary school. The district has been involved in a multi-year turnaround including a curriculum realignment and building new facilities. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Ignacio third-graders study different minerals in rocks during Alison deKay’s science class Thursday at the elementary school. Hiring a K-4 science teacher was part of the school’s efforts to turnaround a long period of academic and growth struggles, and it appears to be paying off. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Ignacio third-graders study different minerals in rocks during Alison deKay’s science class Thursday at the elementary school. The new elementary school is part of the Ignacio School District’s efforts to turn student performance around. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Ignacio third-grader David Simmonds, 8, describes the different minerals in a rock during Alison deKay’s science class Thursday at the elementary school. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Ignacio third-grader Kayla Buck, 8, writes down the different minerals in rocks during Alison deKay’s science class on Thursday at the elementary school. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Ignacio third-graders Kayla Buck, 8, left, Erika Richards, 9, and Auq-uwey O’John, 9, write down the different minerals in rocks during Alison deKay’s science class Thursday at the elementary school. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Ignacio third-grader Dana Santistevan, 9, writes down the different minerals in rocks during Alison deKay’s science class on Thursday at the elementary school. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Alison deKay’s science class on Thursday at the elementary school. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Alison deKay holds a milk snake for her Ignacio Elementary School third-grade science class to examine Thursday at the school. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Alison deKay holds a milk snake for her Ignacio Elementary School third-grade science class to examine Thursday at the school. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Ignacio third-graders leave Alison deKay’s science class for lunch on Thursday at the elementary school. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Art work by students at Ignacio Elementary School on Thursday. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Marisa Medina, 15, works a sewing machine in her fashion-merchandising class at Ignacio High School on Thursday. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Andrea Loya, 16, works a sewing machine in her fashion-merchandising class at Ignacio High School on Thursday. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Ignacio High School Advanced Placement chemistry teacher Jessica Musch works with students on Thursday. The school district has been involved in a significant turnaround that has included curriculum changes such as adding Advanced Placement classes at the high school. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Ignacio High School math teacher Andy Sweet teaches an algebra class on Thursday. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

A banner about Character Counts, part of the Ignacio School District’s efforts to turn student performance around, hangs in the Ignacio School District Administration Building on Thursday. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald