“All the candidates were amazing. I really thank them all for coming out,” said Board President Kristin Smith.
Board members Smith, Andrea Parmenter, Erika Brown, and Rick Petersen asked candidates about their reasons for seeking appointment, their experience, and how they managed conflicting perspectives. Student board members asked the candidates how they would incorporate student voice, and to provide an assessment of their own Portrait of a Graduate skills.
At approximately 8:30 p.m., the Board announced the appointment of Grace Morledge to serve as the new District D director. Morledge, a retired Language Arts teacher, substitute teacher, and journalist, was sworn in at 8:49 p.m. during the meeting and will begin her term at the March 10 Work Session at Park Elementary School.
"I really miss the classroom and I miss my connections with education," said Morledge during her interview. "I have some background that I think would be valuable. I believe in volunteering. I have the time, and I'm willing to throw my hat in the ring."
Morledge has lived in Durango for six years, and has a grandson who started Kindergarten at Sunnyside Elementary School this year. She said as a former journalist in California, she reported on school boards over the years. As a former teacher, she said she has experience as a department chair and understands the complexity of educational topics such as consolidation and school finance. Morledge currently volunteers to support a group of young writers at The Reading Room of Maria's Bookshop and Literary Foundation.
She said it was important to listen to families in the district. "I think it's very difficult for people in a community when they feel they are not being heard," she said. "But I think there's a very fine line that shouldn't be crossed between taking on the duties of the school and district administration."
When faced with a difficult or controversial decision, Morledge said she would make sure she was familiar with all of the information, do research on her own, and listen to the public before making a decision. Reflecting on her experience as a Language Arts department chair, she said, "Sometimes it's like getting everyone to agree on which flavor of ice cream is the best – and that is not possible."
When asked about her self-assessment of Portrait of a Graduate competencies, she said, "I'm a fairly Confident Communicator. But I feel the most important thing in any kind of organization is to be an Empathetic Collaborator."
Board members said they appreciated Morledge’s experience as a former educator. They said they wanted stability for the person in the District D role, which has traditionally been hard to fill. Morledge said she would possibly be willing to run again after her term ends in November 2027, when the seat will return to the ballot. The appointed member may choose to run for election at that time.
“[Ms. Morledge] really understands the delineation between the superintendent’s role and the board. She has a grandson who is in Kindergarten at Sunnyside, so she is invested in the district. Her experience as an educator and her willingness to run again was what swayed me.”
Learn more about the 2026 board appointment process here.
