Ignite Online Academy

Over the weekend some of our youngest students: 3rd and 4th graders met up at a Durham park playground to celebrate completion of EOG’s and the culmination of another successful year! 🎊

Ms. Elizabeth Gallegos-Moore, the 2026 Durham Public Schools EC Educator of Excellence...and another AMAZING teacher at Ignite Online Academy!!

Congratulations again to Ms. Dacia Bedtelyon as our 2026 Ignite Teacher of the Year!

🎉 Congratulations to our very own Ms. Elizabeth Gallegos-Moore on being recognized as the 2026 Durham Public Schools EC Educator of Excellence! 🎉

We are incredibly proud of Ms. Gallegos-Moore and the outstanding work she does each and every day at Ignite Online Academy. She consistently goes above and beyond to ensure all students are supported, challenged, and provided meaningful opportunities to succeed both academically and personally.

Ms. Gallegos-Moore leads a highly effective weekly PLC for our EC team, stays current on best practices in education and literacy instruction, and is always willing to collaborate, problem-solve, and advocate for students. Her passion, leadership, and dedication make a lasting impact on our school community.

This recognition is so well deserved, and we are grateful to have such an exceptional educator representing Ignite! 💙🐉

Interested in enrolling at Ignite for the 26-27 school year? We still have seats remaining! Apply for the late application window before July 31! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe2HDVAiYkpz3J62tsFWJwcz2d9pzv4jND36mxonb-PSXSdLw/viewform
Reach out to [email protected] or [email protected] if you have any questions

The DPS Late Magnet Lottery is now open! Ignite has some seats available on a first come, first served basis.

To apply, visit https://www.dpsnc.net/page/late-lottery-application

Ignite will host a virtual information session on May 13th at 12:00 PM. Register here - https://dpsnc.zoom.us/meeting/register/b4B3T9IfR3G_ZrTP18TP1w

If you have questions about Ignite or how to apply, please reach out to Ignite’s Magnet Coordinator – email: [email protected] call or text: (919) 473-6871

¡El sorteo tardío de espacios para el programa Magnet de las Escuelas Públicas de Durham ya está abierto! Ignite cuenta con algunos cupos disponibles, los cuales se asignarán por orden de llegada.

Para aplicar, visite https://www.dpsnc.net/page/late-lottery-application
Ignite llevará a cabo una sesión informativa virtual el 13 de mayo a las 12:00 p. m. Regístrese aquí: https://dpsnc.zoom.us/meeting/register/b4B3T9IfR3G_ZrTP18TP1w

Si tiene preguntas sobre Ignite o sobre cómo postularse, por favor comuníquese con el/la Coordinador(a) de Magnet de Ignite por correo electrónico: [email protected] o llame o envíe un mensaje de texto: (919) 473-6871

During a special-called Board meeting on Monday, April 20, the Durham Public Schools Board of Education voted to make Friday, May 1, an optional teacher workday. There will be no school for students. After-school programs have been canceled. High school athletic events may proceed as scheduled.

Thousands of public school educators, families, and advocates from across the state have planned to gather in Raleigh on May 1 for a day dedicated to public education advocacy to voice concerns about the state budget and educator pay.

DPS has already received higher-than-average leave requests for the day and anticipates more staff absences, which would preclude safe school operations.

Students will not have to make up the day, as DPS still remains in compliance with instructional time requirements for this school year.

Thank you for your understanding and continued partnership.

Durante una reunión especial de la Junta el lunes 20 de abril, la Junta de Educación de las Escuelas Públicas de Durham votó designar el viernes 1 de mayo como un día laboral opcional para maestros. No habrá clases para los estudiantes. Los programas después de clases han sido cancelados. Los eventos deportivos de las escuelas preparatorias podrían continuar según lo programado.

Miles de educadores de escuelas públicas, familias y defensores de todo el estado han planeado reunirse en Raleigh el 1 de mayo para un día dedicado a la defensa de la educación pública y expresar preocupaciones sobre el presupuesto estatal y el salario de los educadores.

DPS ya ha recibido un número mayor de solicitudes de permiso para ese día y anticipa más ausencias del personal, lo cual impediría operaciones escolares seguras.

Los estudiantes no tendrán que recuperar este día, ya que DPS continúa cumpliendo con los requisitos de tiempo de instrucción para este año escolar.
higher-than-average
Gracias por su comprensión y su continuo apoyo.

Spotlight on Excellence for School Library Month!

Meet Kathleen Grave,s the Media Coordinator at Ignite Online Academy and Middle School District Lead. With 34 years of teaching experience in DPS, she has taken a unique path to the Media Center, transitioning from Theatre Teacher to Reading Specialist, and finally to Media Coordinator. This diverse background allows her to integrate her past roles into a creative and holistic teaching style.

In the distinctive realm of online instruction, Kathleen has built a digital collection that surpasses her print resources, making it the largest in the district. She effectively employs primary sources to foster critical and analytical thinking skills among her students. For younger learners, she shares wordless picture books with elementary and middle schools to enhance literary skills and encourage dialogue.

Kathleen has also organized and delivered engaging events, such as "Bedtime Stories Around the World," which brought together parents, students, and teachers to celebrate cultural diversity through books and activities. Collaborating with teachers and Hub Farm staff, she provides hands-on lessons aligned with North Carolina's Elementary and Junior Book Awards. Additionally, she has developed and shared interactive, primary source-based lessons, including "Why Are We Called the Bull City" and "Right Here - Not Now." As Middle School Media Lead, Kathleen collaborates with fellow Leads and her cohort to establish effective instructional and management practices. She engages in regular meetings, visits colleagues’ media centers to provide support, helps prepare for Battle of the Books, and partners with one another as well as the Durham County Library.

She is currently reading The God of the Woods by Liz Moore.