Florida Mesa Elementary Home

2022 Governor’s Distinguished Improvement Award recipient
students work on math project

About Us

Florida Mesa is a thriving school community that serves approximately 280 students preschool through fifth grade. The staff is highly committed to supporting all students reach their maximum potential.
Learn more About Us
1st grade class
Where we’re located
Durango School District map
school building

Mission

The mission of Florida Mesa Elementary, an innovative learning community, committed to integrity and educational rigor, is to inspire, and develop compassionate, open-minded inquirers, who actively contribute to a better world, by guaranteeing equitable opportunities in a safe, healthy, and diverse environment.  

School & District News

A gold and black electric walk-behind forklift

DSD accepting bids for surplus forklift

From time to time, DSD sells surplus or obsolete equipment through public auction. The district is currently accepting bids for an Apollolift Powered Forklift Full Electric Walkie Stacker.
Two students sit outside on building steps eating their lunches.

Parenting series: January 2026 classes + newsletter on peer pressure and healthy choices

Need help in supporting your child's well-being? We are offering FREE live webinars on Monday-Thursday evenings throughout the school year, and you can always watch previously recorded classes on your own time by visiting the Cook Center's full content library. Live webinar topics in January include ADHD, bullying prevention, anxiety and depression, confidence-building, video game addiction, school avoidance, suicide prevention, establishing healthy boundaries, and more.
Bravo Award winner Krista Karpel

Bravo Award winner: Krista Karpel

Throughout each school year, DSD employees nominate their colleagues for Bravo Awards, an honor that recognizes faculty and staff who demonstrate Portrait of a Graduate attributes as they go above and beyond for students and the district.
Two adults cheer on a young child riding a red bike on a gravel road.

Parenting series: December 2025 classes + newsletter on Holiday Stress, Mental Health, and How to Cope

Need help in supporting your child's well-being? We are offering FREE live webinars on Monday-Thursday evenings throughout the school year, and you can always watch previously recorded classes on your own time by visiting the Cook Center's full content library. Live webinar topics in December include Compassionate Parenting, Depression: You're Not Alone, Navigating Divorce When Children Are Involved, Social Media: Protecting Your Child, ABCs of Substance Use and Vaping, and many more.
Bravo Award winner Josh Lamb

Bravo Award winner: Josh Lamb

Throughout each school year, DSD employees nominate their colleagues for Bravo Awards, an honor that recognizes faculty and staff who demonstrate Portrait of a Graduate attributes as they go above and beyond for students and the district.
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Connect with DSD on social media

Did you know Durango School District (DSD, formerly 9-R) shares stories, celebrations, and behind-the-scenes moments every week on social media? Follow us to see what’s happening in our classrooms and beyond — from teaching innovations and student projects to staff spotlights and community connections.
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Andrea Guttormson, Principal of Florida Mesa Elementary School

Principal's Message

It is an honor to serve as the new principal of Florida Mesa Elementary School. This is an exceptional community where dedicated staff, engaged families, and enthusiastic students come together to support meaningful learning in a culture of kindness, confidence, and curiosity. I look forward to partnering with you as we prepare for our exciting future — especially the transition to our new Three Springs campus in 2028, a space designed to reflect our shared vision for innovation and inclusion. 
— Andrea Guttormson, Principal

Events

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Engineer Mountain

Quality of Life

Durango is a beautiful place to live and work. It is located at 6,512 feet elevation in Southwest Colorado near the Four Corners region. Families who live here enjoy a historic steam train, ski resort, rivers, vibrant downtown, bike trails, sky-high “fourteener” mountains, and four distinct seasons with an average of 266 sunny days per year. We welcome new families and new staff members, and we offer excellent benefits and competitive salaries. 
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Accessibility Statement

It is the goal of Durango School District that the information on this website be accessible to individuals with visual, hearing, or cognitive disabilities. Good faith efforts are being made to ensure that our website complies with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0.
 
Most pages on our site are available in HTML format, which can be read by screen readers. Some documents are in Adobe PDF format, requiring Adobe Acrobat Reader, which can be downloaded for free from the Adobe website. Additionally, some documents are in Google Docs and Google Forms. Most modern browsers and screen readers can access Google-based documents. More information about Google web products accessibility can be found on the Google Accessibility website.
 
To ensure accessibility for everyone in our community, including those with disabilities, Durango School District is taking the following steps:
 
* We are actively identifying and addressing accessibility barriers across our websites and digital platforms.
* We request accessibility documentation (such as VPATs – Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates) from vendors whose digital tools or content are used on our websites.
* We work with vendors and service providers to ensure they are taking steps toward full compliance with WCAG and Section 504 requirements.
* We are committed to ongoing staff training and continuous website improvement.
* We regularly review our digital content to align with the Colorado Digital Accessibility Act (C.R.S. 24-34-104) and the latest applicable standards.
 
If you are unable to access any page or document on our site, please contact us at [email protected]. Include the webpage or document URL, your name, email address, and phone number. We will provide the information in an alternative format and work to resolve the issue. Alternatively, you may call the district's main information line at (970) 247-5411 and ask to speak with someone in the Communications Department. Include the location of the webpage/document, your name, email address, and phone number so we can provide the information in another format, and address the issue.

Learn more about the district's accessibility compliance plan and progress reports.