City-wide Engagement As D11 Sponsors The Home Opener At Switchback’s Weidner Field - 03/12/26

City-wide engagement as D11 sponsors the home opener at Switchback’s Weidner Field 

Colorado Springs School District 11 will be the title night sponsor this Saturday, March 14, for the Colorado Springs Switchbacks’ home opener match against the Las Vegas Lights FC. D11 and Switchbacks FC have formed a partnership that highlights the importance of local businesses coming together with local education. 

In addition to an exciting Sea of Cyan Fan Zone before the match, families from D11 will get to unfurl the American flag, help as ushers in the stands, toss the starting match coin, cheer on the sidelines, and play a scrimmage at halftime. Elementary girls’ soccer players will go up against the Palmer High School girls’ soccer team. 

Not only does the partnership increase engagement with downtown and create opportunities for families, D11 and the Switchbacks now have an apprenticeship program, supporting employment growth in Colorado Springs. The first D11 Switchbacks Marketing Apprentice will walk out on the field with other district representatives. 

“At the Switchbacks, our vision statement says that we will embed ourselves into the heart of the community. We believe working with kids in our neighborhood is just the way to do that,” said Switchbacks President Brad Estes. “We are ecstatic to partner with D11 as our title night sponsor for the home opener, and we are even more ecstatic to continue developing interesting avenues for kids to develop in Colorado Springs.”

Join D11 and the Switchbacks at Weidner Field this Saturday, March 14, 2026 at 1pm for the Sea of Cyan Fan Zone and 3pm for the game. 

Switchbacks FC:

The Colorado Springs Switchbacks Football Club is a professional soccer team based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, competing in the USL Championship, the second tier of the American soccer pyramid and one of the most widely followed professional soccer leagues in North America, reaching over 84 million fans. Founded in 2015, the Switchbacks play at Weidner Field, an 8,000-seat downtown stadium that opened in 2021 and serves as a premier destination for sports and community events in the region. In 2024, the club captured both the USL Championship Western Conference title and the USL Championship title, marking one of the most successful seasons in club history. Matches are broadcast nationally on ESPN (ESPN+ and select linear channels) and locally on KOAA and Xtra Sports 1300. The Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, its holdings, and Weidner Field are owned by Dean Weidner of Weidner Apartment Homes.

The Colorado Springs School District 11

The Colorado Springs School District 11 is reshaping public education by focusing on excellence, choice, and engagement to drive student achievement. With a PreK-14 model, including the county’s largest number of preschool sites and the D11 Promise scholarship, the district ensures access to high-quality education for all students. D11 values parents’ right to choose the best educational path, offering a range of options from traditional schools to innovation zones and online platforms. Through strong community partnerships, the district provides students with expanded opportunities and a commitment to finding excellence through experience.

D11 Kindergarteners Race Into Learning With KinDerby Peak Experience (Photo) - 03/10/26

Coronado High School Hosts International Robotics Competition, Team Earns Top Honors (Photo) - 03/09/26

For immediate release. Colorado Springs, Colo.

Coronado High School hosted the FIRST Robotics Pikes Peak Regional from March 5–8, welcoming 33 teams from across the United States and three international teams, including two from Chinese Taipei and one from Mexico.

During the four-day competition, students designed and operated robots to complete engineering challenges, scoring points by launching game pieces into a hub and climbing a tower structure.

Coronado’s robotics team, “Cougars Gone Wired,” earned 5th place overall and received the Excellence in Engineering Award for outstanding robot design and engineering.

In addition, team mentor Ryan Knight received the Woodie Flowers Finalist Award, honoring mentors who demonstrate exceptional dedication and leadership in guiding students.

The event brought together hundreds of students, mentors, and volunteers to celebrate innovation, teamwork, and hands-on STEM learning.

Colorado Springs School District 11 Unveils The Reimagined And Historic Planetarium At Mitchell High School (Photo) - 03/05/26

For immediate release and press invitation: 

Colorado Springs has a new educational STAR in town. The state-of-the-art Digistar Interactive Planetarium System and STEM Room at Mitchell High School reopen with a ribbon-cutting on Monday, March 9, 2026, from 4:00-5:30 pm. Join Superintendent Michael Gaal, Principal George Smith, School Board representatives, and local students as they celebrate the grand return of Colorado Springs’ ONLY Public High School Planetarium. District and school-based investment in Mitchell High School has created yet another opportunity to provide Peak Experiences across D11 and the entire city for all students, Kindergarten through college.

Though the planetarium's capabilities lend themselves strongly toward science instruction, the space can be used for much more. Recently, the planetarium was used in a Trigonometry class to better understand sine and cosine waves by studying the movement of the planets around the sun. Other cross-curricular opportunities include studying the Greek constellations and Chinese asterisms in a Mythology class or using the stars to navigate as runners on the underground railroad in a U.S. History class. Students can share tall tales under the stars and around an artificial campfire in an English class or even sing songs around it while the dome echoes their voices in a Choir class. 

The Colorado Springs School District 11 invites the press to the out-of-this-world grand reopening of the Mitchell High School Interactive Planetarium System on Monday, March 9, 2026, from 4:00-5:30 pm. 

Media Contact:

Valerie Jordan, Project Manager

VALERIE.JORDAN@d11.org

719-328-6608

D11 To Host Largest And Most Comprehensive Hiring Fair In District History With 162 Essential Positions Available - 03/04/26

For immediate release, community notification, and press invitation:

D11 to Host Largest and Most Comprehensive Hiring Fair in District History with 162 Essential Positions Available

On March 14, 2026, The Colorado Springs School District 11 will host the most comprehensive hiring fair in district history, with 162 essential positions ready to be filled across the organization.

This is not a typical job fair. Every department will be represented by district leaders eager to meet candidates who are ready to make a meaningful impact. From teachers and paraprofessionals to crossing guards and central administration, D11 is seeking passionate, talented individuals who want to serve students, families, and the broader Colorado Springs community.

The hiring event will take place Saturday, March 14, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Doherty High School, conveniently located near Barnes Road and Austin Bluffs Parkway. Spanish-speaking support will be available to ensure all interested applicants feel welcome and supported.

Working in D11 means more than accepting a job. It means investing in the future of Colorado Springs. Every role plays a critical part in shaping safe, supportive learning environments where students can thrive. Families and neighbors depend on the dedication, care, and professionalism of district staff each and every day.

Located in the vibrant heart of downtown Colorado Springs, District 11 offers competitive benefits packages, supportive work environments, and a collaborative community of compassionate, mission-driven professionals.

Now is the time to step forward and be part of something bigger.

Join us on March 14 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Doherty High School and discover how your skills, passion, and purpose can make a difference.

Register for the Hiring Fair at: d11.org/hiringfairs 

What you do matters.
What you do at D11 makes a difference.

Event: D11 All Positions Hiring Fair

Date: Saturday, March 14, 2026

Time: 9 am - 1 pm

Location: Doherty High School, 4515 Barnes Rd. 80917

Steele Elementary Celebrates 125 Years In Colorado Springs School District 11 - 03/03/26

For immediate release and press invitation:

Steele Elementary Celebrates 125 Years in Colorado Springs School District 11

Standing as a pillar of educational excellence in the beautiful Old North End neighborhood, Steele Elementary proudly celebrates its 125th anniversary this month. As the only International Baccalaureate (IB) elementary school in downtown Colorado Springs, Steele launches the Colorado Springs School District 11 full academic pathway, connecting IB students to North Middle School and Palmer High School. Since its founding in 1901, Steele has remained a leader in student achievement and academic excellence.

Join D11 in celebrating the 125th anniversary on Friday, March 6, 2026. During the school day, students and staff will participate in hands-on explorations of “Steele Through The Eras”. While the after-school celebration kicks off with a speech by current Steele parent and esteemed Colorado Springs Mayor, Yemi Mobalade. There will be opportunities for the community to get involved with a new art mural installation and examine artifacts, including a 1976 time capsule recently discovered at the Pioneer Museum. 

Join us:

Steele Elementary School 125th Anniversary Celebration

1720 N. Weber St., Colorado Springs, CO 80907
Friday, March 6, 2026 - open to the public beginning at 3:00 pm in the school’s gymnasium

Media Contact:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Doherty High School Celebrates Grand Opening Of Wilfong Family Fieldhouse — A Lasting Investment In Students And Community (Photo) - 02/26/26

Colorado Springs, CO – On Thursday, March 5 at 1:30 p.m., Doherty High School will proudly host a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Grand Opening for the new Wilfong Family Fieldhouse — a transformative space made possible through the extraordinary generosity and longstanding support of the Wilfong family.

For years, the Wilfong family has stood alongside Doherty High School as champions for students, athletics, and opportunity. The Fieldhouse now stands as a powerful symbol of what is possible when community and school unite around a shared vision for young people.

The state-of-the-art indoor facility features a full indoor turf field designed to expand opportunities across a wide range of athletic and extracurricular programs. Doherty student-athletes will train and compete in men’s and women’s soccer, football, women’s flag football, baseball, softball, golf, and track. Beyond athletics, the Fieldhouse will also serve as a dedicated practice home for the school’s marching band and other student activities — ensuring year-round access to high-quality space regardless of Colorado’s unpredictable weather.

More than just a building, the Wilfong Family Fieldhouse represents access, equity, and opportunity. It creates space for students to grow not only as athletes and performers, but as leaders, teammates, and scholars.

“This incredible gift from the Wilfong Family represents far more than a new facility — it is a lasting investment in our students, our programs, and our future,” Hillary Heinton, Principal at Doherty, shared. “The Fieldhouse expands participation, enhances training, and strengthens the spirit of Spartan pride that defines Doherty High School. Generations of students will benefit from this remarkable partnership.”

The ribbon cutting ceremony will bring together students, staff, alumni, community members, and the Wilfong family to celebrate this milestone moment — one that reflects the power of partnership and the deep belief that when a community invests in its schools, everyone wins.