San Juan BOCES Southwest Colorado E-School supports students beyond the traditional classroom

One of the smallest school districts in Colorado, the San Juan BOCES Southwest Colorado E-School, is offering a unique educational experience tailored to 6-12th grade students who may not thrive in a traditional brick-and-mortar setting. 

Under the umbrella of the San Juan Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES), the Southwest Colorado E-school serves a diverse group of students across several districts, providing a flexible, personalized learning environment, and Principal Megs Johnson is enthusiastic about the origins and mission of the school.

“The superintendents got together and decided there needed to be an option for all the districts,” she reported. “They pooled their money initially to get us started and offer some type of programming, and over the course of the years, we were able to gain members and ultimately fund ourselves.”

The E-School has evolved significantly since its inception, with funding passing through the local school districts to serve students from nine districts in total. The school’s focus is not on competing with other educational programs in the Four Corners region, but on providing crucial support to students who face challenges in more traditional settings.

“We don’t want to compete with our member districts or pull kids from them. We are here to support them by providing services to kids who don’t fit into that brick and mortar system,” Johnson said.

This student-centered philosophy allows the school to offer a flexible and personalized curriculum that caters to a variety of needs. From rural students who face long bus rides to athletes who require more flexibility in their schedules, the E-School provides an alternative where students can succeed on their own terms. 

“We’ve got a lot of athletes who are gone a lot from home and miss school work. A lot of them like to train throughout the day too,” Johnson noted. “We’ve also got our work kids. A lot of kids just want to work. We’ve got a high percentage of kids who are out in the workforce, and can do their schooling around it and I say why not. Anything is possible in 2025 and the future for our students!”

The school’s population is diverse, including students dealing with anxiety, those who have been expelled from other districts, and everyone in between. The E-School offers a safe and supportive environment where students are empowered to learn at their own pace, with the guidance of dedicated educators.

 “There are four core staff, and we contract out for some of our classes,” Johnson explained. The team includes Micah Susman (English), Shaun Burke (Math), Kelly Powell (Counselor and Career Exploration), and Johnson herself, who serves as principal.

Despite its small size, the school provides a broad range of courses, including Advanced Placement (AP) and honors options, giving students access to the same opportunities as those in larger districts. The flexibility of the program allows students to explore electives and interests that may not be available in traditional schools.

“When COVID hit, our numbers went from 50 to 100 because everybody went online but parents weren’t sure what the schools were doing,” Johnson recalled. “This system was already organized and existed pretty well, so our numbers skyrocketed during COVID. Those numbers have normalized a bit since everybody went back to school.”

Even with those fluctuations, the school continues to thrive and adapt, and the E-School is exploring how to incorporate technology, including artificial intelligence, to keep pace with the rapidly changing educational landscape.

“I do think we are trying to keep moving forward, and AI is at the forefront of our teachers and students,” Johnson said. “How do we keep moving forward and not get stagnant with our system?”

Currently serving 59 students in grades 6 through 12, the school is able to maintain a close-knit, supportive environment. Individualized attention is one of the key benefits of the E-School, ensuring that each student’s needs are met and that no one falls through the cracks.

“We are small, so we keep track of our kids, which means nobody gets lost in the shuffle,” Johnson said. 

For students who have been with the E-School for the long haul, graduation is just around the corner, and the school’s graduation ceremony, held at Rotary Park, is a reflection of the tight-knit community that supports its students.

 “We currently have 9 seniors who will be walking for graduation in the spring, and they will walk away with a high school diploma, memories, and a ceremony similar to our surrounding schools,” Johnson stated.

For those who may feel out of place in a traditional school, San Juan BOCES Southwest Colorado E-School offers a vital alternative that blends flexibility, support, and personalized education, ensuring every student has the opportunity to succeed. As the school continues to adapt to the needs of its community, its commitment to serving students from across the region remains steadfast.

“We care about our kids and care about the community, and try to provide what each student wants or needs,” Johnson said.