Karen Cheser, Ed.D., is the proud Superintendent of Durango School District and was previously Superintendent of the Fort Thomas Schools in Kentucky. Prior to working in education in several positions (teacher, coach, literacy and math specialist, principal, state Distinguished Educator and district administrator) Karen worked for Procter & Gamble Inc. in sales management.
Karen is a member of the 2022-23 Colorado Governor’s Fellowship, chairs the SW Colorado Education Collaborative and serves on the Durango Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors as well as the LaPlata County Economic Development Alliance. She has been instrumental in bringing innovation, student agency, and a focus on future workforce to schools and communities through such projects as Durango’s Impact Career and Innovation Center, the Ignite Institute, LEGO League Robotics and the KY Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs. Karen served as national Vice-Chair of EdLeader21 and represents Colorado on the CoSN National Superintendents’ Panel and SEEC (Superintendents’ Environmental Education Collaborative).
With experience in both education and industry, she is committed to creating partnerships that fuel the economic pipeline and create meaningful career paths for all students. Karen is mom to two college-aged sons, wife to an entrepreneur/ woodworker, loves to travel, and coaches robotics in her spare time.