KOSON CONNECTION: 12/5
KOSON SCHOOLS & STEM SCHOOL HIGHLANDS RANCH
Dear STEM Families,
As we enter the next phase of our strategic plan, we want to pause and clarify the relationship between Koson Schools (Koson) and STEM School Highlands Ranch (STEM) — and how this structure strengthens the experience for students, staff, and families.
WHAT IS KOSON SCHOOLS?
Koson Schools, established in 2017, is the entity that oversees STEM School Highlands Ranch. Koson provides the organizational structure, leadership systems, and long-term strategy that support the success and growth of the network of STEM and problem-based learning.
Put simply: STEM is the school our students attend and Koson is the organizational backbone that helps STEM thrive.
Koson Schools and STEM School Highlands Ranch are governed by one Board of Directors. Koson leadership is accountable to the Board, and through them, to the charter authorizers and the community we serve.
WHO MAKES DECISIONS THAT IMPACT STUDENTS AND FAMILIES?
While Koson provides organizational oversight, support systems, and policy/procedure structure, the decisions that directly impact students and families at STEM are made at the school level, including:
Curriculum implementation and instructional practices
Staffing decisions and teacher development
Student support, discipline, and resources
Safe, positive, inclusive school culture
School calendar and bell schedules
School-level events and activities
STEM+ and extracurricular experiences
COMMITMENT TO STEM FAMILIES
Koson’s growth strategy will not reduce STEM resources or staff to fund or launch new programs. STEM remains fully resourced to serve current students well. New initiatives are supported through dedicated funding streams, new staffing specific to each program, strategic partnerships, and sustainable planning.
WHY GROW?
A single-site school that grows additional programs and schools is able to provide greater stability, richer academic offerings, and a stronger financial foundation. Growth is not expansion for its own sake — it is about strengthening what STEM already does well and creating the systems that sustain it. According to our growth rationale and research, scaling a school into a network increases financial sustainability, expands student access, strengthens academic programs, and supports teacher development and retention.
UPCOMING HIGHLIGHTS
Going forward, families can expect more regular communication from Koson Schools as we share updates about our long-term plans, areas of growth, and how these efforts support the STEM School Highlands Ranch community. Our next communication will focus on two major priorities: STEM Homeschool Enrichment and High School Relocation Project. Both initiatives are focused on strengthening STEM’s long-term stability and enhancing opportunities for students.
The growth ahead is intentional and rooted in the values that define STEM: problem-solving, innovation for good, academic excellence, and the belief that every student deserves opportunities aligned to their passions.
If you have questions, please reach out to me directly. Thank you for being part of our school community.
In Partnership,
Matt Cartier
Chief Innovation Officer