Denver teacher named 2025 Colorado Teacher of the Year

DENVER (KDVR) — A teacher in Denver was surprised with a ceremony Thursday morning as she was named the 2025 Colorado Teacher of the Year.

Each year, the Colorado Department of Education selects the Colorado Teacher of the Year through a nomination and application process. The winner then advances as Colorado’s nominee for the National Teacher of the Year competition.

This year’s Colorado Teacher of the Year is Janet Damon, a history teacher at DELTA High School who has been teaching students in Denver Public Schools for over 25 years.

Damon’s lessons focus on inquiry, research, digital storytelling and culturally sustaining learning and are designed to help students think critically about their own life challenges, according to the Colorado Department of Education.

“Her students imagine new solutions to problems in our state and create podcasts to advocate for issues like homelessness, gun violence, incarceration, inflation, immigration, racism, health disparities, and drug addiction in Colorado,” the Colorado Department of Education said.

In a post on Instagram, Denver public schools said Damon is “changing lives and making history of her own.”

“I am overwhelmed and so honored to represent so many amazing teachers in the state of Colorado, and to be here with my students, my family, my DPS community which is like family, is just tremendous. It’s an honor I’ll be processing probably for weeks,” Damon said after receiving the award.

Damon has multiple degrees and qualifications, including a Bachelor of Arts in History from Metropolitan State University, a Master’s of Library and Information Science from the University of Denver and an Educational Specialist (Ed.S) in Leadership for Educational Organizations from the University of Colorado at Denver.

Along with other teachers of the year from across the country, Damon will attend a ceremony at the White House and have the opportunity to go to NASA’s Space Camp. Additionally, recipients of the Colorado Teacher of the Year award receive a monetary prize and become part of the Colorado Education Commissioner’s Teacher Cabinet .

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