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Janet Damon is the kind of trainer college students will bear in mind for the remainder of their lives, her father stated after she was named the 2025 Colorado Instructor of the Yr.
“She’s a miracle baby,” stated a beaming Joseph Damon, 76, a former educator, including: “She takes care of youngsters.”
Others who gathered for a shock meeting stated that it didn’t shock them that the Denver Public Colleges DELTA Excessive College historical past trainer obtained the statewide honor over six different finalists.
Many cited her selfless mission to assist her college students as the explanation she was chosen for the honour.
DELTA junior Serenity Sena, 17, who stayed after the meeting to congratulate her trainer and get a photograph, stated Damon helped her via the hospitalization of her mother, who was identified with liver failure. Sena stated Damon pushed her to remain in class and get via the hardest days.
Damon stayed after hours to assist her with not simply historical past homework, however English and math, Sena stated.
“This award is one thing we anticipated. It’s one thing she deserves. 100%,” Sena stated. “She’s only a guiding spirit.”
Annually, the Colorado Instructor of the Yr program selects a Colorado trainer to honor for his or her service towards college students. Together with the title, Damon obtained $5,000 from the Boettcher Basis and $5,000 from the Colorado Division of Schooling. She may also have an opportunity to be chosen for the Nationwide Instructor of the Yr award.
In the meantime, she is going to function a educating ambassador for your entire state.
Colorado Commissioner of Schooling Susana Cordova stated Damon had an opportunity to speak about herself throughout the meeting, however as an alternative thanked and honored everybody else round her.
“She’s the sort of trainer that I feel actually sees her work as serving to others and offers so selflessly and acknowledges what individuals do for her,” Cordova stated. “I don’t know if she actually acknowledges how a lot she does for others. That is only a nice alternative to essentially name out the large contribution she’s making to our occupation.”
Damon has taught for greater than 25 years, and in her nomination, the Colorado Division of Schooling cited her deal with serving to college students think about options to issues within the state and their lives, equivalent to creating podcasts that advocate for points equivalent to homelessness, gun violence, incarceration, inflation, and immigration.
Damon stated her mom and father contributed essentially the most towards her ardour to teach others. Her father was educated in segregated Texas faculties, and her mom didn’t have entry to training, she stated, which impressed her to assist guarantee others get an amazing training.
She grew up in navy faculties earlier than going to Denver West Excessive College, she stated, and her father fought for her to get into superior lessons.
“So for me, each scholar deserves one thing that’s going to be onerous, that they will be pleased with,” she stated.
She stated she might help college students solely as a result of DELTA management helps her and trusts her. It’s the kind of setting the place each trainer can develop and be their finest, she stated.
She hopes to make use of her new platform to deal with the nice issues occurring within the classroom, she stated. And he or she desires others to know that good management might help any trainer develop into the Colorado Instructor of the Yr.
Jason Gonzales is a reporter overlaying increased training and the Colorado legislature. Chalkbeat Colorado companions with Open Campus on increased training protection. Contact Jason at jgonzales@chalkbeat.org.
