Janet Renee Damon has been an educator in Denver Public Schools for more than 25 years, serving as a history teacher, literacy interventionist, library specialist, trainer and K–12 school librarian. Now, as the 2025 Colorado Teacher of the Year, she continues to center her work on a guiding belief: “Great teaching begins with care, kindness, and connection, the first lesson we teach is that every young person matters in this classroom.”
In her classroom, Damon says she creates a space where students can explore hard topics without hardening their hearts. She reminds them that learning should be rooted in compassion, curiosity and belonging.
Damon reflects on an impactful conversation she once had with a student, Luz: “Every kid is going through something, Ms. Damon. Your job is to try to encourage them through whatever is going on and be someone they can trust.” These words of wisdom still shape how Damon shows up for her students, every single day.
