Sign up for Chalkbeat Colorado’s free daily newsletter to get the latest reporting from us, plus curated news from other Colorado outlets, delivered to your inbox.
This story has been updated with more finalists.
For the past two and a half weeks, state education officials have been making surprise visits to Colorado’s 2025 Teacher of the Year finalists.
The seven finalists include a Denver history teacher, a Boulder music teacher, a Highlands Ranch English teacher, an Aurora educator who helps students feel a sense of belonging, a Summit County middle school teacher, a fifth grade teacher in Colorado Springs, and second and third grade teacher in rural Norwood in southwest Colorado.
The winner will be chosen next month.
Each 2025 Teacher of the Year finalist will receive $1,500 from the state department and the Boettcher Foundation, and their schools will each receive a $500 donation from Boettcher.
The winner will represent Colorado in the national Teacher of the Year competition. They will also serve on the Commissioner’s Teachers Cabinet, which is a statewide advisory panel, and act as an ambassador for the profession for the next year.
The 2024 Colorado Teacher of the Year is Jessica May, a consumer and family studies teacher at Turner Middle School in Berthoud.
The seven finalists are:
Janet Damon, history teacher, DELTA High School, Denver Public Schools
“Her lessons focus on inquiry, research, digital storytelling, and culturally sustaining learning. She designs learning to help students think critically about challenges in their lives,” the Colorado Department of Education said in a press release about Damon, who has been teaching for more than 25 years. “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.”
Tera Johnson-Swartz, English teacher, STEM School Highlands Ranch, Douglas County School District
“She specializes in building meaningful relationships with her students while also providing lessons remembered beyond her classroom,” the department said of Johnson-Swartz, who has been an educator for two years. “She tells her students from day one that teaching wasn’t a career she had to take, but one she wanted to, humbly and with all her heart.”
Amy Okimoto, connections coordinator, Summit Elementary School, Cherry Creek School District
“Amy is an incredible educator whose dedication to social-emotional learning and restorative practices has made a big impact at Summit Elementary,” Cherry Creek Superintendent Christopher Smith said in a press release. “Her leadership in student groups and her commitment to fostering a supportive community exemplify the values we hold dear.”
Wanda Vásquez García, music teacher, Escuela Bilingüe Pioneer, Boulder Valley School District
“We are incredibly lucky that Ms. Vásquez García found a love for music at such a young age, an outstanding network of support from both her parents and her mentors at the Dominican Republic National Symphony Orchestra, and that she has chosen to invest it all in the next generation of musicians in the Boulder Valley School District,” Boulder Valley Superintendent Rob Anderson said in a press release.
Ashley Smith, sixth grade teacher, Summit Middle School, Summit School District
“Ashley Smith, who has been teaching for 18 years, is known for creating meticulous lesson plans that cater to various learning styles, ensuring every student can engage with the material in a meaningful way,” the state education department said in a press release. “She is a leader in the school, mentoring other teachers and building strong and positive relationships with every student she works with.”
Anthony Williams, fifth grade teacher, Wildflower Elementary School, Harrison School District 2
“He is a Harrison School District 2 graduate, and our students see themselves in Anthony,” district Superintendent Wendy Birhanzel said in a press release. “Anthony goes above and beyond to show up for students and take an interest in their interests. He attends their events, cheers them on in their endeavors, and can be found coaching and mentoring D2 students outside of the classroom. He has earned credit with our students by showing up for them, so you better believe they show up for him each day in the classroom.”
Shelley Donnellon, second and third grade teacher, Norwood Elementary School, Norwood Public Schools
“Shelley Donnellon has been an educator for 11 years and describes herself as ‘Norwood through and through,’” the state education department said in a press release. “She teaches at Norwood Elementary School and her family has attended Norwood schools for four generations. Shelley believes in bringing new ideas and a personalized approach to her teaching practices. She crafts each lesson to fit with each of her second-grade students, lighting up young minds with literacy, social studies, science and math.”
Melanie Asmar is the bureau chief for Chalkbeat Colorado. Contact Melanie at masmar@chalkbeat.org .
