Meet Janet Damon, Colorado's teacher of the year

Driving the news: The honor is not Damon's first in her 25-year teaching career.

• In her classroom, students tackle major topics like homelessness, gun violence and racism, developing solutions to each.
• She also co-founded Afros and Books, a book club for underserved communities.
• And she connects with families by organizing hiking, kayaking and other outdoor activities.

What they're saying: "This award is something we expected. It's something she deserves. 100%," DELTA junior Serenity Sena, 17, told our education reporting partners at Chalkbeat.

• "She's the kind of teacher that I think really sees her work as helping others and gives so selflessly and recognizes what people do for her," added Colorado Education commissioner Susana Córdova. "I don't know if she really recognizes how much she does for others."

Context: The annual award includes $10,000 honorarium and the opportunity to compete for National Teacher of the Year. She also will serve as a teaching ambassador in Colorado.

Zoom in: Damon attended West High School in Denver and later graduated from Metropolitan State and the University of Denver.

• Her father — who was educated in segregated Texas schools and later became a teacher — and mother — who didn't have access to an education — inspired her to join the profession.
• "So for me, every student deserves something that's going to be hard, that they are going to be proud of," Damon said.