Dear Thompson Community,
In just a few months, Turner Middle School teacher Jessica May will wrap up her time as the 2024 Colorado Teacher of the Year. In this role, Jessica has served not only as an outstanding representative throughout the state for Thompson School District but also as a wonderful advocate on the national stage. To help share with you what this experience has been like, I asked her to write a little bit about the journey she has been on.
“Since being awarded the 2024 Colorado Teacher of the Year designation on October 27, 2023, life has been an incredible whirlwind. I’ve had the privilege of highlighting and representing our district and state, a gift I don’t take lightly as I realize there are people in power who are listening and who can help be the change makers our students, families, and staff need and deserve. From meeting people at Google’s headquarters in California, to speaking personally with the U.S. Secretary of Education on four different occasions, I now have connections to people who want to hear from teachers and learn from us.
Through this position, I have developed a close relationship with 54 amazing teaching colleagues from every state and territory in our country and globe who are the greatest resources for anything related to education. I truly can’t say enough about all of the state Teachers of the Year whom I’ve come to truly love, respect, and count on during this year of service as your Colorado representative. We are all fighting for education with a level of fierceness that makes me incredibly proud of our profession. It’s an inspiration to say the least.
The trips I’ve been able to take this past year have been simply fantastic! It was phenomenal to be invited to the White House for a State Dinner with the President and First Lady of the United States and to receive a second last-minute invitation last month. In addition, traveling to Space Camp this summer with my cohort was a dream of mine since the age of 10 and it didn’t disappoint. Plus, I’m greatly looking forward to being a part of the upcoming National College Football Championship Game in Atlanta in January of 2025 as our final official function as 2024 State Teachers of the Year.
However, the best part of this experience has been the opportunities afforded to me and all of the people I’ve partnered with. I now have resources that stretch far beyond my school and district. I feel I can take a classroom, school, district, or state issue and be able to problem-solve a plan and even a successful solution. I am armed with the knowledge from, and the resources of, people who remind me that education is the greatest profession of all time. My fellow teachers inspire me so much and I know that without them, classrooms full of future voices would cease to exist.
So here’s my plug: Through this process and year of service, I’ve also realized how wonderful it would be to have even more voices be heard from Thompson School District to bring action to our ideas and needs. How amazing would it be to have another Colorado Teacher of the Year from our district? We all know someone who is extraordinary in each of our TSD schools. In the spring, please think about nominating them by going to the Colorado Department of Education’s website. Afterward, each nominee then decides if they want to fill out the application to begin the process. I can tell you this: It’s an encouraging life-altering experience!”
As we approach the midway point of the school year, I’m reminded daily of all of the great work happening in our classrooms. Our instructional and support staff across TSD play a critical role in shaping the minds of our students, and none of our success would be possible without the dedication of each team member.
Thank you, as always, for your continued support of each of our students, families, and staff members. We greatly appreciate your partnership.
Sincerely,
Dr. Marc Schaffer
Superintendent
Thompson School District