No matter who you are or where you’re from — Once you’re on Jessica May’s class roster, she’s got your back for life.

Last October, during a surprise school assembly, the family and consumer science teacher from Turner Middle School was named the 2024 Colorado Teacher of the Year. 

Recognized for her unwavering devotion to uplifting her students, May became the first person in her district to earn this title. 

For over 20 years, May has enriched the lives of her students with patience, empathy, and compassion — the same qualities that her mother, who fostered more than 180 children, instilled within her as a child. 

Her family ran an emergency foster home where May was introduced to children from all walks of life. May grew up seeing her mother treat all her foster children — many from different ethnic, financial, and religious backgrounds — with respect and open-mindedness. 

"There were lessons that I learned about life — most of it was compassion and non-judgmental patience because I saw my mom be a mom to someone else's kids and that stuck with me," May said. 

May envisioned a future where she could positively impact others the same way. 

When she was a senior in high school, she weighed her options on potential career paths. Her mother felt confident May was meant to be a teacher and encourage her to follow that path. 

Initially, May thought she would teach elementary students, but she found true fulfillment in teaching 6th-8th graders. 

For many, middle school is a difficult time, marked by the abruptness of puberty and all the complex emotions that come with it. 

May recognizes the importance of nurturing middle schoolers and instilling in them the emotional intelligence, positivity and discipline to overcome their growing pains. 

She connects with her students by tying core subjects to real-life situations. She’s not only preparing her students for the next grade, she’s preparing them for adulthood. 

“Everything that you can experience outside of school is what you gotta try and bring to school; otherwise, if it’s not relevant to them, they’re going to tune it out,” She said. 

Throughout her tenure, she has taught her students necessary skills like how to budget, contribute to family chores around the house, and even how to remain composed during challenging situations.

“I want them to be successful in our community,” she says. “I want them to be trustworthy and compassionate.” 

Outspoken and confident, the 2024 Colorado Teacher of the Year has never shied away from using her platform to promote change in the education system. 

One of her biggest passions is finding inclusive ways to measure student achievement and progress. That means taking into account language barriers, learning disabilities and overall performance when assessing students.

“I know I was put on this planet for this reason,” May said. “This is my calling. This is my purpose, and I'm just feisty enough to ask the questions and rock the boat in a very professional way.” 

 

She also strives to build a stronger support system for students, working with fellow educators, parents and the community as a whole. May believes that it’s the combined effort that truly empowers students to achieve their goals and become well-rounded members of society. 

The positive impact May has on her students, former and current, seldom goes unnoticed. Taylor Swift might have her Swifties, but May has her students — and they love her just like a rockstar. 

Occasionally, she’ll walk into Target and hear her name across the store, followed by former pupils running towards her for a hug, a selfie and a few stories on what they’ve accomplished since middle school. 

“To know I had something to do with their life that was positive makes me tear up,” May said. “[It’s] incredible that I get that gift.”

 

Her teaching contributions and unwavering dedication to her students garnered her statewide recognition as Colorado’s Teacher of the Year. May, however, attributes her success to her mentors and colleagues who’ve helped her throughout her career. 

“I share this with all my colleagues and everyone who inspired me,” May said. “I want to be their voice, just like I've always been the voice of my students.  I have their back, and I want to make an enormous tidal wave of a difference for everyone."
 

Want to discover more career options for teachers? Visit our Career Paths page to see more of the many directions an education career can take you!