Photo by Will Cornelius
Turner Middle School’s Jessica May was named the 2024 Colorado Teacher of the Year on Oct. 27. In addition to the award, Blue Bell Creameries announced they would throw an ice cream party for students and staff at Turner in celebration.

Ice cream for all at Turner!

By Will Cornelius
The Surveyor
Last Friday afternoon, Turner Middle School hosted a special assembly where family and consumer sciences teacher, Jessica May was named the 2024 Colorado Teacher of the Year. For a half-hour, the main gymnasium applauded and cheered until it erupted in excitement after hearing that the school would also receive an ice cream party due to May’s selection as the top educator in the Centennial State.
Representatives from Blue Bell Ice Cream said to fully honor her “outstanding performance, we would like to present the entire school, faculty, and staff with an ice cream party.” Pandemonium ensued as children screamed in exhilaration. Blue Bell Creameries is a partner in the state’s Teacher of the Year program, supported by Denver7 and the Boettcher Foundation.
In addition to the ice cream party at Turner, May will also make a trip to the White House and attend a NASA Space Camp. “Life is not about money. It is about going for your passion,” May told the packed gymnasium.
Other program sponsors for the Colorado Teacher of the Year program include the Colorado Education Association and Adams State University.
Since starting as an educator in 1997 at Turner, May has also taught at Bill Reed Middle School and Peakview Academy at Conrad Ball in Loveland. This year, she returned to Turner after working at Conrad Ball the previous year, where she was nominated for the Teacher of the Year award. “Everybody needs a voice and I always knew that I was meant to help give people a voice,” May said.
Her selection as teacher of the year came with a couple of checks too. One for the classroom and one for May herself. She said that some of the classroom money will go toward new kitchen countertops. “I looked at those checks and I think our kitchen remodel might get some new countertops,” May said with a smile.
For her the award was more than just recognition, it came with a responsibility to students and fellow educators. “You know I love you. You know I’m feisty. You know I’ll fight for you,” May said about what it means to be a teacher. “And it’s not just our students, but it’s also the staff knowing that we all have each other’s backs and that I am truly representing educators, not just students.”
After thanking the program sponsors, May addressed the school district she grew up in and now teaches in. “The last thing that I want to say to Turner is thank you. This is my first year back after 26 years of being here and I came back and I felt so welcome. I was raised in this school district and I know what it’s like to grow up here. You are amazing and I just want to say to all of you—and I want lots of hugs later—but I love you. You are always going to be mine and I will always be a part of you.”