Anti-Biased Educator | Equity Facilitator | Colorado Teacher of the Year 2025
National Teacher of the Year Finalist 2025
National Teacher of the Year Finalist 2025
Janet R. Damon is a teacher, librarian, and literacy engagement activist. She is also the cofounder of Afros and Books, a literacy outreach program that designs culturally responsive community engagement events, workshops, and programming for families. Her work centers community building through literacy activism and trauma-sensitive literacy instruction using inclusive literature.
She is ta National Teacher of the Year Finalist 2025, Colorado Teacher of the Year 2025, recipient of the Extraordinary Teacher Award from Suntec Concrete in 2024, African Americans Who are Making a Difference Award in 2023, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award in 2022, the Inaugural Making our Futures Brighter Award in 2022, the Library Journal Mover and Shaker Award 2020, Facing History Fellowship, and Fund for Teachers Fellowship.
She earned her Bachelor of Arts in History from Metropolitan State University, Master’s of Library and Information Science from the University of Denver, and Educational Specialist (Ed.S) in Leadership for Educational Organizations from the University of Colorado at Denver. Her work has been featured in School Library Journal, American Library Association, American Libraries, and Rocky Mountain PBS. Janet is also a licensed yoga teacher and mindfulness coach.
Janet R. Damon is a teacher, librarian, and literacy engagement activist. She is also the cofounder of Afros and Books, a literacy outreach program that designs culturally responsive community engagement events, workshops, and programming for families. Her work centers community building through literacy activism and trauma-sensitive literacy instruction using inclusive literature.
She is ta National Teacher of the Year Finalist 2025, Colorado Teacher of the Year 2025, recipient of the Extraordinary Teacher Award from Suntec Concrete in 2024, African Americans Who are Making a Difference Award in 2023, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award in 2022, the Inaugural Making our Futures Brighter Award in 2022, the Library Journal Mover and Shaker Award 2020, Facing History Fellowship, and Fund for Teachers Fellowship.
She earned her Bachelor of Arts in History from Metropolitan State University, Master’s of Library and Information Science from the University of Denver, and Educational Specialist (Ed.S) in Leadership for Educational Organizations from the University of Colorado at Denver. Her work has been featured in School Library Journal, American Library Association, American Libraries, and Rocky Mountain PBS. Janet is also a licensed yoga teacher and mindfulness coach.
"Committed acts of caring let all students know that the purpose of education is not to dominate, or prepare them to be dominators, but rather to create the conditions for freedom. Caring educators open the mind, allowing students to embrace a world of knowing that is always subject to change and challenge." - bell hooks, Teaching Community