Now an award-winning educator, Jessica Teal got an early start with her first “students” being her stuffed animals.
Teal said she knew she wanted to become a teacher since at least second or third grade, when she used to set up her bedroom as a classroom.
Teal recently earned national recognition as the recipient of the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences’ Colorado Affiliate Teacher of the Year Award. The win earned her a featured spot on the organization’s national website for using innovative methods, techniques and activities to teach and highlight family and consumer sciences in elementary and secondary education.
In her 10th year as a family and consumer sciences educator at Windsor High School, Teal has taught a long list of classes ranging from catering to interior design and education exploration. Family and consumer sciences classes, which were once commonly known as home economics classes, cover topics including personal and family finance, nutrition, responsible parenting and peaceful conflict resolution.
When she first started at Windsor High, Teal said the school advocated for more innovative learning and teaching strategies to help students become better problem solvers.
“I really infused design thinking into everything that I did. I’m very much a hands-on, project-based learning teacher,” Teal said. “I like to make sure that everything the kids are doing is hands-on and that there’s always the why or purpose behind it that’s bigger than just, ‘Hey, you’re turning in this worksheet.'”
Teal also tries to weave technology into her lesson plans when she can. In one class, Teal taught about the stock market such as defining bull and bear markets and how to go about saving for the future. Whatever the topic, Teal strives to make it more than a lecture.
“I always try to think about what are the big ideas or big things that kids need to know and how do I make it authentic and real for them so they connect to it,” Teal said.
Windsor High School teacher Jessica Teal, the recent winner of the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences' Colorado Affiliate Teacher of the Year Award, talks about her wall of notes left to her by students, parents and student teachers since her first year of teaching in 2016, in her classroom at Windsor High School in Windsor on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (Brice Tucker/Staff Photographer)A Fort Collins native, Teal earned her bachelor’s degree in family and consumer sciences and a master’s degree in education and human resources studies with principal licensure from Colorado State University. Teal always thought she would teach in Fort Collins given her ties to the area, but when the Windsor High School job opened up, she decided to apply.
“It was almost one of those things where you just know where you’re supposed to be when you know,” Teal said. “I showed up and I interviewed, and I just knew.”
Windsor High Principal Dick Thomas said Teal cares deeply about her students and puts in so much time and work even outside of regular school hours. When the school needs volunteers for events and extracurricular activities, Teal is always one of the first to offer help.
“She’s always involved with our dances and helping out with homecoming and prom. It’s just one thing after another,” Thomas said. “She’s totally invested in the school environment.”
Beyond the classroom, Teal has served as president of the Colorado Association of Teachers of Family and Consumer Sciences.
Teal even stays in contact with her former family and consumer science teacher at Rocky Mountain High School, Denise Lawrence.
Lawrence, who still teaches at Rocky Mountain High School, said Teal was always very driven, academically curious, enthusiastic, creative and just a fun student to have in her class.
“She loves to learn,” Lawrence said.
Lawrence was not surprised Teal won the award, given her leadership experience and passion for the career.
“She has 100% earned that recognition,” Lawrence said.
Without question, Teal has motivated many of her students to pursue their interests and career goals. Teal, though, also credits many of her own former teachers like Lawrence for inspiring and challenging her to do the same when she was a student.
Windsor High School teacher Jessica Teal, the recent winner of the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences' Colorado Affiliate Teacher of the Year Award, poses for a portrait in her classroom at Windsor High School in Windsor on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (Brice Tucker/Staff Photographer)“Having good teachers makes it or breaks it for kids,” Teal said.
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