Century educator inducted into National Teachers Hall of Fame

Michelle Pearson, social studies teacher at Century Middle School was one of five exceptional educators introduced this morning (Monday, May 19) as the National Teachers Hall of Fame Class of 2025 on “CBS Mornings.”

With a collective 135 years of classroom experience spanning from New Jersey to Hawaii, the five exceptional educators exemplify dedication, innovation and the transformative power of teaching. The honorees received surprise notifications of their selection at their schools earlier this spring. Thanks to a new collaboration between the National Teachers Hall of Fame and “CBS Mornings,” all five were flown to New York City to be celebrated together on national television.

Pearson began her 31-year education career teaching fifth grade at Woodland Academy in Virginia, then K-8 technology for Annunciation School in the Archdiocese of Denver Catholic Schools before moving to Hulstrom K-8 in Adams 12 Five Star Schools in 2005. For the last 10 years she has taught eighth grade social studies at Century Middle School. In 2011, Michelle Pearson was named Colorado Teacher of the Year. 

She believes in place-based learning for her students and regularly provides field study opportunities to learn about historic places and public lands. Her students have taken their experiences and applied them in real-world civics advocacy projects by writing portions of local, state and national legislation and have worked to highlight the stories of their community to others. For over 20 years her students have worked to lobby federal legislators for funding to support our national parks and historic places including key archaeology sites in the four corners region.

For Pearson, learning history, especially beyond what is in textbooks, is key to become active members of a democratic system.

“My educational philosophy is rooted both in the belief that every student deserves to feel seen in their studies of all content,” she said, “and that understanding the world around us, along with the events and places that are meaningful to that history, is vital for developing informed and engaged citizens.”

About National Teachers Hall of Fame

Established in 1989, the Hall of Fame honors career teachers from public, private, and parochial schools across the country. To be eligible, nominees must have at least 20 years of full-time classroom teaching and go through a rigorous selection process including essays, recommendations, and interviews.

The mission of the National Teachers Hall of Fame is to recognize and honor exceptional career teachers, encourage excellence in education, and preserve the rich legacy of the teaching profession in the United States.

To learn more or to nominate a teacher for the Class of 2026, visit https://nthf.org.