The Denver Broncos teamed up with Delta Dental of Colorado to launch Touchdowns for Teachers, a program that recognizes local MVTs -Most Valuable Teachers - for outstanding service to their schools and communities.

Ten honorees will be selected each semester by a panel of community members, the Denver Broncos and Delta Dental of Colorado. Amoung those nominated is Matt Weber, a former resident of Kiowa County and Eads High School graduate.

Honorees will be chosen based on one or more of the following criteria:

• Amount of involvement in the school and/or community (ex: volunteering, coaching, after school programs, etc.)
• Degree of positive impact on the school and/or community
• Demonstrated a strong commitment to education in the school and/or community
• Has made extraordinary efforts to educate, inspire and encourage their students

Honorees will be presented with a commemorative award and Touchdowns for Teachers Swag Bag. All nominees will receive a certificate of recognition from the Denver Broncos and Delta Dental of Colorado.

The following is a letter nominating Matt Weber for the Touchdowns for Teachers award for the fall 2020 Semester.

I would like to nominate Matthew Weber (Matt) for the Touchdowns for Teachers award. 

Matt teaches at Jefferson Junior and Senior High School in Greeley. This is a high-risk school, which means most of the students need guidance not usually available from a guardian or parent in their lives. 

Before taking a teaching position at this school, Matt taught at a Private High School located in Greeley. He accepted the job at Jefferson because he wanted to make a difference in these students lives, not just receive a paycheck for teaching.

Since his employment at Jefferson, with the help of Principal Larry Green and Cheri Witt-Brown, executive director of the Greeley-Weld Habitat for Humanity, they began the Construction Pathway Program, through Aims Community College. 

Matt became the Construction Management teacher to oversee the Program. The program teaches the students how to construct homes beginning on the computer designing the homes and eventually the classroom moves out into the field where the students work with volunteers constructing the homes from the ground up. 

The program began in 2015 on a plot of underdeveloped land near Evans where the students and volunteers have built 16 homes, some for their own families. In 2020, it is now a growing Community.

The Program has changed many lives including the students, the Community, their parents and Matt's. The students are learning to tackle new responsibilities and discovering new life skills they can apply off the building site. They feel they are not just building a house they are building a home that a family will live in. Once they go through the program, they receive 27 College Credits, they are introduced to many career opportunities, and chances for a future they never would have anticipated. 

Matt has witnessed improvements in the students’ communication skills including talking with other students, corporate partners, volunteers and home owners. As a teacher, it is rewarding for him to witness the students growing academically because of the program, the attendance rate has improved from 34% to 87%, they enjoy the opportunity to better themselves and the Community. Seeing how much the students give and grow while shaping a Community brings the Program to life for Matt. 

Several of the students from Jefferson have stayed in school and graduated because of the program. They have acquired jobs that have given them a positive feeling about their lives, helping them to realize they have a lot to give to the world.

In 2019, Matt, a student from Jefferson, and Cheri Witt-Brown, traveled to Atlanta, Georgia for a Habitat International Conference. They presented their program to the other 1,300 Habitat affiliates in hopes other schools around the World would get involved, helping other Students and Communities. Today, other schools have adopted the program and are very impressed with the outcome. 

Matt is very proud and feels good about what he has done for these students, he has made a difference in their lives and in his too.

Matt graduated in 1996 from Eads High School and is the son of Eunice and the late Johnny Weber of Eads.