CORRECTION: When this article was published, El Diablo News staff writers were under the impression that Monte Jackson was retiring after the 2024-2025 school year. However, it has just come to our attention that he will continue to work with the school district next year and then be celebrated at the Spring 2026 retirement celebration. El Diablo Staff apologizes for any confusion this caused community members, students and staff within the Durango 9-R School District. The following is from Karla Sluis, the district spokesperson.

“You may have heard that additional staff members at Durango High School are retiring, including Monte “Eric” Jackson, a DHS science teacher, and Dan Zalbowitz, a DHS math teacher. Good news! They will actually be working with Durango School District in the 2025/26 school year and will be celebrated at the district’s 2026 Spring Retirement Dinner.”

However, the writing below is still the original work which was published on March 26, 2025. El Diablo Staff feels it is important to honor Jackson, as well as the original author, senior Ana Romero. While we have just learned that Jackson will continue to teach some next year, we feel it is important to share the impact he has had on students. Thank you for your understanding!

For nearly 20 years, Mr. Monte Jackson has been a staple of the Durango High School community, leaving a lasting impact on countless students through his work as an Anatomy teacher. As he prepares for retirement, it’s hard to imagine DHS without the familiar face and infectious energy of Mr. Jackson.

Throughout his two decades of teaching, Mr. Jackson has been much more than an educator; he’s been a mentor, a motivator, and a friend to many. His unique teaching style, filled with humor and creative memory tricks, has helped students learn and truly retain the material. “I always thought that science was super cool but I never really had any good science teachers in school, and I thought that if someone took the time to make this fun, it would be pretty cool, so I thought that I might give it a try,” Mr. Jackson explained. Whether it’s through his hilarious phrases or funny ways of remembering anatomical terms, Mr. Jackson makes even the toughest topics fun and memorable.

Mr. Jackson’s classroom has become a place of remembrance for many of his students. From handprints and kind words on the walls to senior photos and drawings left on ceiling tiles, his room has become a living testament to the positive impact he’s had on generations of Durango students. “It means the world to me that they want to be a part of my world and my future,” he said, referring to the mementos left by past students. “Some of these students were from years ago, and yet I can still look up here and see them and immediately see their faces. It brings back memories, so it’s kind of like my own photo album to remember the students I’ve had.”

As the end of this school year draws near, the reality of Mr. Jackson’s full retirement in the Spring of 2026 is setting in. He’s slowly starting to take down the memories that fill his classroom. “I hope whoever gets this classroom next keeps the handprints and words of the students and even adds on to them,” he said, expressing his desire for future students to continue building upon his legacy. 

Former student Shayla Walker, a 2014 graduate, recalls how Mr. Jackson’s influence extended far beyond the classroom: “As someone who struggled with knowing how to study or excel in high school, Mr. Jackson took the time to show me specifically how to study to be successful and taught techniques when he saw I was struggling. I was able to use these skills all the way through college and still use them in my profession today.” She added, “Jackson gave me the courage and the belief in myself that I could pursue and excel in whatever path I took. Without him, I’m sure I would have not had the confidence going into college that I did.”

Reflecting on what he will miss most, Mr. Jackson said, “The students and the relationships, you guys.” He has not only shaped minds but also helped students grow in confidence and self-expression. “In many classes, I stayed quiet and was afraid to answer any questions or speak up,” said Shayla. “Jackson gave all students a safe space in his class to be themselves, unapologetically, and helped me to become more comfortable in who I was. He wasn’t just a teacher, he was a friend and a role model.”

As he prepares to close this chapter of his life, Mr. Jackson’s legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of all the students he’s touched. His passion for teaching, his genuine care for his students, and his unforgettable sense of humor will never be forgotten. “You truly made a difference in the lives of many students,” Shayla reflected. “I am forever grateful for everything you taught me about life, and myself. Thank you for being a caring teacher and creating a place I felt safe in.”

Thank you, Mr. Jackson, for everything—your impact will never fade.