John Markel "Mark" Kelly

Jefferson High School teacher John Markel "Mark" Kelly slipped peacefully away on December 21, 2020 when he succumbed to COVID-19 complications. Mark, who taught high school English and journalism for 41 years in Boulder, was the leader of the award-winning school paper, the Panther Press.

Mark's unorthodox teaching practices, quirky personality, and quick wit made for interesting lectures. Students knew him not only for teaching them the fundamentals of English and journalism, but for educating them on life lessons and encouraging them to think outside the box. He was a defender of the free p...