At Dayton High School's graduation last year, seniors were each given three tokens that said, "You are a hero to me."
They were instructed to keep one for themselves, then hand the other two to heroes in their lives.
"I look over at Damon Etter and he's got what looks like 100 kids in front of him lining up to give him their tokens," recalled Lyon County school trustee John Stevens. "I don't know how you judge a teacher better than that."
Etter came to Dayton High School five years ago from Portland, Ore., to take his first teaching job.
But he soon became more than that. In addition to teaching economics and advanced-placement U.S. history, he's also the student council adviser, a professional development teacher and serves on the school's improvement plan committee.
He's organized an economic summit where students learned the cultures and economies of different countries, an opportunities conference where students learned a variety of career options and helped leadership students organize a fundraiser where they raised $8,000 for a fellow student who had a brain tumor.
He also volunteers his time each summer to help the band director with band camp.
"I just have such a passion for teaching," he said. "I don't look at it as a job. It's a calling for me."
Stevens first saw Etter in action during the school's economic summit last year.
"All the students were in different countries' garb and trading goods," he said. "I was (amazed) by his interactive method of teaching. Every student was engaged."
With grant funding from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Etter plans to expand the program districtwide this year.
"He's not just satisfied giving Dayton kids this experience," Stevens said. "He wants to help the entire district."
In his government class, he helps students choose a platform and pursue the change. Because of his students' work, the Lyon County School Board is now forming a committee to review sex education in the district.
Stevens nominated Etter for a national innovative teaching award. Whether Etter wins, however, isn't of much significance to Stevens.
"If we had 100 teachers like him, we'd rule the world," he said.
Etter isn't in it for the accolades either.
"It's just something that brings me joy," he said.
He's spent the past few days getting ready for the return of school in Lyon County on Monday. But it's not been easy.
Last weekend, he and fellow teacher Julie Bumgardner hosted a "leadership lock-in" where student officers organized events for the upcoming year.
"I was up all night, so I'm still recovering," he said. "I'm a little behind, but everything's coming together. I should be ready for the first day."