Wilkinson’s Joslyn Hallbauer, Caney Creek’s Stephen Green Named Conroe ISD’s Teachers of the Year

CONROE, TX -- The Texas State Teachers Assocation-Conroe is proud to announce Conroe ISD’s 2024 District Teachers of the Year: Wilkinson Elementary music teacher Joslyn Hallbauer and Caney Creek High School journalism teacher Stephen Green.

Hallbauer has been teaching for 22 years, including 11 years in her current position of teaching music to all grade levels pre-K through fourth grade at Wilkinson, and also serves as Conroe ISD’s Elementary Music Facilitator. She believes “not only is music entertaining, it also has a powerful influence over our mood,” so she will often welcome her students to class using her ukulele. She also believes in the power of ensemble and “regardless of background or ability – a student’s contribution to the group matters.”

Green has been teaching for eight years, serving seven years in his current role of teaching ninth through twelfth grade journalism at Caney Creek. He oversees the student newspaper, yearbook, and the debate team. He allows students to “run the show,” because he believes “students learn best when they feel ownership of the work.” They hold each other accountable, teach their peers on important and entertaining issues, and celebrate their successes. Green is there to provide a safe place to struggle, fail and succeed. He said, “They just can’t fail. They have to be able to get back up and figure out how to succeed.”
Each campus Teacher of the Year, 37 at the elementary level and 33 at the intermediate, junior high and high school level, were eligible for the district Teacher of the Year honor. Hallbauer and Green were selected from four finalists at each level and are now eligible for Teacher of the Year at the state and regional level.

The Teacher of the Year Committee, comprised of Sam Houston State professors under the guidance of Dr. Wally Barnes, TSTA-Conroe representatives, and campus and district administrators, read and rated anonymous applications from the teachers, which included short essays and a letter of recommendation from their principals. The committee then interviewed each of the four finalists in person.

The TSTA-Conroe Executive Board is comprised of Kary Freemyer, President and Homebound Liaison in the Special Education Department; John Nabors, Vice President from Washington High School; Stephanie Powell, Secretary/Treasurer from Stockton Junior High; and Danny Morris, ESP Representative from McCullough Junior High.

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