Tyler, Texas — Chapel Hill ISD is proud to announce that Emily Greer, fine arts teacher at Jackson Elementary, has been selected as one of six statewide finalists for the 2027 Texas Teacher of the Year out of 40 across the state.
The Texas Association of School Administrators announced the six finalists following a selection process involving the 40 Regional Teachers of the Year from across the state. Texas Teacher of the Year is the highest honor the State of Texas can bestow upon a teacher.
“I cannot think of a better person in our district to represent our teachers, our staff and our educators than Emily Greer,” Chapel Hill ISD Superintendent Lamond Dean said. “Emily has been at Jackson Elementary for almost two decades, and the way she pours into our children and the passion she has for helping them grow is phenomenal.”
Greer serves students from three-year-old Head Start and prekindergarten through third grade. Through music, art and theater, she encourages students to try new things, explore the world beyond their own experiences and discover abilities they may not have known they possessed.
Her excellence in teaching has been recognized throughout her career. Greer has been named Jackson Elementary Teacher of the Year three times—in 2011, 2019 and 2026—and has received multiple Teacher of the Month honors. In 2016, Humanities Texas recognized her as an Outstanding Teacher of the Humanities.
Greer was named Chapel Hill ISD’s 2026 Elementary and Overall Teacher of the Year before being selected as the 2027 Region 7 Elementary Teacher of the Year. That honor advanced her to the statewide competition alongside the other 39 Regional Teachers of the Year.
“We are incredibly proud of Ms. Greer and the way she represents Jackson Elementary, Chapel Hill ISD and the teaching profession,” Dean said. “Her dedication to students and her belief in the power of the arts embody what it means to be Bulldog Bold.”
The six finalists will be interviewed Oct. 15 by a panel composed of representatives from educational leadership associations, community and business leaders, a member of the State Board for Educator Certification, a member of the State Board of Education and previous Texas Teachers of the Year.
The panel will select the Texas Elementary Teacher of the Year and Texas Secondary Teacher of the Year. One of those two educators will be designated to represent Texas in the National Teacher of the Year program.
The winners will be announced Oct. 16 during an awards ceremony at the Kalahari Resort & Convention Center in Round Rock. All 40 Regional Teachers of the Year will also be recognized during the event.
The Texas Teacher of the Year program has honored excellence in classroom education since 1969. Facilitated by TASA since 2011, the program annually recognizes and rewards educators who demonstrate outstanding leadership and excellence in teaching.
To learn more about the Texas Teacher of the Year program, visit tasanet.org/texasTOY.