GOSHEN COUNTY – Although Goshen County Teacher of the Year Jason Groene is beyond thrilled about his most recent honor, you won’t find him resting on his laurels anytime soon – he simply doesn’t have the time.
Groene, who is the ag education instructor for Torrington and Lingle-Fort Laramie High School and Middle School, also acts as the school district’s Perkins testing coordinator and worked to line up students’ upcoming testing schedules while speaking with the Telegram about earning Teacher of the Year Tuesday.
“Our world never stops out in these buildings,” Groene said. “We are constantly doing something within our program. Just like ag itself, it never stops – there is always something going on.”
Groene grew up on a 1,200-acre farm and ranch located on the Kansas/Oklahoma border where his family raised wheat, milo, alfalfa, hay, oats and soybeans and owned yearling, grass and feedlot cattle.
After graduating from Winfield High School, Groene attended Hutchinson Community College on a livestock judging scholarship. From there, he went on to Oklahoma Panhandle State University where he judged for two more years and received a degree in animal science.
Groene met his wife, Kelly, while in college and she eventually received an offer for a position in Casper.
“On Aug. 14 at 5:30 a.m. in 2000, we drove straight through to Casper,” Groene recalled.

He worked as a meat processor for a few months, and then as a meat and food inspector for the Wyoming Department of Agriculture for nearly three years.
The Monday after state fair in 2003, he began his career as a teacher in Chugwater.
“When I graduated school, I never had the intention of being a teacher,” Groene said. He enrolled in education classes through Montana State University, which also offered a ‘Transition to Teaching’ program. Groene qualified for the program and earned his master’s degree in curriculum and instruction for an additional six credit hours in 2005.
In May of 2006, Groene learned of the open agriculture education instructor position in Goshen County, applied and was hired. He also acts as the FFA advisor for Torrington/Lingle FFA.
Although he didn’t always see himself as teacher, Groene’s passion for his profession is clear.
“Every day’s so different, I think that’s probably it,” he said as to what he enjoys most about teaching. “On any given day, I could go from teaching farm business management to animal science to plant science to ag mechanics to public speaking – just the variety of it.
“When we’re at a convention when we’ve excelled, whether it’s in that setting or in class, when it hits (the students) and they finally understand a concept and you see it on their face …”
Perhaps not surprisingly, some of Groene’s most memorable moments as a teacher involve his students’ success.
“The big thing would be winning the National Livestock Contest in 2013, but there are so many of the little things that are ingrained every morning when the kids come in, and say, ‘Good morning, how are ya?’” he said. “At a convention in ‘09, we had some kids who just knew they were going to do horribly and ended up getting third at state. This one student … just the look on his face, the excitement, shock and surprise of getting his name called … seeing some kids with that wry grin on their face when they do well.”
Ironically, Groene had a similar experience during the interview process for Goshen County Teacher of the Year – a question-and-answer session during which he felt he did poorly.
“(I thought) that might’ve been one of the worst interviews of my life,” Groene said of his meeting with a committee representing Goshen County School District No. 1 and local lawmakers. “I didn’t honestly think I would get it, and I didn’t know who else got nominated, but just knowing some of the staff we have here in Goshen County, it’s always stout competition. I figured I blew that interview, I’ve got no chance. Then I was at the Ag Expo and got a text from (fellow teacher) Crockett Herring, who said he wanted to be the first to congratulate me …
“I’m very surprised and pleasantly humbled, there are a lot of good teachers in this county who are a lot more deserving than I am,” Groene continued. “I don’t think I can even express in words how cool this is.”
Groene must submit an application and packet of materials to the Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) by May 8. The WDE will review district information and select a small amount of teachers to move on to an interview process in the fall – all vying for Wyoming Teacher of the Year.
“I just think it’s even though it’s a big deal, it’s not going to change what we do on a daily basis around here,” Groene said. “We’re going to just keep on doing what’s best for the kids. Keep on teaching them and helping them to learn and excel.”