VFW Post 1337 honors Hersey teacher

Veterans and supporters with James Miks Nov. 26, during the VFW Post 1337 High School Teacher of the Year Award presentation at Hersey High School in Arlington Heights. Pictured, from left, are: Veterans Advocate Greg Padovani, Jim Miks, VFW Post 1337 Commander Les Durov, Veterans Advocate Dave Wietrzak, VFW Department of Illinois Americanism Director Tom Davidson and VFW 4th District Commander Joe Scanlon. (Courtesy of John Novak)

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On Tuesday, Nov. 26, at John Hersey High School, Veterans of Foreign Wars Prospect Post 1337 Commander Les Durov presented to James D. Miks a certificate that honored him for being the High School Teacher of the Year for Post 1337.

Miks is an English teacher at the Arlington Heights high school.

This is the first step of many to reaching the most prestigious honor of VFW National High School Teacher of the Year. From local Post 1337, Miks will move on in competition to the VFW 4th District Department of Illinois.

There, he is competing against award winners from 15 other posts in the 4th District. The next step is competing against the 17 VFW Illinois District winners. To reach National, he would be competing against the winners in each of the 50 states.

Miks, the son of a Vietnam veteran, has been instrumental in numerous projects and events that have touched perhaps thousands of lives.

His latest venture is working with the “Tiny Homes” Project, building a “tiny home” community.

As part of the Nine Line Foundation, this veterans village provides shelter to homeless veterans in their transition back into society. Miks gets support from his students in almost every endeavor he undertakes, making volunteerism a true learning experience.