Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1251513
Brian Boaz VFW TEACHER OF THE YEAR The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Department of Wyoming has awarded Brian Boaz, a longtime government and history teacher at Wheatland High School, the 2020 Teacher of the Year award. Mr. Boaz is a veteran of the U.S. Navy, and he comes from a longstanding family tradition of serving in the armed forces. He's been teaching students about the importance of civic engagement for more than twenty years. "Yo u're always teaching democracy, and you're always teaching being involved," Boaz told WEA News, "but I try to relate it to what's going on now. It engages students in connecting the past to what's happening in our country, currently." The VFW Teacher of the Year Award recognizes teachers working to instill in students the importance of civic engagement and the importance of patriotism and good citizenship. VFW Post 3558 in Wheatland sponsored Mr. Boaz to go through a thorough application and vetting process to win the award. "Brian is amazing," said Rodney Birkle, Commander of Laramie Peak VFW 3558, "he is so active with the kids, and the kids think the world of him. On Memorial Day, he brings kids to set flags on gravesites. On Veterans Day, he's with the kids helping them to serve meals." I believe that every generation stands on the shoulders of the previous generation. continued next page. Students visit Washington, D.C. as part of the Close Up program. 23