Arlington VFW Post 981 Teacher of the Year
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L to R - VFW District 4 Commander Steve MacInnnes , Tod Hatfield, VFW Post 981 Commander Matt Voss at VFW Post 981 January 2023 Meeting.AJ Stransky
At the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 981 January 2023 meeting Todd Hatfield, Art, English and Technical Instructor at Hersey High School, was chosen as Post Teacher of the Year. S
teve MacInnes, VFW District 4 Commander, announced that he was also the District 4 nominee to the Illinois State VFW. In the state competition Todd finished 5th.
During the past 15 years Todd has received numerous awards for his teaching and coaching ability. Since 2015 he has been a member of A Soldier's Journey Home. This organization builds homes for disabled veterans. Todd has not only participated in the builds, he has involved Hersey students in the documentation of these efforts. As Technical Instructor he has guided his students in preparation of videos about the veteran experience and other patriotic themes.
Todd's personal experiences include his father, a Marine veteran of Vietnam who suffered from PTSD. His father finally sought help through Todd's veteran grandfather who directed him to the resources of the Veterans Administration. With the VA's help Tod's father was able to turn his life completely around.