You never know what Mattei history teacher Adam Johnson might be wearing when he shows up to school. His 8^th-grade U.S. history students know it’s going to be a good day in class when they see him with a top hat or decked out in a militia uniform.

His hands-on teaching style combined with his ability to create connections between students and history have earned him multiple honors.

He was recently recognized as the statewide middle school teacher of the year by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and earlier this year, he earned both the post-level and district awards from the same organization.

Principal Jerry Quinton understands how the VFW selected Mr. Johnson for the honors.

“He is awesome with the kids, and he really lives the parts,” Mr. Quinton said. “He goes above and beyond to hammer home things to make history come alive.”

As a finalist for the VFW’s national award, Mr. Johnson could be making a trip to Washington D.C. in March when the VFW national teacher of the year will be announced.

Mr. Johnson started his teaching career three years ago at Southard Middle School where he taught history and coached.

“I knew I wanted to teach history,” he said. “I was looking for a district that was highly rated with a good atmosphere, and that’s what I found with Princeton.”

Since then, he taught at Clark last year, and when he had the opportunity to be the team lead and open a new middle school, he moved to Mattei in the fall and left behind his coaching duties.

“I have always loved history,” he said. “I knew I either wanted teach or work at a historic site. Now I get to talk about history all day, and they have to listen to me.”

This passion for history has driven most of Mr. Johnson’s hobbies.

After he went to a Civil War re-enactment in high school, he was hooked.

“I already loved history, so this was a way to really make it come alive,” he said. “I don’t do as many re-enactments as I used to, because I mainly stay involved with living history now.”

His closet is filled with museum quality reproductions, as well as some original pieces.

“I knew I wanted to teach history,” he said. “I was looking for a district that was highly rated with a good atmosphere, and that’s what I found with Princeton.”

Since then, he taught at Clark last year, and when he had the opportunity to be the team lead and open a new middle school, he moved to Mattei in the fall and left behind his coaching duties.

“I have always loved history,” he said. “I knew I either wanted teach or work at a historic site. Now I get to talk about history all day, and they have to listen to me.”

This passion for history has driven most of Mr. Johnson’s hobbies.

After he went to a Civil War re-enactment in high school, he was hooked.

“I already loved history, so this was a way to really make it come alive,” he said. “I don’t do as many re-enactments as I used to, because I mainly stay involved with living history now.”

His closet is filled with museum quality reproductions, as well as some original pieces.

“It’s hard to explain to the students how loud it is on a battlefield,” he said. “They don’t realize the need for all the bugles and drums until they actually hear the sound of a cannon when it’s fired. I’m hoping for more than one cannon for the demonstration this year.”

It’s all part of Mr. Johnson’s teaching philosophy.

“A lot of history teachers are very boring, at least the ones I had,” he said. “I like to have fun. When I am having fun, the kids are having fun. They are listening and paying attention, and ultimately, they are learning more about history.”

Mr. Johnson believes the old cliché.

“History is important because we need to know where we’ve come from to see how it’s shaped where we are now,” he said. “We have to learn from history so we don’t repeat it.”