Mentor High physical education teacher named 2023 VFW Teacher of Year

Mentor High physical education teacher named 2023 VFW Teacher of Year


Mentor High teacher and coach Jordan Wilcox receives the VFW District 7 Teacher of the Year Award from veteran Bob Zonneville. (Courtesy of Jordan Wilcox)

Mentor High School physical education teacher Jordan Wilcox has had plenty of influences in his life.

From family to teachers to school administration and coaches, the 37-year-old Mentor resident and father of two has learned over the years how to relate to students and get students to give him everything they have — mentally and physically.

Those influences in his life have helped him influence possibly generations of others, and as a result, Wilcox was recently named the VFW District 7 Teacher of the Year.

Izzy Wilcox stands in front of a sign at Mentor High School announcing her father Jordan as the VFW District 7 Teacher of the Year. (Courtesy of Jordan Wilcox)
Izzy Wilcox stands in front of a sign at Mentor High School announcing her father Jordan as the VFW District 7 Teacher of the Year. (Courtesy of Jordan Wilcox)

The award is given out by each VFW Post yearly. It is given to teachers who promote citizenship education in the classroom, as well as those who show dedication to teaching and the growth of their students.

Wilcox was nominated by Mentor High Unit Principal Chad Russo, who is an Army veteran and has a strong tie to the veterans in the community. Russo is constantly supporting different military initiatives within Mentor High and felt that Wilcox was worthy of this award.

“I still don’t truly feel like I deserved something like that but I am honored that he thought I did,” Wilcox said of the honor. “I didn’t know anything about it until the day I was presented with the award.”

Mentor High football coach Matt Gray pulled him out of the last-period Conditioning class and drove him to the school for the staff meeting. He doesn’t typically attend many of the staff meetings because he’s coaching at those times, so he knew something was up.

Wilcox walked in to find his family and 99-year-old World War II veteran Bob Zonneville sitting at a table waiting for him. Zonneville presented him with the award in front of all the teachers and administrators in the high school.

“I was initially shocked because I didn’t know I had even been nominated,” Wilcox said. “I’ve heard Mr. Zonneville speak on several occasions and have seen him in the community many times and have great respect for him as a person. So to have him present the award was extremely humbling.

“After having a little time to reflect on the award, it means even more to me,” Wilcox added. “No one in this country has greater, grit, resilience or discipline than our veterans. And no one makes more sacrifices in the name of others. So, to receive an award for trying to instill those characteristics in our young people is very meaningful.”

Wilcox is a physical education teacher, assistant head coach and strength coach for Mentor’s football team as well as strength coach for the Cardinals track teams over the past seven years.



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