John Polemikos, '08: Devoted Teacher, Passionate Balkan, Greek Historian
By Tony Scott

John Polemikos, '08. (Photo: John Polemikos)

John Polemikos, ’08, is devoted to his students as a special education high school history teacher, and he also has a passion for writing about and learning the history of the Balkans, including Greece and Greek Americans.
 

Polemikos, who lives in Loves Park, Illinois, with his wife, Zografia, and two daughters, Rini and Ellie, was born and raised in Rockford to parents with Greek roots. His father came to the U.S. from Karpathos, Greece, in 1967, and was a tailor and landlord, and his mother, who was a middle school English teacher, has family roots from the same Greek region. 

Being an educator runs in his family. In addition to his mother, Polemikos’ two sisters are teachers – one lives in Karpathos and teaches English as a second language, and the other lives in Loves Park, Illinois, and is a preschool teacher.

After graduating with a degree in history from NIU with a teacher’s certification, Polemikos earned a master’s degree in teaching from Rockford University, which focuses on teaching history to students with disabilities. This is his 15th year working at Harlem High School in Machesney Park, Illinois.

“I provide specialized instruction to students with special needs for the social studies department,” he said. “I teach both co-taught and self-contained classes.”

His time at NIU was memorable and led to a fulfilling career.

“I still reference many of the materials from my NIU classes,” he said. “I had many professors that stick out to me. Brian Sandberg, Valerie Garver, Aaron Fogleman, Kenton Clymer, Eric Mogren, and J.D. Bowers all offered me priceless advice. At the time, I was focused on pursuing advanced degrees in history, with a particular interest in Balkan history.”

He continued, “However, after several years of substitute teaching, I discovered a passion for teaching special education and decided to go that route instead. The job market for teachers was very competitive and specialization opened up employment opportunities. By teaching special education, I am able to combine both of my interests by making challenging historical scholarship accessible to diverse learners.”

The job can be thankless, Polemikos said.

“Occasionally, a student will return to say thank you, or you'll watch a student who overcame major challenges walk across the graduation stage,” he said. “But those moments are rare. One of the biggest challenges I face as a teacher is managing the wide range of motivation levels and academic abilities present in any single classroom.”

However, Polemikos is passionate about teaching. He said he doesn’t just teach curriculum.

“Building relationships, establishing rapport, and showing up as a real human being always take precedence over the content itself,” he said. “That’s not to diminish the value of strong instruction or a well-researched lesson plan, but at the end of the day, students are far more likely to remember how you made them feel—or the moment you made them laugh—than any specific strategy you used in class.”

In addition to his day job, Polemikos writes about history and is involved in professional organizations, including the Balkan History Association, Rockford Historical Society, Southeast European Studies Association, and the Council for Exceptional Children. 

Through his involvement in the Balkan History Association, he has edited written history projects, including “Wallachian Mobility and Settlement along the Carpathian Arc,” published by Routledge in February 2025, and is currently editing a project called “Cyprus and the Balkans: Cultural, Historical and Religious Connections.” He has written an article published in the Rockford Historical Society’s Nuggets of History quarterly called “When Greek Meets Greek: Foundations of the Rockford Greek Orthodox Parish of Sts. Constantine and Helen.”

Polemikos has also recently completed a book on the Rockford Greek community and is currently marketing it to publishers.

In building a successful career guiding students and teaching others about regional and international history, Polemikos is the embodiment of a true NIU Huskie. 

“A true NIU Huskie is driven by intellectual curiosity, a passion for discovery, and a commitment to personal and academic growth,” he said.