For over three decades, Assistant Director and Latin Teacher Dr. Tony Breen taught Latin, advised students and helped oversee daily operations at the Middle School (MS). This spring, he is retiring.
Dr. Breen first arrived at the MS in the fall of 1992. He served as the school’s main Latin teacher for nearly 25 years and taught introductory courses for seventh and eighth graders.
Because Latin is often considered a dead language, Dr. Breen said he made it feel relevant by connecting it to the modern world.
“Students buy in more successfully and deeply if we look at the connections between the ancient world and the modern world,” Dr. Breen said. “Whether it’s architecture, mythology, politics or family dynamics in the Roman world, students connect more when they can see how those ideas still exist today.”
Rather than simply memorizing words, students left his classes with a stronger appreciation for language itself.
“I’d much rather my students come away with a basic set of ‘here’s how to approach this situation’ rather than ‘here’s two-hundred different words in Latin,’” he said. “I want them to develop useful language-learning skills for future classes and beyond.”
For Dr. Breen, one of the most rewarding aspects of teaching has been learning how different students think and adapt.
“The number of learning profiles out there is growing, and part of the enjoyment is figuring out how to teach different types of learners.”
Language 83 student Darin Shaw described Dr. Breen as approachable and supportive in the classroom.
“He doesn’t make class feel stressful, and he explains things in a way that actually makes sense,” Darin said. “Whenever someone doesn’t understand something, he slows down and explains it again without getting annoyed.”
He said Dr. Breen will be remembered for his humor and stable presence.
“I’ll always remember the random jokes he would make in the middle of lessons,” Darin said. “No matter what we were learning, he always made time to make the class fun.”
Later in his time at the MS, Dr. Breen became more involved in the administration of the school. MS Language Department Head Jennifer Ridge described Mr. Breen as a teacher and mentor.
“He keeps the place running,” Ms. Ridge said. “People turn to him because he has the answers without looking for recognition. There are a million moments where there are bumps in the day, and Dr. Breen is usually the person taking care of them.”
Ms. Ridge said Dr. Breen’s character has been central to the culture of the MS.
“He’s just one of those people you are happy to be with,” she said. “The things that connect people to a school are the people. Dr. Breen is part of the story of BB&N. He’s one of those people who connect students, teachers and families across the community.”
As he prepares for retirement, Dr. Breen hopes to travel to Ireland to visit family and plans on revisiting classical texts by philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle.
