Stephen Breen

After years of being barked at in the military, Mr. Breen now inspires a slightly shorter (and significantly louder) crowd as an elementary school teacher. Trading camouflage for cardigans, he’s on a mission to ignite young minds with a passion for learning and reading—preferably without requiring push-ups. But teaching isn’t his only superpower. Mr. Breen has also written children’s books that educate and entertain, proving he can march into a classroom armed with nothing but creativity, humor, and the occasional diet Pepsi spill on his lesson plans. When he’s not aiming for Teacher of the Year (or at least Most Fun at Recess), Mr. Breen can be found exploring California’s beaches, biking scenic trails, camping under the stars, or skiing at his cabin in Mammoth. Family time is his favorite “deployment,” though they sometimes remind him that even teachers need to use their “indoor voices.” From military life to multiplication tables, Mr. Breen knows how to laugh at himself and keep life an adventure—one lesson plan at a time.