Rick Miller

A Caring Teacher Who Knows His Students 24/7

Middle School math teacher Rick Miller is passionate about many things: his family, fifth graders, videos, sports teams from his native Cleveland and, especially, Halloween. “I start planning on November 1," he laughs. “I’m still making up for my first year in Minnesota when there was a 28�? snowfall and no neighborhood kids to scare in my haunted house."

Since then, he’s compensated for the lost time. “The guy at the Halloween store totally knows me," Rick admits. “We actually consult, and I’m definitely one of his best customers."

Now in his twelfth year at Breck, Rick is delighted to be a member of the Middle School team. “It’s amazing to be able to work with people I actually enjoy seeing outside of school," he says.

Rick’s family at home includes wife Diane, who works for Northwest Airlines, daughter Amanda and son Jake. He’s also very close to his parents, three brothers and sister although they’re almost all in Ohio and he doesn’t get to see them “anywhere often enough.�?

Before coming to Breck, Rick taught in his own school district in Cleveland and at Portledge School in New York. During a break from teaching, he worked at a children’s math museum on Long Island, for “Square One," the math-themed Children’s Television Workshop show, and for a company that develops products for educators. A move to Diane’s home state of Minnesota (they had met and originally settled in New York) led to a substitute job at Breck, and Rick says he instantly felt at home.

“I like fifth graders," he says – “their spirit, their excitement about learning and the fact that they still like their teachers and even are willing to have lunch with us." Observes Evan, “Rick is one of the most giving and caring teachers I have known. He is willing to do anything for his students and really cares a lot about their success and development."

For Rick, part of the joy is keeping up with his students after they’ve moved on as well. “It’s really fun when kids come back to see me,�? he states. “Some days there’s an after-school crowd in my room – which couldn’t make me happier."