Chuck Breiner:
CLASS OF 1967
Delaware Valley Regional High SchoolClass of 1967
Frenchtown, NJ
Howell High SchoolClass of 1997
Howell, MI
Conval Regional High SchoolClass of 1995
Peterborough, NH
Stevens High SchoolClass of 1985
Claremont, NH
Hunterdon Central High SchoolClass of 1979
Flemington, NJ
Chuck's Story
I have fond memories of growing up with bros Keith (CA), Dave (NJ), and Tom (PA) in Hughesville. Holland Township School; (Milford) Little League; Riegel Ridge (camp, pool, softball, intermediate league baseball, church league basketball, and Tri-County baseball) are vivid, too, as I look back. I realize how fortunate my brothers and I were to live in such a safe, rural village as paper-mill kids. I value every day the education (e.g. four years of Latin!) I got and fun I had at DVR: I appreciate the small (600 students) setting we had, our school spirit, the quality of our teachers, and the co-curricular and athletic opportunities we had there.
After high school, I completed a degree in English at Central Connecticut. I played a little baseball and football there and wrote a bit for the school paper. I married in my senior year. I headed back to Hunterdon County where, with recommendation-help from Dom Forker, I started teaching and coaching at Hunterdon Central. I grew up there, professionally, in a dynamic, well-funded, and well-equipped school. I taught six years of grade 9 English before moving to grades 10-12 (Logic and Language, Contemporary Literature, and Expository Composition). I went back to school and earned an MA in English/Education at Lehigh. I moonlighted at the Hunterdon Democrat, writing sports with my mentor-editor and former baseball coach Dom Forker.
During my first year of teaching (1972), I became a father in the joy that son Karl brought, followed three years later (1975) by Derik. We lived in Frenchtown, Kingwood, Flemington, and Pittstown before buying a home in Milford. An avid camping family, we travelled mostly in the Northeast / New England as well as the maritime provinces of Canada.
Yearning to move to New England, we left NJ and headed to (Claremont) NH where I worked as an English Department chair and teacher and where I also coached football in that five year period,
In 1984, we moved to Peterborough, NH, where I worked as an assistant principal in a regional high school. Two years later, I became principal. My sons reveled in the town and school system; my job was and remains the best one I had in educa...Expand for more
tion: small setting (700 students), regional high school; breathtaking surroundings, supportive communities (nine towns), great facilities, excellent teachers, academic focus, and creative curricula.
After winning a doctoral fellowship and with Derik off to college and Karl done with his degree, I moved to Michigan (Eastern Michigan University).
After a year of study, I took on a principalship in a large comprehensive high school (1600-2000 students) in a small town about 60 miles northwest of Detroit. Two years later I took on the role of assistant superintendent (curriculum/prof development); two years later I became superintendent of schools. The school system managed significant growth in enrollment during my 13 years there, growing from 7000 to 9000 in student population.
I retired from MI in 2008, but within six months, began working as an assistant principal (HS) in a county system in Florida. I retired, ten-plus years later from Florida as assistant superintendent for HR. Public education in four states has been very good to and for me over my 50+ years in it. Since retiring and after a year of volunteering, I have returned to work as the executive director for the teachers' and support personnel-unions in Charlotte County. I am entering my second tour in June or July o f 2022.
Sons Karl and Derik, both in tech fields, now reside in eastern PA and southwestern CO, respectively. They are fathers to my six grandchildren. My father (Charlie) died in 1993. My mother (Millie), who lived in an assisted living facility in Hellertown, PA, died in August (2020). She was and remains an amazing, inspirational, remarkably loving, nurturing, forgiving, and supportive force in the lives of my brothers, our extended families, and me over the years.
Travel, walking, biking, trivia, tennis, writing, volunteering, and family time fill my retirement years. I continue my life-long, avid support for the Philadelphia Eagles and Philadelphia Phillies. I took a much-needed break from FL in February 2022, living with my brother Tom in Quakertown, but will return to FL in mid-May of 2022, I returned to work for teacher- and support personnel unions in FL.
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