Deanna Breen Celebrating 20 Years

Deanna (Custer) Breen graduated from Bishop Verot in 1994. While completing her master and specialist degree in School Counseling from the University of Florida in 2001, she was offered an internship with the Bishop Verot Guidance Department. After her 1st semester, she was hired on full-time under the direction of Mr. Bill Stejskal. Although she spent a few years in the Admissions Director role, developing and implementing a solid plan to increase enrollment, helping current students find success is her passion. In addition to being a certified School Counselor, in 2018 Deanna earned a certificate from the American School Counselor Association and is now considered an Anxiety and Stress Management Specialist. In 2020 she also earned a certificate as a Grief and Loss Specialist as well as a Trauma and Crisis Management Specialist.

Q: What do you see as your main role as a School Counselor?

A: As a School Counselor, I consider my three main job responsibilities are to guide students academically, emotionally, and to prepare them for college/ career.Although I take pride in the work we do as counselors in regards to academic and college counseling, it is the social/emotional counseling and programs I am most passionate about and proud of.This includes individual counseling sessions with students as well as hosting programs to address mental wellness and coping strategies.As an example, I have developed a program where we invite local Licensed Mental Health Counselors from the surrounding Lee County area to do workshops with our students on topics including stress management, how a healthy diet can help academic performance, study skills, managing anxiety, and mindfulness. I developed this program because I saw a steady increase in the number of students struggling with mental wellness, which inevitably impacts their performance in the classroom if not addressed.

Q: How do you help current students plan for their future success?

A: I frequently go into classes to talk about topics such as the importance of maintaining a good GPA, how to make the most of high school, researching colleges, etc. I walk our sophomore class each year through a series of personality and career interest assessments to help them hone in on an area they may want to study more after high school.

Q: Teen anxiety has steadily increased in recent years, even more dramatically this year. How do you help students cope?

A: During COVID, I continue to provide in-person counseling to students as well as counseling sessions via Zoom for distance learning students.While we were shut down last school year, I provided additional opportunities for students to talk about mental wellness, such as “Wellness Wednesday”, a zoom session where students could get together and talk about what was helping them through the tough time of being socially isolated and having to adjust to distance learning. I also run small groups to target students who

may be struggling with making friends and dealing with anxiety and the stress of being a teen in today’s world.

Q: You chose Beattie Square for your cover photo because of the impact Frs. Joe and John Beattie had on your time here as a student. How did they and your other teachers make a difference?

A: The Beattie brothers modeled a gentle and humble spirit and to always approach things with patience, Mr. McMurrin encouraged me to keep challenging myself even when I thought I had reached my max ability, and Mrs. Feeney taught me about leadership. These people not only shaped me educationally but also morally.

Q: Please share your experience sharing your passion in the classroom teaching Psychology.

A: I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as a classroom teacher teaching the subject I am passionate about - Psychology. It allows me to get to know my students really well. I always tell them no matter what you study in college or what direction you take in life, you will use Psychology in anything you do! My goal is to teach them the basic psychological concepts - think classical conditioning - but also have them apply these to their personal lives. I would say their favorite topics in this class are the neurobiology of sleep and dreams as well as Psychological Disorders (depression, anxiety, etc).

Q: What is your favorite memory of Verot?

A: Favorite memory is a hard one. I guess it’s not one single event but just the supportive, family type atmosphere I received from both teachers and fellow students. Fond memories include going to football games, homecoming events, and Spellamania, but mostly just hanging out with friends.The people I met in high school are life-long friends and are there to celebrate achievements and help through the most difficult times in life. When they say “once a Viking always a Viking”, it certainly is true. It’s funny because my closest friends now, 25+ years after graduation, all have a connection with Verot. They either went to BV themselves or their spouses did!

“Once a Verot family, always a Verot

family.” Many of Deanna’s friends from high school are still strong friendships today. She loves having the opportunity to work with her former classmates' and friends’ children, making an impact on a second generation of Vikings. She has also chosen Bishop Verot for her own four children – Rachel ’14, Kristen ’18, Jake ’23, and soon Jackson ’29. BV