FOTW: Jason BreMiller
Jason BreMiller smiles with his son in his classroom. Hillary Yoon/ The Exonian
By TEDDY CAPOZZI, PHIN GIBBS, and LILY RAMPE
Known by many for his ENG572: Literature and the Land class and his classroom adorned with coyote skins and beaver logs, Instructor in English Jason BreMiller has taught English at Exeter for over a decade, helping numerous students along the way. Intertwining his passion with the outdoors and creative writing, students see BreMiller as a co-learner at the Harkness table.
BreMiller’s journey into academia is far from what his childhood self may have expected. His father — a wildlife biologist — put a heavy emphasis on nature. “My father was a wildlife biologist and groomed me to become one as well. We would open the freezer and the birds in plastic bags that he’d stuffed in there would fall out onto the floor when you went to get the ice cream,” BreMiller said.
As a freshman at St. Olaf College, BreMiller quickly realized the STEM prerequisites to study biology weren't right for him. While his love for the outdoors persisted, BreMiller had to find another field of study. With an interest in creative writing, he found the perfect intersection in ecocriticism. “In college, I discovered the field of ecocriticism. It took my bent toward the natural world and gave it an outlet in the humanities,” he said.
After receiving his Masters of Arts in English Language and Literature from Middlebury College, BreMiller began his teaching career at the Taft School. After eight years between Taft and his alma mater the Hotchkiss School, BreMiller was feeling fatigued from teaching. “I had been feeling a little burned out and a little disillusioned with traditional teaching,” BreMiller said. “I was seriously contemplating a career change toward more experiential education.”
“It’s nice having this connection with each other, especially when many of us are away from home and our families.”
However, when an opportunity arose at Exeter, BreMiller took an interest. To him, the Harkness style seemed to provide a more appropriate balance between teacher and student learning. Giving more autonomy to the students appealed to BreMiller, but the transition was not seamless.
“I think the first year or two, I felt a sense of loss in the classroom — like a loss of identity,” BreMiller explained. “This idea of ceding so much space to the students took me a little while to figure out, [and] to figure out where I fit in.”
After 11 years at the Academy, BreMiller has found his role in the classroom, “I think for me, it's about establishing my role as a co-learner. Not as the arbiter of knowledge and interpretation,” he said.
“This is the only place I've worked where teaching feels sustainable,” BreMiller added. “I appreciate being present with my students, but also feeling like I have the bandwidth to nurture my own passions.”
While BreMiller is an avid fan of everything that Harkness is able to offer, he admits that it is not without its flaws, “The greatest tension at Exeter is the tension between the collective impulse of Harkness and the individual desire for distinction and grades. In my mind, [grades are] the biggest impediment to success at the Harkness table.”
Students describe BreMiller as awesome, understanding, and overall the “best teacher ever.” Senior Jade Pierce said, “I think he's a really good teacher. I think he knows what it's like to be a student, especially at Exeter.”
“He’s just an outstanding teacher and finds really creative ways to make class fun,” senior Rupert Ramsay said in agreement.
Most students find BreMiller’s classes to be engaging in and out of the classroom. “Whether that be with a trip to Swasey, one of his good old BreMiller stories, or a fun challenge at the beginning of class, I always look forward to his class,” Ramsay continued.
BreMiller’s passion for literature and the environment has greatly influenced his students. When speaking about his class, Literature and the Land, Ramsay said, “I knew he would teach the class well because he's so passionate about teaching and the material he is teaching.”
Pierce echoed Ramsay’s sentiment. “I feel like he's a big storyteller himself, [which] fosters [an] environment in the classroom [that gets] everyone’s creative juices flowing.”
Most importantly, his character shines through. “BreMiller is for sure one of the kindest teachers at this school,” Ramsay said. “At the table, he makes sure everyone’s voice is heard and fosters a respectful atmosphere. [Literature and the Land] is by far one of the best, most engaging classes I’ve taken at Exeter.”
