Millbrook’s new addition to the math department is the enthusiastic Mr. Eric Bran. Whether he is joking around or finding new ways to make learning fun, his passion for teaching is prominent. “Keeping the classroom an environment where mistakes are part of the learning process is something I emphasize in my teaching,” Bran said. He also enjoys making mistakes and learning alongside his students. “Mr. Bran is an awesome teacher who makes math enjoyable,” says Izzy Morgan, sophomore. “He gives us time in class to work on our homework to make sure we understand it. He is always available for extra help and I’m so glad he is my teacher.”

Mr. Bran was born in El Salvador towards the end of the El Salvadoran civil war. When he was eleven, his family made the move to the United States. Originally, he lived in New York City and decided he wanted to be a math teacher his junior year of high school. He went on to college at SUNY Plattsburgh and graduated with a Bachelor’s in Mathematics and a Master’s in Education.

Math was a big part of Mr. Bran’s childhood; he reminisces on playing “times table” with his cousins and uncle as a kindergartner. When asked why math interests him, Bran responded, “Math is everywhere! My favorite subject within math is geometry. I remember learning about fractal geometry and really feeling like the universe had a master plan. It’s amazing how chaotic life may seem, but with careful examination, patterns become clear and that is just amazing.”

Mr. Bran describes his teaching style as “lax.” His main goal is to get students thinking critically about the content. He encourages his students to find their own answers and though they may struggle, his philosophy is that overcoming struggles is a life skill! “Math is not my favorite subject because I am not the best at it, but Mr. Bran is a great teacher and makes it more interesting. He always helps the class understand the topic,” sophomore Alexis Pasca said.

However, being a math teacher was not always Mr. Bran’s dream. As a child, he had aspirations to be an astronaut. Although he does not regret not pursuing this dream, he admits it would be very cool to look down at Earth from space.

Outside of school, Mr. Bran and his wife are expecting a baby boy on October 30. He secretly wishes for a Halloween due date, adding that “his first costume can be a Wildcat.” As for names, he and his wife are looking for a meaningful name that goes well with the surname Bran. Many of his students joke that his baby boy should be named Raisin, after the cereal Raisin Bran.

Something many would not know about Bran is that he enjoys playing guitar. “I am currently looking for open mics around the area. Back in Myrtle Beach I got the chance to play a small acoustic gig for Fourth of July at a local restaurant. That was a really fun experience and would like to do something like that more regularly,” Bran reflects. Besides playing guitar and spending time with his family, he is naturally curious and is constantly looking for new topics to research. This past summer, Bran researched the effects of nuclear disasters on today’s population. He watched multiple documentaries, read articles and even talked to people who experienced the disasters first hand. He is looking forward to researching more topics this year and passing on what he learns to his students.