A single summer can change the trajectory of a young person’s life, especially for Dean Breur, the CTE Business and Marketing Specialist at the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) and a BestPrep board liaison.
When Dean was a junior in high school, he took a chance on Minnesota Business Venture (MBV) after his business teacher encouraged him to attend. What he discovered was far more than a crash course in marketing and entrepreneurship, it was his first glimpse of college life and a confidence‑building experience. This newfound self-assurance also gave him the courage to sing for the first time in public at MBV’s talent show, something he notes as one of his favorite memories!
That early spark from camp stayed with him. Dean shares, “My participation in MBV was a catalyst as I approached college enrollment. It helped me believe that I could succeed regardless of the size of my hometown or my high school. It reinforced my belief in the value of hard work, working and networking with others, and in doing what you can to make a difference for your community.”
After college, Dean spent more than 25 years in teaching and technology support before joining the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) in 2017. Soon after, he was asked to serve as MDE’s liaison to BestPrep’s Board of Directors, a role he continues because of their deep commitment to expanding opportunities for Minnesota students. His journey as a student participant to board liaison has reinforced his belief in collaboration and community impact, sharing, “[BestPrep’s Board of Directors] are so willing to give their own time and talents, and they serve as a beacon within their organizations to encourage volunteerism from others as well.” Dean stays involved by helping educators connect with BestPrep through newsletters, webinars, conferences, and direct communication.