Ben Cassel

Ben Cassel taught high school in National City, San Diego, California, for thirty-six years, which included working with persons with disabilities, terminally ill students, pregnant teens and teen mothers, aswell as juvenile offenders. While serving in the US Air Force, Mr. Cassel graduated from Eastern Washington University with a degree in English Grammar and Literature. He was the 2012 Teacher of the Year for the Sweetwater High School District and received many other accolades during his tenure as an educator, including the César Chávez "Si Se Puede" Human Rights Award from the California Teachers Association, the Bravissimo Choice Award for Outstanding Theatre Director from the San Diego Theatre Educators Alliance, the National City Centurion Award, and the CTA San Diego County Service Center Council Who Award. Now retired, Mr. Cassel lives in Yucca Valley, California.