Inside Education and Health Sciences

Magdiel Perez came home after a hard day during her first year as a classroom teacher. She was exhausted, embarrassed and unsure how to get out of her own head. Fortunately for Perez, she lived with four other first- and second-year teachers who understood the intricacies and hardships that come with classroom teaching. Receiving reassurance from her peers was exactly what she needed to clear her head and return to the class the next day, ready for a fresh start. 

Perez is starting her second year in Lalanne at the University of Dayton, a two-year master's degree program for new teachers. 

Students in the program are placed in a Catholic school, receive intentional support from their school administrators, take master's degree coursework in the summer, live in community with other Lalanne teachers and grow in their faith with the guidance of spiritual mentors.

"I truly believe that the community aspect is very important and beneficial," Perez said. "We are all teachers so we understand how draining and exhausting our days can be. If we need our time alone, we understand that. When we need advice, we’re all able to listen and give tips where needed."

This kind of support — from peers, mentors, administrators, the Lalanne program director and Lalanne alumni — set up these teachers with a solid foundation to stick with the profession for a long time.

The program celebrated its 25th anniversary last summer. The program reports that 90 percent of their alumni are still working in education, which is impressive at a time when many teachers seek out a new career after about five years, citing burnout, stress, inadequate preparation and unrealistic expectations. 

The Lalanne model works, and there is data to back it up. A recent research study by faculty members in UD's Department of Educational Administration found that the support in the chaotic first years of teaching helped to establish a strong foundation and commitment to education while revealing a teaching vocation.

By design, the program also exposes its participants to all aspects of the Marianst charism, according to Peggy Brun, director of the program, including how to do more with less and the formation in faith that comes through retreats and spiritual mentors.

"The teachers realize the freedom they have in teaching the whole student — body, mind and soul — while they grow in their own understanding and faith," Brun said. "The real challenges of serving in a Catholic school have provided very concrete ways for teachers to learn adaptation and change and just keep moving forward."

Maggie Lehman '02 is a member of the very first cohort of Lalanne. She had always wanted to be a teacher, and felt called to work in a Catholic school. The launch of Lalanne lined up perfectly with her career goals and her start in education.

"I think the community living aspect of Lalanne really helped me deal with the pressures of an inner-city classroom," Lehman said. "The conversations I had with my fellow Lalanne members helped me to not only deal with the pressure and stresses, but figure out appropriate ways to deal with classroom situations."

Lehman spent nine years as a classroom teacher before pursuing a doctorate and is currently a faculty member in Lourdes University’s education department. 

"Lalanne is a huge part of who I am as a teacher and person," Lehman said.

Lehman was also part of the planning committee for the 25th anniversary celebration over the summer. In conjunction with the graduation ceremony for the Class of 2024, program alumni were invited back to campus for three days of celebration and social time. 

Since its existence, the cohorts have been as big as 29 teachers and as small as two; teachers have supported dioceses in 12 communities as far away as San Antonio, Texas, and Albany, New York; and 11 marriages have occurred between participants. 

"My dreams for the next 25 years of Lalanne are simple," Brun said. "To be open to all opportunities for both new Lalanne teachers and new partner schools as they appear, to continue to nurture the faith lives of young teachers so that they can bear witness to the amazing love of Christ with their students and colleagues, and to continue to support our highest need Catholic schools so that they can persevere in spreading the good news of Christ."