When Lalanne teachers begin the program, they move in to a campus apartment at the University of Dayton for the summer. Here, they'll live and grow as members of the newest Lalanne cohort.

In order to establish a sense of community, all Lalanne teachers go on retreat, playing and praying together. After returning to campus, teachers attend their graduate-level classes together, along with Lalanne classes, in which we explore and develop the fundamental building blocks of a Marianist community.

At the end of the summer, teachers gather for a Mass and dinner, where the graduating teachers are recognized. Then, the first- and second-year teachers leave campus to move into their community houses and prepare for the upcoming school year.

Lalanne teachers are welcomed and immersed into their school communities through workshops and preparations for the school year.

During the fall and winter, Lalanne staff members visit each teacher in their classroom and at the community house. Mentors and principals also make classroom visits to nurture the professional growth of Lalanne teachers. Each community also has a local spiritual mentor who encourages deeper faith sharing and spiritual growth.

During their first year of teaching, Lalanne teachers are encouraged to limit their involvement in extracurricular activities at the school in order to better focus their time and energy on teaching and community life.

Lalanne teachers do not take graduate classes during their first semester of teaching, in order to focus their time and energy on teaching and community life.

After their first year of teaching, Lalanne teachers return to the University of Dayton for a second summer to continue their graduate studies. Second-year teachers also take on a mentoring role for the incoming first-year teachers. 

At the end of the summer, teachers gather for a Mass and dinner, where the graduating teachers are recognized. Then, the first- and second-year teachers leave campus to move into their community houses and prepare for the upcoming school year.

Many Lalanne teachers describe how much they enjoy returning to a familiar community, school and city for their second year of teaching. They feel better able to anticipate the demands and pacing of the school year and are better able to help the first-year Lalanne teachers. Spiritual mentors continue to meet with the communities, and the Lalanne staff continue to do classroom observation and visits.

During the winter semester, second-year Lalanne teachers complete their action research project for their Master’s degree. Through the support of the University of Dayton faculty (and the well thought-out and researched project theses) Lalanne teachers produce excellent findings — many of which are worthy of publishing.

Graduates are recognized at a Mass and dinner, held towards the end of the summer after their second year of teaching. Family members of the graduating teachers are invited to attend, as everyone celebrates the teachers' accomplishments and experiences.

Prayers of blessing and commendation recognize our graduates, who have given the “first fruits” of their teaching career in service to urban and rural Catholic schools.

After completing the Lalanne program, many of our alumni continue to teach at their service schools.

Since the program's launch during the 1999-2000 school year, 231 teachers have graduated from Lalanne. Today, 90% of those graduates are still in education, and 80% are serving in Catholic schools.

All of our alumni who wish to continue teaching find employment immediately.

Did you know? One of our teachers from the first Lalanne cohort (1999) continues to teach at his service school.