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Innovative program helps retain Catholic teachers
Gregg Brekke | Jan 2, 2013 |
CLEVELAND (RNS) As second-year teacher Caitlin McGlynn steps to the front of her class at St. Thomas Aquinas School, the all-male middle school students stop what they are doing to hear about the next steps of their business creation project. Today, McGlynn says, the task is to finish their web site design.
Cleveland Lalanne program participant Caitlin McGlynn explains mock-busines marketing plan basic to her middle-school students at St. Thomas Aquinas School. RNS photo by Gregg Brekke/Lalanne participant teachers.
Being a rookie teacher in a cash-strapped Catholic school can be a daunting assignment, but when she gets home each night, McGlynn can compare notes with her roommates — fellow young teachers who live together, share meals and chores and receive guidance from veteran mentors.
McGlynn is part of the Lalanne service-teaching program administered by the University of Dayton, which she credits with honing her spiritual outlook as well as her teaching skills.
“When you look at your students through the lens of ‘this is a child of God,’ it changes the way that you discipline them the way you react to what they are saying,” McGlynn said. “When you are calm and thinking through a Christian lens, it changes the way you treat the student.”
Faced with the increasingly difficult task of recruiting and retaining quality teachers in under-resourced Catholic schools, the Lalanne program steps in to provide coaching, support and — importantly — cash incentives.
While the average teacher salary in the U.S. was $56,069 in the 2010-2011 school year, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average salary for a Catholic school teacher was $43,500, and just $31,853 for first-time teachers, according to the National Catholic Educational Association.
One of 15 similar programs administered by Catholic colleges and universities in the nation, the Lalanne program touts a retention rate of 89 percent of graduates that are still involved in education, with 80 percent of them in Catholic schools. Program director Jacinta Mergler attributes the success to the focus on teaching as a vocation.
Lalanne participant Audrey Lawless (left) and program director Jacinta Mergler from the University of Dayton in a mentoring session. RNS photo by Gregg Brekke/Lalanne participant teachers.
“We had teachers graduating who wanted to work in Catholic schools, who wanted to give back to the faith they had been given and share that with students,” says Mergler. “(Teaching) is more than just a job. You are responsible for the whole person. Supporting that is something we wanted to build into the program.”
A key component of the program includes Lalanne participants living in communal housing in the cities where they serve; the Cleveland teachers live in a house once occupied by the Sisters of the Humility of Mary. Participants share in cooking evening meals, cleaning, prayer and study time, and receive monthly visits from a chaplain. Dioceses have turned over unused rectories and convents to provide space for this communal atmosphere.
“It’s great to have other people sharing this journey with me,” says Will Marsh, a first-yearteacher in Lansing, Mich., who lives with two other first-year teachers. “I’m not the only first-year teacher in the city or in a Catholic school, but to be able to go home and have people who are sharing that experience with you just makes it so much better because we all get it.”
Teachers also commit two weekends each month to community activities with their housemates. During the 2011/2012 school year, groups visited other cities — a Halloween party was hosted by the Michigan teachers and an ugly Christmas sweater contest was held by the Indianapolis house.
Since the program began in 1999, more than 120 teachers have gone through the two-year program that selectively recruits teachers from Catholic universities and places them in urban Catholic school settings for two years while they collect a $16,000 annual stipend and earn a master’s degree in an educational field.
Cleveland Lalanne participants Caitlin McGlynn, Elizabeth Karpus and Caitlin Kelly clean the kitchen following dinner in the community house in which participants live. Each of the five house member prepares dinner for the community once a week. RNS photo by Gregg Brekke/Lalanne participant teachers.
In the current school year, 29 Lalanne participants are serving 23 schools spread throughout the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, the Diocese of Cleveland, the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and the newest location in the Diocese of Lansing, Mich.
“We’ve done a good job in providing a positive experience for the teachers, and the principals are telling me how great a job these teachers are doing,” says Sean Costello, associate superintendent of Catholic schools in Lansing.
“It’s competitive getting into the program, and so we’re really getting top-notch teachers coming out of it and we’re very impressed,” he said. “The best reason for them to be here is that we have young people on fire with their faith who are giving two years of service to their church to help our Lord’s children. I can’t tell you what a witness that is to the families that are served in our schools.”
Sitting around the dinner table on a recent evening, the Cleveland teachers share experiences from their day — interactions with students and parents, new curriculum expectations and upcoming plans. Mergler, who visits each of the Lalanne communities twice a year, is there to listen, catch up and mentor program participants.
A former teacher herself, Mergler laments how many teachers quit after their first year because of a lack of support with transition and difficult teaching environments. “I wasfortunate to get that support,” she remembers of her own experience as a new teacher. “I fell flat on my face, but there was someone there to pick me up.”
The transition to mentor has given Mergler “a lot of hope” for the future of Catholic educators. “We are an extra set of eyes,” she said of her mentoring role. “These teachers don’t have anything to prove, they are already licensed, they’re out there, but it’s a struggle.”
While the challenges of teaching in under-resourced schools isn’t always easy, first-year Cleveland teacher Audrey Lawless can’t imagine being anywhere else in her career.
“I feel like I received so much from my Catholic education,” says Lawless of her education in Catholic parochial schools and at the University of Notre Dame. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without that education. The Lalanne program has allowed me to give back and share.”
Cleveland Lalanne program participant Caitlin McGlynn explains mock-busines marketing plan basic to her middle-school students at St. Thomas Aquinas School. RNS photo by Gregg Brekke/Lalanne participant teachers.
Being a rookie teacher in a cash-strapped Catholic school can be a daunting assignment, but when she gets home each night, McGlynn can compare notes with her roommates — fellow young teachers who live together, share meals and chores and receive guidance from veteran mentors.
McGlynn is part of the Lalanne service-teaching program administered by the University of Dayton, which she credits with honing her spiritual outlook as well as her teaching skills.
“When you look at your students through the lens of ‘this is a child of God,’ it changes the way that you discipline them the way you react to what they are saying,” McGlynn said. “When you are calm and thinking through a Christian lens, it changes the way you treat the student.”
Faced with the increasingly difficult task of recruiting and retaining quality teachers in under-resourced Catholic schools, the Lalanne program steps in to provide coaching, support and — importantly — cash incentives.
While the average teacher salary in the U.S. was $56,069 in the 2010-2011 school year, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average salary for a Catholic school teacher was $43,500, and just $31,853 for first-time teachers, according to the National Catholic Educational Association.
One of 15 similar programs administered by Catholic colleges and universities in the nation, the Lalanne program touts a retention rate of 89 percent of graduates that are still involved in education, with 80 percent of them in Catholic schools. Program director Jacinta Mergler attributes the success to the focus on teaching as a vocation.
Lalanne participant Audrey Lawless (left) and program director Jacinta Mergler from the University of Dayton in a mentoring session. RNS photo by Gregg Brekke/Lalanne participant teachers.
“We had teachers graduating who wanted to work in Catholic schools, who wanted to give back to the faith they had been given and share that with students,” says Mergler. “(Teaching) is more than just a job. You are responsible for the whole person. Supporting that is something we wanted to build into the program.”
A key component of the program includes Lalanne participants living in communal housing in the cities where they serve; the Cleveland teachers live in a house once occupied by the Sisters of the Humility of Mary. Participants share in cooking evening meals, cleaning, prayer and study time, and receive monthly visits from a chaplain. Dioceses have turned over unused rectories and convents to provide space for this communal atmosphere.
“It’s great to have other people sharing this journey with me,” says Will Marsh, a first-yearteacher in Lansing, Mich., who lives with two other first-year teachers. “I’m not the only first-year teacher in the city or in a Catholic school, but to be able to go home and have people who are sharing that experience with you just makes it so much better because we all get it.”
Teachers also commit two weekends each month to community activities with their housemates. During the 2011/2012 school year, groups visited other cities — a Halloween party was hosted by the Michigan teachers and an ugly Christmas sweater contest was held by the Indianapolis house.
Since the program began in 1999, more than 120 teachers have gone through the two-year program that selectively recruits teachers from Catholic universities and places them in urban Catholic school settings for two years while they collect a $16,000 annual stipend and earn a master’s degree in an educational field.
Cleveland Lalanne participants Caitlin McGlynn, Elizabeth Karpus and Caitlin Kelly clean the kitchen following dinner in the community house in which participants live. Each of the five house member prepares dinner for the community once a week. RNS photo by Gregg Brekke/Lalanne participant teachers.
In the current school year, 29 Lalanne participants are serving 23 schools spread throughout the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, the Diocese of Cleveland, the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and the newest location in the Diocese of Lansing, Mich.
“We’ve done a good job in providing a positive experience for the teachers, and the principals are telling me how great a job these teachers are doing,” says Sean Costello, associate superintendent of Catholic schools in Lansing.
“It’s competitive getting into the program, and so we’re really getting top-notch teachers coming out of it and we’re very impressed,” he said. “The best reason for them to be here is that we have young people on fire with their faith who are giving two years of service to their church to help our Lord’s children. I can’t tell you what a witness that is to the families that are served in our schools.”
Sitting around the dinner table on a recent evening, the Cleveland teachers share experiences from their day — interactions with students and parents, new curriculum expectations and upcoming plans. Mergler, who visits each of the Lalanne communities twice a year, is there to listen, catch up and mentor program participants.
A former teacher herself, Mergler laments how many teachers quit after their first year because of a lack of support with transition and difficult teaching environments. “I wasfortunate to get that support,” she remembers of her own experience as a new teacher. “I fell flat on my face, but there was someone there to pick me up.”
The transition to mentor has given Mergler “a lot of hope” for the future of Catholic educators. “We are an extra set of eyes,” she said of her mentoring role. “These teachers don’t have anything to prove, they are already licensed, they’re out there, but it’s a struggle.”
While the challenges of teaching in under-resourced schools isn’t always easy, first-year Cleveland teacher Audrey Lawless can’t imagine being anywhere else in her career.
“I feel like I received so much from my Catholic education,” says Lawless of her education in Catholic parochial schools and at the University of Notre Dame. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without that education. The Lalanne program has allowed me to give back and share.”
School adds seventh grade
8/26/2012 12:27:00 AM
Schools add seventh grade
Jr. High program returns to St. Patrick this year
Staff Photo/ANTHONY WEBER
St. Patrick Catholic School seventh-grade teacher Jenny Holzmer works with students Zach Bopp and Bridey Logan Friday during a science lab.
By Melanie Yingst
Staff Writer
It was the year of the acquittal of the Chicago Seven, when the Beatles disbanded, the shooting of four students at Kent State University, and the debut of the Ford Pinto and AMC Gremlin cars. The year was 1970 and it also was the last year Troy's St. Patrick Catholic School offered a junior high program.
Fast forward 42 years, St. Patrick Catholic School Principal Cyndi Cathcart has cleared the path for students to extend their religious studies and schooling in their hometown of Troy once again - one teen at a time. Wednesday marked the first day of school for all St. Patrick Catholic School students, but the day was a special one for the new class of seventh-grade students.
"We're moving forward," Cathcart said Friday. "We've got a lot of support from the Troy community and not just the Catholic community, but as a whole and I'm just so excited about this class. We have a great group of kids."
Cathcart said of last year's 19 sixth-grade students, 14 returned to St. Patrick Catholic School. The number of students interested in continuing at St. Patrick's was a delight for Cathcart because she said she wanted to keep the class size small in its first year.
"Junior high is hard anyways. They are going to work as a team on a variety of projects and community service - I can't wait to see what they come up with because it will be their choice, their passion to serve and grow their Catholic faith in service," Cathcart said. It was a year-long process to get the junior high started, with Cathcart securing grants and participating with the University of Dayton's education program. Cathcart selected Jenny Holzmer during an extensive interview process at the University of Dayton. She is enrolled in the prestigious LaLanne program as she earns a master's degree in education and will stay with the students next year as well.
"It was an exciting first day and I'm very happy with how everything went," Holzmer said. "We'll be doing a lot of hands-on activities. We've been talking a lot about how they are the leaders of their school, too."
Holzmer said she has high expectations of her 14 students.
"We'll be working on lots of projects and doing team-building - they are very excited about this year," Holzmer said.
"I like having the small class size and being with my friends again," said 13 year-old Kelsey Weber. "I also like being able to stay here in my own community instead of going somewhere else to school too."
"We are the ones kids look up to and I like learning about God and Jesus in religion classes," said 12 year-old Joe Melton. "I like how they explain it and taking time to start the day with prayer."
Melton shared his favorite book of the Bible, which is the Book of Job, the story of the man's struggle through life, yet kept his faith throughout each hardship.
"He had a really bad life but he still had faith and every time when I have a bad day at school, I think of Job," Melton said.
Cathcart said the students' faith and prayers of intention amaze her about their care and concern for each other and their community as a whole.
"They are so mindful of what is going around them and to hear them pray for each other during prayers of intention just is so wonderful," Cathcart said. "Seventh grade is a year of change and challenges. They are going through some pretty tough stuff with their bodies, their religion and this is a good year to sort some of that out before eighth grade confirmation as they are forming their spiritual identity."
Cathcart said the group of teens will build upon their community with their community service.
"I'm so excited about all possibilities they come up with. When you have 14 minds thinking how they want to change the world you can't help but enjoy it," Cathcart said. "We are making this whole school a positive place.
"They know they are going to be the faith leaders of their school and I want other kids to see that," she said.
One way seventh-grade student, Max Hamlin, 12, said he helps is to sit with the kindergarten students during its weekly Mass.
"We lead the rest of the school and sit with the kindergartners and help them out," Hamlin said.
Cathcart said she is still working on how to get the students involved in sports, including the Catholic Youth Organization in Dayton, as well as combining students from Holy Angels in Sidney and Piqua Catholic Schools. Cathcart also said the Holy Angels and Piqua Catholic junior high students would be joining together for many religious retreats and other activities.
"I'd rather go here and be with the rest of my friends," Melton said. "I'm from Troy so I want to stay in Troy."
And move forward in faith and build a foundation in their backyard - one teen at a time.
PULLOUT - The need was great and the support was greater. St. Patrick Catholic School's Principal Cyndi Cathcart said it took a year to investigate what it would take to begin a junior high program at the school.
Cathcart visited a variety of schools and decided to base the new junior on the STEM model of science, technology, engineering and math.
"This will be the start of 21st century schooling starting with the seventh grade," Cathcart said.
The Troy Foundation awarded the St. Patrick Catholic School's seventh-grade program a $10,000 grant for an I-pad cart and accessories for the school's mission.
"The kids crave technology and I wanted to give them what they would need and were excited to use," Cathcart said.
"I'm excited about using I-pads - we've never done it before," said seventh-grade student Max Hamlin. "It will be cool to use the touch screen."
Cathcart said a grant from the Miami County Foundation helped with E-books to be loaded on the I-pads to replace the majority of traditional textbooks for the students.
"We're moving forward in technology," Cathcart said. "We know it moves and changes so fast, yet we have to change with the times in education."
Cathcart herself was attending a six-hour seminar from the Apple Co.y to learn how to use the I-pads to their fullest in the classroom.
Cathcart said other funding for the seventh grade came from around the community, including parents, church members, grandparents and even outside of the Catholic Church community. Cathcart said one parishioner also donated Rosetta Stone for the students to work on foreign languages throughout the year.
"People really believe in us here at St. Patrick's and the response has been amazing," Cathcart said. "I can't thank anyone enough for their support - parents, grandparents, everybody, that is such a positive force and a huge boost."
For more information, visit www.stpattroy.org
Schools add seventh grade
Jr. High program returns to St. Patrick this year
Staff Photo/ANTHONY WEBER
St. Patrick Catholic School seventh-grade teacher Jenny Holzmer works with students Zach Bopp and Bridey Logan Friday during a science lab.
By Melanie Yingst
Staff Writer
It was the year of the acquittal of the Chicago Seven, when the Beatles disbanded, the shooting of four students at Kent State University, and the debut of the Ford Pinto and AMC Gremlin cars. The year was 1970 and it also was the last year Troy's St. Patrick Catholic School offered a junior high program.
Fast forward 42 years, St. Patrick Catholic School Principal Cyndi Cathcart has cleared the path for students to extend their religious studies and schooling in their hometown of Troy once again - one teen at a time. Wednesday marked the first day of school for all St. Patrick Catholic School students, but the day was a special one for the new class of seventh-grade students.
"We're moving forward," Cathcart said Friday. "We've got a lot of support from the Troy community and not just the Catholic community, but as a whole and I'm just so excited about this class. We have a great group of kids."
Cathcart said of last year's 19 sixth-grade students, 14 returned to St. Patrick Catholic School. The number of students interested in continuing at St. Patrick's was a delight for Cathcart because she said she wanted to keep the class size small in its first year.
"Junior high is hard anyways. They are going to work as a team on a variety of projects and community service - I can't wait to see what they come up with because it will be their choice, their passion to serve and grow their Catholic faith in service," Cathcart said. It was a year-long process to get the junior high started, with Cathcart securing grants and participating with the University of Dayton's education program. Cathcart selected Jenny Holzmer during an extensive interview process at the University of Dayton. She is enrolled in the prestigious LaLanne program as she earns a master's degree in education and will stay with the students next year as well.
"It was an exciting first day and I'm very happy with how everything went," Holzmer said. "We'll be doing a lot of hands-on activities. We've been talking a lot about how they are the leaders of their school, too."
Holzmer said she has high expectations of her 14 students.
"We'll be working on lots of projects and doing team-building - they are very excited about this year," Holzmer said.
"I like having the small class size and being with my friends again," said 13 year-old Kelsey Weber. "I also like being able to stay here in my own community instead of going somewhere else to school too."
"We are the ones kids look up to and I like learning about God and Jesus in religion classes," said 12 year-old Joe Melton. "I like how they explain it and taking time to start the day with prayer."
Melton shared his favorite book of the Bible, which is the Book of Job, the story of the man's struggle through life, yet kept his faith throughout each hardship.
"He had a really bad life but he still had faith and every time when I have a bad day at school, I think of Job," Melton said.
Cathcart said the students' faith and prayers of intention amaze her about their care and concern for each other and their community as a whole.
"They are so mindful of what is going around them and to hear them pray for each other during prayers of intention just is so wonderful," Cathcart said. "Seventh grade is a year of change and challenges. They are going through some pretty tough stuff with their bodies, their religion and this is a good year to sort some of that out before eighth grade confirmation as they are forming their spiritual identity."
Cathcart said the group of teens will build upon their community with their community service.
"I'm so excited about all possibilities they come up with. When you have 14 minds thinking how they want to change the world you can't help but enjoy it," Cathcart said. "We are making this whole school a positive place.
"They know they are going to be the faith leaders of their school and I want other kids to see that," she said.
One way seventh-grade student, Max Hamlin, 12, said he helps is to sit with the kindergarten students during its weekly Mass.
"We lead the rest of the school and sit with the kindergartners and help them out," Hamlin said.
Cathcart said she is still working on how to get the students involved in sports, including the Catholic Youth Organization in Dayton, as well as combining students from Holy Angels in Sidney and Piqua Catholic Schools. Cathcart also said the Holy Angels and Piqua Catholic junior high students would be joining together for many religious retreats and other activities.
"I'd rather go here and be with the rest of my friends," Melton said. "I'm from Troy so I want to stay in Troy."
And move forward in faith and build a foundation in their backyard - one teen at a time.
PULLOUT - The need was great and the support was greater. St. Patrick Catholic School's Principal Cyndi Cathcart said it took a year to investigate what it would take to begin a junior high program at the school.
Cathcart visited a variety of schools and decided to base the new junior on the STEM model of science, technology, engineering and math.
"This will be the start of 21st century schooling starting with the seventh grade," Cathcart said.
The Troy Foundation awarded the St. Patrick Catholic School's seventh-grade program a $10,000 grant for an I-pad cart and accessories for the school's mission.
"The kids crave technology and I wanted to give them what they would need and were excited to use," Cathcart said.
"I'm excited about using I-pads - we've never done it before," said seventh-grade student Max Hamlin. "It will be cool to use the touch screen."
Cathcart said a grant from the Miami County Foundation helped with E-books to be loaded on the I-pads to replace the majority of traditional textbooks for the students.
"We're moving forward in technology," Cathcart said. "We know it moves and changes so fast, yet we have to change with the times in education."
Cathcart herself was attending a six-hour seminar from the Apple Co.y to learn how to use the I-pads to their fullest in the classroom.
Cathcart said other funding for the seventh grade came from around the community, including parents, church members, grandparents and even outside of the Catholic Church community. Cathcart said one parishioner also donated Rosetta Stone for the students to work on foreign languages throughout the year.
"People really believe in us here at St. Patrick's and the response has been amazing," Cathcart said. "I can't thank anyone enough for their support - parents, grandparents, everybody, that is such a positive force and a huge boost."
For more information, visit www.stpattroy.org
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