LALANNE PROGRAM TO EXPAND TO SAN ANTONIO

The Lalanne Program of the University of Dayton Center for Catholic Education is expanding. In August 2008 a Lalanne community will open in San Antonio, according to Debra Sanderman, program director. Lalanne is a program in which teachers make a two-year commitment to teach in a Catholic school while living in community and pursuing professional and spiritual development. The San Antonio community will include four teachers in three schools: Casey Hart, teaching at St. Gerard High School; Gabriela Estrada, teaching at St. Mary Magdalen School; and Anita Lukey and Emily Wagner, teaching at St. Leo the Great School. Emily is a Lay Marianist. According to Debra, San Antonio is an ideal expansion site for the Lalanne program because of its Marianist connection and resources such as St. Mary’s University and the Catholic Schools Office of San Antonio. “San Antonio also offers a community outside the Midwest that will attract more teachers looking to serve in other areas of the country,” she said. Debra will oversee the program in San Antonio with help from local contacts and Jacinta Mergler, coordinator for Teacher Activities for Lalanne.  The ultimate goal for Lalanne, according to Debra, is grow the program to approximately 30 participants per year in five cities. “That number maintains the intimacy of the program but allows us to serve a diverse population of Catholic schools,” she said. The Marianist Foundation is a contributor to the Lalanne program and its expansion.