b'PHOTO: KEN BLAZEMembers of Villa Angela-St. the Marianist-sponsored Villa Angela-St. Joseph High skills, he notes. Some, from different ZIP codes, dontJosephs Girls Empowerment School in Cleveland, her initial placement took her to have these problems. And I wonder, why is that? Club, Sadaira Morris, Sophie Holy Cross Central, a grade school in Indianapolis. The Lalanne experience inspired Mick to pursue aSoto, Julie Le-Quay and Misrach Ewunetie, an organiza- My first year there was definitely eye-opening, doctorate in urban educational leadership and develoption started by Lalanne partici- she says. Its a really small, close-knit school where techniques to better serve minority students.pants Michelle Perusek Trotman theres lots of need. The school serves a diverse studentand Tonica Johnson. population, including many who come in knowing Lalannes model: little or no English. You quickly realize that the class- community, faith, missionroom stuffwhat you teachis only a small part Current Lalanne participant Alexandra Ray is workingof what you do, she says. Making sure the students through her first year as an intervention specialist atknow theyre loved, supported and safe is such a huge Purcell Marian High School, another Marianist-sponsoredpart of the equation. school. She lives in community with three LalanneAs a member of Lalannes first cohort, Mick came grade school teachers, one who serves at St. Clement,through his experience with a similar sensethat and the others, at Holy Familyall in Cincinnati.teaching is far more than a job. I definitely see my We do very different things in the classroom, sowork as vocation, as ministry, he says. Lalanne set theres not a lot of overlap, she says. Theres a bigthe stage for that, because we reflected on it in a focused difference between teaching first-graders and highway during those first two years. schoolers. Even so, she finds their mutual supportHis placement at Chaminade Julienne, where he beneficial. When youre living with other teachers,continues to teach today, exposed Mick to an economic you know they get it, she says. If times are hard,divide. Some of my students come from impoverished youre able to share about it. And when they say theyreneighborhoods, with weak test scores and no study praying for you, you know they actually are! 12 Call 1.800.348.4732'