Les éminents éducateurs lasalliens 2021

Depuis 1987 les éducateurs des États-Unis qui se distinguent et qui sont largement reconnus par leurs pairs sont honorés lors d’une cérémonie toute spéciale intégrée au Congrès Huether. Cette année, le district du Canda francophone fut représenté.

La cohorte 2021 des éminents éducateurs lasalliens (Distinguished Lasallian Educators) ont été honorés lors de la séance d’ouverture de la 48e conférence annuelle Huether Lasallian le jeudi 18 novembre 2021 à Baltimore, Maryland. Les « DLE » représentent les districts de l’est de l’Amérique du Nord, du Canada francophone, du Midwest et de San Francisco – Nouvelle-Orléans. Les récipiendaires ont été sélectionnés par leur supérieurs et reconnus pour leur travail exceptionnel qui touche le cœur et l’esprit de leurs élèves d’une manière durable et qui fait ainsi une différence dans le monde.

Voici les lauréats de cette année:

DISTINGUISHED LASALLIAN EDUCATORS

DISTRICT OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA

Michael O’Toole
Principal Emeritus, Faculty Member
La Salle College High School
Wyndmoor, PA

Michael O’Toole’s stellar educational career has included 40 years of service at La Salle College High School. As teacher, department chair, curriculum director, vice president and for the past nine years as principal, his guiding principles have been rooted in Lasallian pedagogy and spirituality. Some of his major accomplishments have included the establishment of a Lasallian Mission and Ministry office, numerous initiatives in academic and technology areas, and progressive work with multiple faith-based and social justice-oriented organizations. However, his most important contribution has been as a champion of diversity, equity and inclusion long before the contemporary movements in educational institutions began.

“I think anybody that does work like this, the work is the most important thing. Awards are nice. They’re rather the spice that accentuates the work. I think there’s lots of people who have helped me with this at my school, the community with whom I work, and of course my wife who had to see me go out the door many Saturday mornings a long time ago to help get started the community scholars program. I thank all of those people. This is an award that really honors lots of help that I’ve gotten from a lot of other people.”

Travis Wiggins
Community Outreach Liaison
Tides Family Services
West Warwick, RI

Travis Wiggins has served at Tides Family Services for the past 22 years, primarily as a community outreach liaison and caseworker. His work, lived as his vocation, at Tides has been dedicated to promoting social justice and inclusion for the most disadvantaged and marginalized youth of Rhode Island. Much like the Founder’s work at St. Yon, Travis has made it his life’s work to accompany young men and women in the juvenile justice system from a path of despair and near hopelessness to one full of promise and potential. He has inspired countless youth and has made a profound difference in their lives.

“I’m a little shy about it. To me, after doing this for so many years, you’re appreciative, you love that you’re making an impact in some way. It’s amazing. It’s a feeling like, ‘Wow! You? Of all people? Why you?!’”

Dr. Mary Wilby
Associate Professor of Nursing, School of Nursing and Health Services
La Salle University
Philadelphia, PA

Dr. Mary Wilby’s distinguished clinical and academic career is only outshone by her passionate commitment to the heritage and mission of Lasallian education. She has served the La Salle University community and beyond, meeting people where they are with their health needs. She has volunteered her time and expertise to serve a Lasallian educational community in Haiti. She has supported the Lasallian Women of Hope project to address pressing personal health necessities of women. Recently she has been a leader in addressing the COVID-19 challenges of the university community. Her compassionate contributions simply have made an immeasurable difference.

“It really is a great honor for me. It seems strange because I’m being recognized for doing things I love to do, that I would do a million times over again if I could. So I’ve really enjoyed all of the things that I’ve been doing, and I just really appreciate this.”

FRANCOPHONE CANADA

Denis de Villers
District Communications Adviser and Formator
Francophone Canada District Office
Longueuil, QC

Denis de Villers a été en lien avec les Frères des Écoles chrétiennes pendant presque toute sa vie. En tant qu’élève, animateur, enseignant, père et administrateur scolaire, il s’est laissé absorber et profondément engagé par les valeurs lasalliennes en éducation. Étendant son engagement au-delà de ses ministères, il a siégé pendant 13 ans au comité permanent de la mission éducative lasallienne à Rome et il est aujourd’hui conseiller en communication et formateur du district, et membre du Conseil de l’éducation lasallienne régionale et de l’équipe des communications de la RELAN. Il continue de se consacrer à partager le charisme lasallien avec les personnes impliquées dans le réseau lasallien de l’Amérique du Nord Français et au-delà..

“Cela est pour moi une reconnaissance du coeur que j’ai mis à travailler en éducation et pour le plus grand bénéfice des jeunes”

Brother André Dubuc, FSC
Volunteer Educator
Centre Lasallien Saint-Michel
Montréal, QC

Frère André Dubuc, âgé maintenant de 86 ans, toujours actif dans la mission éducative lasallienne du Québec, est la preuve vivante qu’aucun travail, même le plus ardu, ne peut éteindre la détermination et la foi qui se vivent au quotidien. Éducateur dans l’âme et humaniste de cœur, Frère André a rempli plusieurs fonctions et excellé dans chacune d’elles pendant les 60 ans de sa vie religieuse. Tour à tour enseignant, directeur, missionnaire, visiteur auxiliaire et bénévole auprès de jeunes décrocheurs, on lui doit notamment toute une génération d’associés qui, à leur tour, propagent l’excellence lasallienne en éducation dans le District du Canada francophone.

MIDWEST DISTRICT

Melissa Livermore
Assistant Principal for Academic Affairs
Holy Family Catholic High School
Victoria, MN

Melissa Livermore began her career at Holy Family Catholic High School in 2001 and quickly embraced the Lasallian mission when Holy Family joined the Lasallian community in 2004. She completed the Lasallian Social Justice Institute and quickly applied those principles inside and outside her classroom, offering generous opportunities for students to receive additional help and creating service opportunities, which included initiating international service trips to Ethiopian twinned schools. In her current role as assistant principal for academic affairs, her leadership and zeal for relationship-building have been critical components in successfully offering online learning for the final 2019-2020 term and in-person learning for the entire 2020-2021 school year.

“I am very honored to receive this award. I feel that I have an excellent team behind me, so it’s not an award that I earned on my own. I’m grateful for those at my school, my administrative team with John Dols, Mike Brennan and Matt Thuli, and then we have the best teachers on the planet and a fabulous staff supporting us.”

Chris Wood
Theology Teacher and Assistant Campus Minister
De La Salle Institute
Chicago, IL

Chris Wood has been embodying the Lasallian spirit since he was a student at Archbishop O’Hara High School in Kansas City, Missouri. Before joining the staff at De La Salle Institute, Chris spent time in formation as a Christian Brother and graduated from Lewis University. For the past 30 years, he has graciously guided his students to discover God’s goodness, and he models compassion in everything he does. Often cited as a favorite teacher, students are impacted by the way in which Chris allows the Spirit to work through him. A master teacher and a trusted colleague with an open door, colleagues regularly lean on Chris for his wisdom, humor and calm manner.

“Very humbled, first of all. It’s been my life’s pleasure, my life’s calling. I feel very privileged to answer the call of John Baptist de La Salle and continue his work and the work of the Brothers. Coming from a Christian Brothers school and a Christian Brothers product, they were men that guided and formed me and helped me become the man I am, and I feel like I’m giving back.”

DISTRICT OF SAN FRANCISCO NEW ORLEANS

Cathy Molinelli
Vice Principal
Saint Mary’s College High School
Berkeley, CA

Cathy Molinelli has faithfully served Saint Mary’s College High School in Berkeley, California, for the past 16 years. Cathy embodies the Lasallian Core Principles in her current role as vice principal. They are at the forefront of everything she does. Cathy fosters a sense of belonging by cultivating a trusting and healthy environment for her colleagues and students alike. One colleague commented, “Cathy is the heart of our community, we are ever grateful for her Lasallian-inspired work ethic, her kindness and her compassion that model for us what the founder envisioned for the Brothers of the Christian Schools.”

“I’m incredibly honored to be recognized for the work I do at Saint Mary’s. I find great joy in creating and implementing programs that are inspired by our shared mission of creating relationships that change a child’s life. It’s a team effort and I work with amazing colleagues who are creative and inspiring. Our focus is always on the kids and how we can meet their needs.”

Les textes sont tirés d’une publication de la RELAN que vous pouvez consulter au: https://lasallian.info/dle2021/