LANCE Lasallian Association of New Catholic Educators

Christian Brothers University
650 E. Parkway South
Memphis, TN 38104
(901) 321-3200
FAX (901) 321-3494
Email: lance@cbu.edu
Web: www.cbu.edu

LANCE, the Lasallian Association of New Catholic Educators, is an initiative founded to help better educate the children in inner-city Catholic schools. With the opening of the Jubilee Schools in Memphis, combined with a renewed interest in community service among young Americans, CBU looks to make a timely commitment to bolstering Catholic Schools with excellent young educators.

LANCE is modeled on the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE), a Notre Dame-based program that has served the Diocese of Memphis for the last four years. After an intensive summer of taking courses in CBU's graduate Department of Education, participants will come together to live in a community and teach full time in different Catholic schools. During the second year, participants will continue teaching in the same school, completing additional coursework and achieving full licensure, certification, and a tuition-free Masters Degree from CBU.

"It's not hard to convince graduates of Catholic schools that a Catholic education is a valuable one," says Steffan, himself a graduate of St. Louis School, CBHS, and the University of Notre Dame. "What's new to these seniors is using the gifts that have been given to them to help educate kids who are underprivileged. With the benefits of community living and a paid-for Masters Degree, a lot of people are understandably excited about this new opportunity to make a difference."

Local educators are also excited to have LANCE teachers aboard. Dr. Mary McDonald, Superintendent of the Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Memphis, is confident LANCE will broaden the impact that ACE has already had in the Catholic Schools. "The ACE program has already given the Diocese tremendous energy through the teachers they have sent. To capture that kind of Catholic vitality, multiply it, and make it Memphis-based will be a true blessing."

To find out more about the LANCE program, you can check the website at www.cbu.edu/lance, or e-mail at lance@cbu.edu.