The Lasting Impact of De La Salle Teachers

Humanizing, engaging, and life-changing. These are just some of the words that our alumni use to describe their experience at De La Salle. Yet, despite their varying verb and adjective choices, there is a common thread woven within their accounts of Winton Drive. That thread is the impact that De La Salle teachers have had on their lives throughout high school and beyond.

The following pages offer a sampling of stories, spanning nearly three decades. These personal accounts provide a window into what makes De La Salle so special: the mission to guide and instruct from a place of love. The ability to educate the whole student. They demonstrate how De La Salle teachers are deeply committed to their students. How they genuinely care about student well-being and success, and how they work diligently to provide the type of support students need to become the best version of themselves. In short, they showcase just a few of the many ways that De La Salle teachers positively shape the lives of students.

Dr. Michael Rubino III ‘84 President,CEO&PsychotherapistatRubinoCounseling, PleasantHill,Calif.

“Patti Stauch, the director of Company, gave me a place to belong in spite of a neurological disability that made it difficult to cast me in shows –particularly musicals where there was often a lot of dancing. Instead of making me feel like I was too much of a problem, Patti always found a role for me. She was even able to include me in part of a dance routine. She always made Company feel like a family and home for all of us and she definitely made it feel like a family to me by going the extra mile.

In my senior year, when I was deciding where I should attend college, it was my English teacher, Anne Koch, who took me aside. She told me she knew all the schools I had been accepted to and that she thought I should go to UC Berkeley. She said I needed to see how the real world worked. It was her opinion that Berkeley was the perfect school for me and she was right. At the time, I had no idea how many different types of people there are, or how to get along with people who have very different world views than I did.”

Tobin Bradley ‘92 DeputyAssistantSecretary,U.S.DepartmentofState

“While many know Bob Ladouceur as a great coach on the football field, they may not know what an impactful teacher he was in the classroom. He once told me, ‘Toby, you are a human doing, not a human being.’ It was during a junior seminar class. My classmates agreed that my emphasis on my achievements rather than what qualities I brought as a friend, classmate, and human being was all wrong. My world fell apart. I thought awards and accolades were all everyone valued. I didn’t know where that left me. The truth was, I was burning out. I couldn’t keep everyone happy fast enough. I thought about taking my own life. I’m not sure where I’d be –if I’d be – if he hadn’t said that. I think I would have become something unrecognizable from who I was when I started, something inauthentic, something miserable.

I believe that statement led me to take risks to find that authenticity. I stopped doing/achieving for a while. I studied abroad in Africa. I came out of the closet. When I emerged, I was stronger for it. I began to achieve again, but on my terms balancing professional and personal endeavors. I’ve already gone back to thank Mr. Ladouceur, and many of the teachers like Patti Stauch, Rudy Schulze, Gerald “Jerry” Horan, Brothers Jerome, Cecil, and Jack who were so instrumental in helping me become the human being I am today. If I were to see them again, I will reaffirm how much they meant to me and my classmates. From organizing democratic elections in Iraq to writing for, and briefing, two Presidents in the Oval Office to composing an original musical, I’d tell them stories of how I channeled their teachings when I needed them most. I’d introduce them to my partner of 25 years and ask them about their families and personal hopes. For those of them that are no longer with us, I regret that I didn’t tell them more often. I am heartened that they can still hear these stories in our prayers of thanks, and we can still honor them by carrying their teachings with us and passing them on to others.”

Tom Coughlan ‘97 ExecutiveDirectorofLasallianChristianBrothersFoundation(LCBF), Napa,Calif.

“Back in 1993, I must have been on the bubble of whether or not I would be admitted into my Math Honors class. It took me no time at all to realize the pace and rigor of the class was so far beyond what I was prepared for. I was in a class with future engineers and scientists! As a result, I spent most of my lunchtimes in Mr. Hirsch’s classroom getting the extra help I needed to keep up.

For the rest of my academic life, I never worked as hard as I did in that class… to earn a C+. Mr. Hirsch didn’t lower his expectations, but he did make himself available for extra help and support. The lesson I learned is that there are simply no shortcuts to achievement. This lesson can be universally applied to most professions.

I was lucky to have Mr. Hirsch for both my sophomore and junior years, as well as the head varsity water polo coach. There are no magic words or silver bullets of motivation that he imparted that I can recall. Any quip like that would just trivialize the depth of the impact he’s made in terms of being a role model as a Lasallian educator; always present, steadying, dedicated, action-more-than-words, faithful, consistent, authentic, and family-oriented. I am now fortunate to consider Scott a friend as well as a mentor.”

Christopher J. Carey ‘03 Publichighschooleducator,communitycollegeprofessor,aspiringadministrator, and doctoral candidate in international/multicultural education.

“The faculty and staff of De La Salle embody the Lasallian motto of “Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve.”It isn’t a carefully worded mission statement published for the mere appeasement of accreditation; it is a personal calling to which all those who work on Winton Drive have dedicated their life’s work in service to others through the medium of education. They accept us and all of our imperfections with unconditional love while empowering us to always give a perfect effort as we grow in mind, body, and spirit.

I’ll never forget the time Mrs. Adrian took the time to counsel me about my (at times) combative relationship with my parents. I confided in her as one would a trusted friend. Or how Mr. Murin validated my experience as an Eagle Scout through his insightful commentary on my persuasive essay about the practice of flag-burning. To this day, I’ve kept it as part of my student work portfolio, alongside my current doctoral research.

I also remember how Mr. Dyer would engage me for who I was (a die-hard 49ers fan who liked to banter back and forth) and less as the academic underachiever that was in his sophomore Biology class. How Mr. Nolan and Mr. Zorad got me to fully embrace the unique opportunity to serve as both participant and leader at Kairos (Live the 4th!). How I walked into Mr. Lopez’s US History class the morning of September 11, 2001, and how he was vulnerable and open with us about how he, a native of New York City, was processing the inexplicable horror of that day and how he helped us process our own emotions.”

Co-ExecutiveProducerofMyAdventureswithSuperman(whichisslatedto premiereonCartoonNetworklaterthisyear).

“David Cunningham is the first Art teacher I had who taught me the basics of animation. He showed me that art was more than just drawing pretty pictures; it is a medium for storytelling. He also taught me to embrace my ambitions and break free of my comfort zones – something that is vital for a successful career in animation. Without him, I would have never pursued my career in art or animation.

Mr. Cunningham’s class taught me the discipline for improving as an artist and David himself taught me the discipline for improving as a person. When I was his student, it was the early 2000s. At that time, most young men had a lot to learn about accepting those who were different. In particular those in the LGBTQ community. I remember hanging out in Mr. Cunningham’s classroom with some of my friends. (He allowed us to use his classroom after school as a drawing space.) I was flipping through a recent art zine and, being kind of a jerk, I was making fun of the art I didn’t like by saying ‘this drawing looks gay.’ Hearing this, Mr. Cunningham immediately swooped in and reprimanded me. He did it calmly and explained that the way I was using the word ‘gay’ was derogatory and could be harmful to those who heard me say it.

I think about this interaction every day of my life, and I am so grateful for it. This was the first time someone had corrected a personal bias of mine in a way that I understood. It made me realize that I had blind spots to the experiences of others. And some of those experiences I would truly never be able to understand. The best I can hope to do is listen, and trust in what others tell me. It is in this trusting and listening that I believe the foundation of empathy lies. And it is how I have learned to grow as a person, deepening my understanding of the world.”

Alex Taylor ‘10 SeniorConsultant,CGI,Phoenix,Ariz.

“De La Salle changed my life but it was Ms. Stevenson who had a big impact on me, from my freshman year until my senior year. She always gave me advice and never held back with what she thought was right or the right path for me.

Her Classics of Horror class also opened my eyes to a different style of learning. She made it exciting and gave me the tools I needed to excel in college. I thank her for her solid advice and the continuous love she showed me and my friends.”