CDH Hosts Future Catholic Educators Through the LIFT Program

October 6, 2025

This fall, Cretin-Derham Hall is honored to host four college students from the Lasallian Institute for the Formation of Teachers (LIFT) - a unique and mission-driven teacher training initiative rooted in the educational vision of St. John Baptist de La Salle.

Founded by Brother Pat Conway, the LIFT program is dedicated to forming the next generation of male Catholic educators at a time when only 19% of Catholic school teachers in the U.S. are men. With its immersive, hands-on model, LIFT goes beyond traditional teacher preparation, offering real classroom experience and spiritual formation grounded in Lasallian values.

Each course in the program is paired with a field experience, enabling participants to apply what they’re learning directly in school settings. These experiences span across the U.S. and even internationally, including recent work in Colombia. This month, CDH is proud to serve as one of the national training sites, thanks to the partnership between Joe Miley, Vice President for Mission, and Brother Pat Conway, LIFT founder.

Over the past few weeks, four LIFT students have been active members of the CDH community:

• Derek Herrera Diaz

• Dan Fahey

• Matthew Limbaugh

• Armando Zavala

These future educators are learning alongside CDH faculty and students in both core academic classes and specialized programs, including:

• Ellen Schafer '10 – Science and Engineering

• Becki Medellin '88 – Spanish I

• Jesse Cusick '98 – Composition

• Mark Grunewald – Introduction to Algebra

• Peter Gleich – Hebrew Scripture

• Joe Miley '11 – Learning Lab & Common Ground Program

Learning from Real-Life Experience

The LIFT students’ days are full — from tutoring in the Learning Lab, to co-teaching in classrooms, to attending certification courses and living in community with the Christian Brothers. As Brother Pat Conway noted:

“Their days are very full… But when I asked them if they felt overwhelmed, one said, ‘We’ve done a lot, but not only does it go by quickly - we are learning so much about ourselves and what it means to be a teacher.’ Clearly, the goals and objectives of the LIFT program are being met, far more than I ever anticipated.”

The community life shared with the Brothers is also a formative aspect of the program:

“Some of the most significant learning experiences happen around the dinner table. The same tradition of support I received as a rookie teacher continues today with the LIFT students in our Lasallian family,” said Brother Pat.

Personal Growth

The impact of the program is already being felt - by both the LIFT students and the CDH community. Here are just a few reflections from current participants:

Dan Fahey shared a story about working with students in the Common Ground Program:

“Before class, one of the students led us in prayer. He spoke with such faith… I was baffled. Later, in a Hebrew Scripture class I taught, that same student responded with the exact insight I was looking for - ‘forgiveness.’ I was reminded never to underestimate the capabilities of any student. They taught me more than I taught them.”

Matthew Limbaugh described a personal lesson learned while teaching math:

“After making a mistake in front of the class, I was hard on myself. But Mr. G reminded me that it’s okay to make mistakes - and not to take myself too seriously. That moment helped me grow not just as a teacher, but as a person.”

Derek Herrera Diaz reflected on discovering his calling:

“I was invited back to my high school last year to talk about my job — but I didn’t have one yet. I spoke from the heart about what I wished I’d known back then, and something clicked. Here at CDH, teaching science, I’ve felt like I’m truly in my element. These students have taught me a lot about myself.”

Armando Zavala said how rewarding his time has been at CDH:

“Of all the phases in my life, none have been so rewarding, demanding, joyful, and uplifting as my time at CDH. My greatest hope is that students felt warm and welcome in my presence. That’s the lesson I’ll carry forward - to love is to love all.”

A Blessing for the School

Brother Michael Rivers, Director of the Brothers’ Community at CDH, shared how much the LIFT students have already brought to their temporary home:

“Having the LIFT students stay with us has been a real blessing. Their eagerness to embrace this experience is inspiring… Their lives are forever changed - and they’ve touched ours in a profound way. This is a true tribute to the LIFT program.”

To learn more about the LIFT program and its work to shape the future of Catholic education, visit the LIFT website.