Update on the PLACE Corps
Summer 2009
The PLACE Corps – Partners in Los Angeles Catholic Education – began in 2001 and continues to grow as the scope of service expands and program traditions develop. The nationally recognized PLACE Corps recently welcomed twenty-seven new teachers to its ninth cohort, bringing the 2009-2010 program total to sixty members. Current PLACErs hail from thirty-four universities, including such Catholic institutions as College of the Holy Cross, Fordham University, Gonzaga University, Loyola College, St. Mary’s College (IN and CA), University of Notre Dame, University of Portland, University of San Diego, and Xavier University. A strong presence of Loyola Marymount University graduates in the PLACE Corps continues, as well as from an array of public and private colleges and universities from across the country.
In the spring, new PLACErs were welcomed at the annual orientation weekend. Members now include siblings of alumni and PLACErs who themselves were taught by PLACE Corps teachers. A highlight of the weekend was having old and new PLACErs join principals, Archdiocesan Department of Catholic Schools staff, and members of the Selection Committee, LMU faculty and staff for Mass and the Dean’s Dinner. Shane P. Martin, Ph.D., Dean of the School of Education, welcomed the dinner attendees.
In June, the new and returning PLACErs went to the Mission San Luis Rey Renewal Center for a three-day retreat, with alumni PLACErs assisting as retreat team leaders. After the retreat, the PLACE Corps celebrated the accomplishments of the seventh cohort, with a heart-felt send-off party. Joining the ranks of PLACE Corps alumni are twenty Cohort 7 PLACErs who recently earned their Master of Arts degree and credentials at LMU. Of these, eleven will continue to teach at PLACE Corps schools. There are a total of 145 PLACE Corps alumni from the first seven cohorts; more than 90% of the PLACErs remain in education with almost 50% of the program alumni continuing to teach in Catholic schools. In the 2009-2010 school year, the PLACE Corps will have more than a hundred PLACErs and alumni teaching in over forty Archdiocesan schools, serving thousands of Catholic school children.
Eight alumni are in or have graduated from doctoral programs. Three alumni are teaching in international service programs. Two alumni are in seminary studies. Another dozen are serving as principals or Catholic school administrators. Not only does the PLACE Corps prepare Catholic school teachers, but it is contributing to the development of leaders in Catholic education.
During the summer program, the new and returning cohorts have the opportunity to share their faith at weekly spiritual growth nights. Also, alumni are invited to join them at weekly Sunday evening Masses. At the annual Commissioning Mass in July, the Cardinal blesses the new PLACErs who continue the Jesuit tradition of being “men and women for and with others.”
Program members live in spiritually-based communities of up to eleven PLACErs. This year, there are seven PLACE Corps community homes, six of which are “renovated” convents within commuting distance to LMU and their respective “PLACEment” schools. The PLACErs appreciate the benefit of the convents, which are the sites of many PLACE Corps functions – including Masses, the annual PLACEr Thanksgiving potluck dinner (for 70+), and various meetings and fellowship gatherings.
With a year of experience, Cohort 8 members are now the “returning teachers” supporting the “novice teachers” in Cohort 9. Many of the program alumni are the “seasoned teachers” assigned as the official mentor teachers to the current PLACErs in Cohorts 8 and 9. To assist the PLACE Corps credential candidates, the program continues to host semi-annual mentor workshops for the teachers who are providing additional support for the PLACErs at their school sites.
In the fall, the PLACErs are able to utilize what they have learned in their academic classes to enhance their teaching. Program participants look forward to the Fall Retreat, spending three days in the local mountains. Concurrently, candidates for Cohort 10 will be finalizing their applications, due January 31st. About that time, PLACErs 8 and 9 will be ready to tackle second semester with a renewed enthusiasm, while over thirty members of the Selection Committee interview the candidates for PLACE Corps X.
Interspersed throughout the PLACE Corps year are a wide variety of large group fellowship activities with a blend of cultural, educational, recreational, and spiritual experiences. Program members mix fitness and fun with broomball, volleyball, kayaking, and bowling. Group activities (the Getty Museum, Griffith Park Observatory, Hollywood Bowl, etc.) offer participants the opportunity to experience some of the benefits of Southern California - familiarizing the non-locals (and locals) with Los Angeles. (One PLACEr may have been exaggerating a bit when commenting, “I’ve seen more of LA during PLACE Corps than in all my years growing up here.”) The PLACErs truly work, live, play and pray together, strengthening their bonds to each other, the program, and to the schools and children they serve.
The goals of the PLACE Corps are closely aligned with those of Loyola Marymount University -- the promotion of academic excellence while serving the greater Los Angeles community and living the commitment to the Catholic tradition of “service of faith and the promotion of justice.” It is obvious that the PLACErs’ experience is much beyond “teaching while pursuing a master’s/credential.” They are living the life of a PLACE Corps member, changing the world one student at a time, giving back to their Church, and being ambassadors of Loyola Marymount University.
In addition to the partnerships with the Archdiocese and the University of Notre Dame, the program’s other partnerships continue to grow. LMU has a leading role in the University Consortium of Catholic Education (UCCE) -- the affiliation of the fifteen universities with similar teacher service programs (www.ucceconnect.com). Many individuals and foundations in the Los Angeles community have been supportive of the PLACE Corps; resources are being sought that may help to fiscally sustain the program.
Recruiting efforts brings the PLACE Corps to dozens of universities across the country; last year’s record number of requests for applications came from individuals at more than sixty-five universities in twenty-five states. For the next cohort, recruiting is ongoing. The PLACE Corps website (www.lmu.edu/education/place) has an extensive Frequently Asked Questions section to assist with inquiries and requests for program information that come in on a daily basis.
During the program’s first year, some described the PLACE Corps as “living on a prayer.” During the second year, there was a “leap of faith” with the blending of cohorts to become one large community for the very first time. As the program continues to grow and evolve, it is realized that “we make the path by walking.” The PLACErs continue to make new paths as they walk together as graduate students, as community members, and as teachers on their spiritual journeys who are trying to “Teach as Jesus Did.” The program members are truly “Together in Spirit, Together in PLACE.”
The PLACE Corps, in partnership with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, is one way that Loyola Marymount University is responding to the need for enthusiastic, faith-filled and committed Catholic school teachers. The PLACE Corps, through the School of Education, is making a significant impact on Catholic education in Los Angeles.
Your prayers and support are appreciated.