The Power of a Catholic Educator

Catholic Schools Week is a time to celebrate the value Catholic education provides to young people and its contributions to our church, our communities and our nation.

For Lewis alumnus Anthony Lyen '14 '19, Catholic education has always been a fundamentally important part of life. He attended St. Daniel the Prophet School from preschool through eighth grade before attending St. Laurence High School in Burbank and eventually Lewis University.

"A Catholic education truly blends a rigorous, relevant curriculum while instilling Christ's values in the lives of our students," says Anthony. "The goal is to develop our students to be life-long learners whose spiritual values can guide them through the challenges of life. Ultimately, we want our students to take as much pride in their faith life as their academic achievements."

Group projects, retreats and trips, layout night for the Flyer newspaper, summer orientations as a leader, and late nights as a RA are some of Anthony's fondest memories from his time at Lewis. All very unique from one another, yet, all rooted by one thing - faith.

After graduation from Lewis, Anthony began working at St. Daniel the Prophet School - his alma mater. In 2019, he went back to Lewis to pursue a Master of Education degree. And as a result, he was recently named Assistant Principal in addition to serving as an eighth grade social studies and religion teacher.

"Not only do I get to continue teaching and help prepare my students for high school, but I get to help lead a school community I care so deeply about. Every day, I make sure I do whatever I can to make a positive difference for my students, helping them to learn, laugh, and grow in their faith. I can't wait to serve in a greater capacity with an amazing group of people to help our school continue to thrive," adds Anthony.

Anthony understands the critical role that a Catholic education can play in the lives of tomorrow's leaders. So much so, that in addition to teaching, he serves as a Lewis Alumni Representative to help make a differences in more ways than one. He has partnered with the Education Department and helped to recruit new graduates for potential teaching positions. As a leader at Lewis, he also encourages fellow alumni to stay connected and support today's Flyers.

"I try to model my faith through my teaching as well as my involvement in the parish community. My hope is that students see my passion for both teaching and my faith in my words and actions. I can only hope through my service to the school and community, my students can be inspired to proudly live out their faith."

It Takes a Village

Joey Ancel, Class of 2021

On his first day of preschool, Joey Ancel '21 came home and said to his family, "I want to be a teacher when I grow up!" He would oftentimes force his family to play school so he could pretend to be a teacher. That passion never faded and now his dream has come true - and this time it wasn't make believe!

On Wednesday, August 18, 2021, Joey walked into Troy Hofer Elementary School to enjoy his first day of school...as a teacher (yes, a real one!)

Joey left the first day of his teaching career not only feeling excited for the future, but also grateful for the past. He sat at his computer and began to write an email...

"You are receiving this email because each and every one of you made some sort of impact on my life at some point during my educational journey and I can only hope to make these kinds of impacts on my students as they enter my classroom. Whether you were my teacher, principal, nurse, secretary, lunch lady, professor, colleague, friend, mentor, administrator, etc., you have inspired me to join this crazy world of education and I am forever grateful. It truly takes a village to run a school!"

After one day on the job, Joey recognized the important role every person he had encountered played in his journey to pursue his calling, including many faculty and staff members from Lewis University.

For Joey, being a teacher is a very rewarding profession. And Lewis was a place that fostered his passion to pursue it.

"I learned the importance of loving the job and loving the students. The work I do as a teacher leaves an important impact on the lives of my students, just as so many at Lewis did for me. Each person on that email made a difference in my life - and I wanted them to know. Whether it is in the classroom, in a counseling center, in the lunch line, or on the walk to school - every person plays a vital role. I love being a teacher, but I know I cannot do my job without the important work of so many others. I hope to be a good role model and do work that will allow my students today to come to that realization in the future themselves."

Joey graduated from Lewis University with a B.A. in Elementary Education in 2021 before starting his career as a second-grade teacher this past summer. He is excited for this chapter in his life and looks forward to inspiring tomorrow's leaders throughout his new journey as a teacher.