Washington, D.C., June 27, 2025 — The Adrien Nyel Institute (ANI) concluded on Thursday, June 26, 2025, leaving participants and organizers energized by the promise of a new generation of educators rooted in Lasallian values. Hosted at St. John’s College High School in Washington, D.C., from Sunday, June 22 to Thursday, June 26, the five-day formation experience brought together eight selected students from across the District of Eastern North America (DENA) to explore the vocation of teaching through a uniquely Lasallian lens.
The Institute took place during a week that honors two Lasallian Brother-teachers—Saint Miguel Febres Cordero, FSC, and Blessed James Miller, FSC, martyr—providing an inspiring spiritual framework for participants to reflect on teaching as both a sacred and transformative mission.
Participants were housed at Embassy Suites in Bethesda, Maryland, and engaged in a thoughtfully curated program that combined foundational pedagogy with real-world exposure and vocational discernment.
The program began on June 22 with participants arriving and engaging in community-building activities. On June 23, they visited St. John’s College High School and San Miguel School in Washington, D.C., experiencing Lasallian education firsthand. The next day included a tour of Howard University and the Library of Congress, highlighting higher education and advocacy. On June 25, participants returned to St. John’s and visited the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, prompting reflection on justice and moral responsibility. The week concluded on June 26 with a Capstone Synthesis session, where participants drew on their experiences, Lasallian values, and their own educational journeys to envision and design their ideal educational community. This transformative experience inspired a renewed commitment to creating schools that nurture both minds and hearts, shaping future leaders grounded in purpose and compassion.
Throughout the program, the participants engaged in prayer, dialogue, and mentorship while forming a close-knit community. Sessions emphasized not only academic concepts but also discernment, reflection, and the call to serve—hallmarks of Lasallian education. Many participants expressed that they now view teaching not just as a career, but as a vocation rooted in faith, compassion, and justice.
The intentional size of the group allowed for depth over breadth—encouraging rich conversations, personalized mentorship, and a space where participants could question, grow, and dream.
As the District of Eastern North America (DENA) continues to invest in the future of Lasallian education, the Adrien Nyel Institute marks a hopeful beginning. The experience reaffirms the heart of the Lasallian mission: to provide transformative education that empowers young people to become leaders in service of faith, equity, and the common good.
