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Focusing on ourLasallianPartners
Ben Murray & Sr. Mary Willette
San Miguel Middle School
Minneapolis, Minnesota
“To touch the hearts of your students and to inspire them with the Christian spirit is the
greatest miracle you can perform.”
This familiar statement by St. John Baptist de La Salle captures well the energy and
guiding spirit of Ben Murray, the President of San Miguel Middle School of Minneapolis,
and Principal Sister Mary Willette, SSND.
University.
A mission trip to San Miguel, Back of the Yards, in Chicago opened his eyes to the harsh
realities faced by inner-city youth and how the work of John Baptist de La Salle, more
than 300 years ago in France, might be part of the solution. A graduate of the Lasallian
Leadership Institute, Ben served as a full-time volunteer with the Christian Brothers to
help open San Miguel in 2000. “My time at San Miguel has provided me with both the
most rewarding and most challenging experiences in my life,” said Ben. “Greeting our
students with a handshake each morning places me in the holy presence of God. Their
dreams, their potential and their trust in our school community are truly blessings to me.
I have been fortunate to witness the immense good that can be done when a community
collaborates to support the promise of our youth.” In his role as president, Ben has worked
to connect San Miguel’s supporters and the larger community to San Miguel’s Lasallian mission.
Sister Mary Willette, a School Sister of Notre Dame, heard the call and responded to the
invitation to be the principal of San Miguel in 2002 as she felt a direct connection between
the Lasallian charism and the charism of Blessed Theresa of Jesus, Foundress of her
community. The mission of San Miguel to educate city youth to reach their full potential
is a very concrete way to continue the legacy of Blessed Theresa and John Baptist de
La Salle. Sr. Mary observes: “The early years at San Miguel were very challenging and
stretching for me as I had never been involved in education in an urban setting. It took me a
while to understand the culture and neighborhood. Their story was different from the other
children I had worked with. I learned quickly that I had to evaluate my own assumptions
and clarify best practices in order to help students be successful at San Miguel.” Over the
years, Sr. Mary has worked with her staff to develop a holistic approach to education and
one that accelerates academic growth.
President Ben Murray tutoring a student
Principal Sr. Mary Willette reviewing
material with a student
Ben and Sr. Mary collaborate as San Miguel’s leadership
team, contributing their complementary skills and
experiences. A couple of years ago, the two led the
school’s initial accreditation process, engaging the
school community in the creation of a strategic plan to
help San Miguel fully realize its Lasallian mission.
After eleven years of making a difference in the lives of
many young people, San Miguel will close its doors in
June. Even though the decision to close was a wrenching
one, it involved a process typical of both Ben and Sr.
Mary: gather the necessary information, discern all
possible options, and make the right decision. The many
students who went through San Miguel now have a much
brighter future, thanks to the time they spent under the
skillful and very Lasallian care they received at the hands
of Ben and Sister Mary.
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Sr. Mary Willette & Mr. Ben Murray with Award Winning Students

Br. Larry Schatz, FSC, Auxiliary Provincial
Corey Quinn & Phil Pusateri
De La Salle Middle School at St. Matthew’s
St. Louis, Missouri
It is said that Saint Louis natives tend to be very loyal to their hometown. That is
certainly the case with President Corey Quinn and Principal Phil Pusateri of De
La Salle Middle School at St. Matthew’s. While both come from non-Lasallian
backgrounds, these two men have embraced the Lasallian mission and clearly live it
out daily in St. Louis.
University in St. Louis, he began teaching part-time at DLS in 2002, a year after
the school opened. Soon, however, he began teaching full-time and in 2007,
Phil became Principal. He recalls fondly the early LAMS gatherings where he
schools. Phil was also part of the fourth cohort of the Lasallian Leadership
Institute, where he deepened his commitment to the Lasallian mission. Phil
high quality education, just as I was blessed with.” Phil also credits DLS Founder
Bob Sweeny and colleague Helen Friedel “for passing on the Lasallian values to
the school community.”
Corey became President of De La Salle in 2008, after having taught high school
While in Kansas City, Corey was invited by a colleague to go along on a service
trip to St. Louis. Corey said: “Little did I know that she and I and a handful
of high school students would spend that weekend cleaning out the facility (at
St. Matthew’s parish) that would one day become De La Salle Middle School!
You can imagine my surprise when I showed up to interview years later and found
the place strangely familiar!”
Currently in the Lasallian Leadership Institute, Corey recalled an early moment
in prayer at De La Salle. I was so nervous, because the group was comprised
largely of men who had graduated from Christian Brothers College High School
Lasallian meant at that point. Nearly three years later,
I recognize that being Lasallian means to feel a special
kind of zeal to humbly serve as an ambassador of Christ,
particularly for those who are not among the ‘elite’ in
our world. It is the humble nature of the Lasallian way
of proceeding that I most admire and feel drawn to.”
Top: President Corey Quinn greets students
Middle: Principal Phil Pusateri with student
Both Corey and Phil juggle the many and varied
demands of their administrative tasks at DLS with the
equally demanding tasks of marriage and family. Phil
and his wife Maura have two young daughters, and
Corey and his wife Amanda have three children. Add
to that the fact that both men are pursuing doctorates
in education at St. Louis University, and it is clear that
Phil and Corey have their hands full. It is also clear that
these two Lasallian school leaders work together very
well as a team and embody the faith and zeal that are
hallmarks of the Lasallian spirit.
Let’s hope that these two St. Louis natives continue to
make their home at De La Salle for many years to come.
Teachers & Staff join Phil Pusateri & Corey Quinn to honor the “Star Student
of the Month”.
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