The annual Distinguished Lasallian Educator Award honors educators who exemplify the ideals of Saint John Baptist de La Salle, patron saint of Teachers. The award is sponsored by the Lasallian Region of North America and is presented at the annual Huether Lasallian Conference held each November. Typically, award nominees’ work within the Lasallian ministry reflects the theme of the Conference. The theme of the 2025 Huether Lasallian Conference is “Building Sacred Bridges: Igniting Our Vocation as Lasallian Educators.”
Honorees are selected by the individual Districts based on these criteria: The nominee must be an educator in a Lasallian ministry for at least five years, must work with the educational community to foster Gospel values in the lives of faculty, staff and students, and must see the Lasallianministry as a place of educational excellence that shares in the teaching mission of the Catholic Church. Ministries are asked to submit nominations to the District Office where a committee reviews and selects the recipients.
The Midwest District is proud to honor Mr. Joe Miley and Ms. Susan Rackley as the recipients of the 2025 Distinguished Lasallian Educator Awards. Please see details about these two phenomenal educators below.
Mr. Joe Miley
Cretin-Derham Hall graduate and faculty member, Mr. Joe Miley lives out the Lasallian mission through radical inclusion and faith in action. After earning a theology degree and a master’s in special education from Saint Mary’s University, Joe dedicated his career to ensuring that every student is seen, valued, and loved. In 2024, he founded the Common Ground Program—the first of its kind in Minnesota Catholic schools—where students with and without intellectual disabilities learn together as peers and friends. The program has transformed school culture by fostering empathy, unity, and respect. Beyond the classroom, Joe serves with humility through parish outreach and accompaniment of men experiencing homelessness in St. Paul. His work reflects every Lasallian Core Principle: faith, inclusion, quality education, respect, and social justice. Joe’s example reveals the heart of the Lasallian educator—one who builds sacred bridges and embodies God’s presence in community.
Ms. Susan Rackley
As Principal of San Miguel Tulsa, Ms. Susan Rackley leads with deep faith and an unwavering commitment to growth—for her students, her colleagues, and herself. Guided by the Holy Spirit, she views education as a sacred journey of transformation. Her three Master’s degrees—spanning Curriculum and Instruction, Lasallian Leadership, and Educational Leadership—reflect her devotion to both learning and leading in the Lasallian tradition. Susan’s hallmark belief, “Without change, there is no learning,” captures her approach to education as a dynamic process that embraces challenge as opportunity. Every day, she fosters a culture of growth and belonging where students, families, and faculty discover who they are created to be. Her steadfast leadership, compassion, and expertise continue to shape San Miguel Tulsa into a thriving Lasallian community rooted in faith, respect, and love of learning.
2025 Nominees
Across classrooms, campuses, and ministries, these honorees share a common thread: they lead with compassion, lift others with humility, and believe deeply in the transformative power of community. They accompany students and colleagues with a spirit of hope, innovation, and unwavering commitment to those entrusted to their care. The list of phenomenal educators nominated are listed below:
This year we celebrate:
- Ms. Margaret Kosciolek, whose two decades at Christian Brothers College High School have shaped artists, mentors, and a thriving culture of creativity and care.
- Dr. Justin Whitmer, a true “renaissance man” at Christian Brothers High School, known equally for his scholarship, coaching, friendship, and steadfast belief in every student’s ability to grow.
- Mr. John Brogan, De La Salle Institute’s longtime teacher, dean, recruiter, and bridge-builder, forming generations of students and families through hospitality and passion for history.
- Mr. Michael Hairsine, whose service at De La Salle Blackfeet School spans teaching, technology, leadership, and mentorship—always rooted in faith, service, and community.
- Mr. Matthew Tessmer, a dedicated math teacher and Academic Dean at DeLaSalle High School, nurturing both academic excellence and the personal formation of each student.
- Ms. Karen Kidrowski, whose teaching and spiritual leadership at Holy Family Catholic High School embody the Lasallian call to “touch hearts” through faith-filled accompaniment.
- Mr. Jeff Weierman, leader of Campus Ministry at La Salle High School, forming young men through service, worship, pastoral care, and a consistent spirit of welcome.
- Ms. Katie Miller, whose ministry and teaching at Montini Catholic High School have transformed student leadership, retreat life, peer ministry, and faith formation.
- Ms. Carolina Villa, San Miguel School Chicago graduate turned leader and advocate, building strong bridges between students, families, and the wider community.
- Ms. Jennifer Junker, a Totino-Grace High School special educator whose advocacy, expertise, and deep belief in her students have changed countless lives and futures.
These nominees remind us that Lasallian education is not a task but a vocation—one lived out through daily acts of love, creativity, resilience, and faith. We honor their witness, celebrate their contributions, and give thanks for the light they bring to our ministries and to the young people we serve.
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