Each year, the Brother Martin High School Board of Directors awards the Brother More Schaefer Award to an outstanding member of our faculty. Our recipient traditionally has been announced to the Brother Martin community at our annual recognition ceremony in January. This year the recipient was announced following our school-wide liturgy so that our entire school community, especially our student body, could celebrate and honor our recipient.

A native of New Orleans, Brother More graduated from St. Aloysius in 1950 and pronounced his first vows as a Brother of the Sacred Heart in 1952. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Physics and Mathematics from Spring Hill College, a Master of Arts in Guidance and Counseling from the University of Alabama, and a Master of Science in Physics from Purdue University.

Brother More served in many ways.  He was a teacher, coach, department chairman, guidance counselor, Director of Admissions and Vice Principal. At the time of his death in 1983, he had long been recognized as a Master Educator.  Comments from his eulogy and from the letter announcing his death included:

“He took an interest in all students.”  “His classes were well prepared and methodically executed.”  “His deep faith inspired us all.” “In whatever place and in whatever position he served, he was always thorough, professional, challenging and concerned.  In a word, he loved.”

Throughout the selection process, faculty are asked to nominate a colleague and, ultimately, the selection committee – comprised of a member of the Board of Directors, the Alumni Board of Directors, distinguished members of the Brother Martin community, and past recipients of the award – is charged with selecting a member of our faculty who demonstrates (1) Excellence in Instruction, (2) Commitment to Formation, and (3) Demonstration of Christian Witness. Witness in all that he or she does as a role model for our students both inside and outside of the classroom. This is not an annual teacher of the year award. It is much, much more than that. 

In his remarks, Principal Ryan Gallagher ‘00 stated:

Partners in Mission, one of our foundational documents that articulates our educational tradition and the charism of Fr. Andre’ Coindre, states that “partners in mission, which include all those employed in our schools, work to embody in their educational service to young people the substance of Father Andre Coindre’s original charism and, in doing so, become believable witnesses who ultimately lead young people to faith.” 

As teachers at Brother Martin, we see this school as successful if students graduate with a strong belief that God loves them. Students develop this belief in proportion to two factors: how much their teachers love them and the extent to which students sense teachers’ love through the interest shown them in the classroom and extracurricular activities. 

This year’s Brother More Schaefer Award recipient, Mr. Matt Lambert ‘98, embodies our educational tradition every day, instructing all of us in Coindre’s charism; forming us in God’s likeness; and bearing witness as a Christian example of Jesus’s love for and devotion to our students -  the sacred hearts of Jesus. Instruction. Formation. Witness. 

This year’s recipient is a model of servant leadership – the very leadership that we challenge you to rise to every day. This faculty member has shared gifts with our community in so many ways: as a staple in the Formation Center each and every day for years, providing personal attention; managing a classroom in the Meyer Building that is seemingly always full, and always full of learning and instruction – whether that is during scheduled class or at unstructured periods. Moderating a number of class level trips from the 8th grade trip to the college run.

A constant presence on the extracurricular sidelines assisting nearly every athletics program from cross country to football, from basketball to golf, and currently serving as our 8th-grade baseball coach.     

“Students, you should know that this faculty member loves Brother Martin and you because he is always there for you and this school – instructing, forming, bearing witness.”

Congratulations to this year’s outstanding faculty member, math teacher, and 8th-grade baseball coach, Mr. Matt Lambert ‘98.