Christian Brother Laurence’s legacy spans 50 years

Don’t tell Christian Brother Laurence Konersmann that he’s retired, because he’ll quickly mention his ongoing science lab work with seventh-grade boys at Christian Brothers School (CBS) in City Park.

“I’m not ‘retired’; it’s ‘semi-retired,’” says the 50-plus-year Christian Brothers teacher. “Next year, I intend to continue in that capacity” and possibly tutor.

In honor of his years educating New Orleans’ youth, Brother Laurence received a plaque and learned that Christian Brothers’ science lab would bear his name, “The Brother Laurence Konersmann Science Lab.”

“I wasn’t expecting that,” he said. “It hadn’t even crossed my mind, since I was still working for the kids.”

Adapted to New Orleans
Brother Laurence, 77, originally from Denver, was so positively influenced by the Christian Brothers who taught him at Mullen High School in Denver that he joined the order after his 1962 graduation.

His first stop was moving to Lafayette, Louisiana, to study at the Christian Brothers’ novitiate – taking first vows in 1963. He then earned a double major in religious education and religion and minored in chemistry and education at the College of Sante Fe in New Mexico.

Following his first assignment of practice-teaching at the order’s St. Michael High School in New Mexico, he was formally assigned to CBS in New Orleans in 1967 at age 23 and never left.

“I have been teaching seventh grade practically my whole life,” he said.

His love of learning led to his completing math and physics classes at the University of Oklahoma and earning a master’s degree in math from the University of Notre Dame during the summers.

While at Christian Brothers, Brother Laurence taught math, religion and science to thousands of young men.

“A recurring remembrance when speaking with Brother’s former students is his exuberance when teaching science,” former student Mike Champagne said. “I remember his love of the subject matter and his lasting impact on students, whether it would be the telescopes they acquired to continue pursuing heavenly bodies after graduating from CBS or their continuing involvement in academic games throughout their high school careers, to careers in computer programming and circuit design. A few have even made science education their livelihood.”

Brother Laurence was continually amazed to witness advancements in education and technology as well as Christian Brothers School’s expansion on the St. Anthony of Padua campus to include girls.

“I was really joyful about this,” he said. “Over the years, male students would come back and make comments to me that ‘I wish you had a school like this for girls.’ We now have a middle school for girls.”

Evangelizing faith
Brother Laurence’s goal for students – to recognize the presence of God – mirrored the charism that Christian Brothers’ founder St. John Baptist de La Salle instilled in his brothers. When new religion textbooks weren’t substantive enough in Brother Laurence’s opinion, he wrote his own religion text for CBS students to download by chapter.

Students’ faith was further reinforced by grade-level Masses in the chapel and a monthly all-school Mass. Classes and all school gatherings began with a call-and-response prayer: “Let us remember,” he would say, followed by students responding, “that we are in the holy presence of God.”

The prayer concluded, “Live Jesus in our hearts – forever.”

“God is always a part of their activities and all of our classes,” Brother Laurence said.

Beyond the classroom, Brother Laurence reveled in discussing religious life at the annual seventh-graders’ Day of Recollection.

“I would tell them how I became a Christian Brother, and if I had to do it all over again, I would,” he said. “I enjoy the support and being with the brothers and teaching in school and seeing students’ eyes light up when they understand something. I’ve had quite a few ‘wow’ stories over the years.”

After-school computer lessons and nighttime star-watching using his own telescopes on campus was how Brother Laurence shared his interest in astronomy and computers. His interest in computers dated to his fascination as a 12-year-old with the punch cards used at his father’s office and teaching himself to use a Tandy computer. He’s used his math mastery to write computer programs to benefit Christian Brothers School since 1980.

“Brother Laurence always loved technology,” said Doug Joubert, his friend and director of technology at CBS. “Before there was Canvas or GradeQuick or TeacherPlus or PowerSchool, there was Brother Laurence’s grading program. He wrote it from scratch and used it at Christian Brothers School so we could have computer-printed report cards.”

Brother Laurence has been involved in the New Orleans Academic Games League for 43 years, mentoring a CBS team and coordinating the local league’s scoring and scheduling. He also created a program to help students practice one of the games – Presidents – and sold it nationwide.

The Equations game, another component of the competitions sponsored by the Academic Games Leagues of America, also “allowed kids to develop their math skills in a fun way and compete with other kids.”

Brother Laurence’s computer prowess came in handy while quarantined during COVID-19 when he had to teach the last quarter of the 2019-20 school year remotely.

But it was his love and care for others that influenced his decision to not return this past year to teaching full time.

“They were talking about doing in-person classes last August, and they did,” he said. “But, I was living with five other brothers. Three of us are 70-years-plus, two in their late 60s, two are diabetic, one celebrated his 101st birthday. ... I didn’t want to go back to the classroom and possibly pick it up and bring it back to brothers in the community. So, I made the decision to not teach.”

Joubert is a recipient of Brother Laurence’s attentiveness. When Brother Laurence learned that Joubert’s fiance’s prized telescope was destroyed in Hurricane Katrina and that Joubert gifted a new one as a wedding gift, he learned the intricacies of the new telescope and enlightened her on its use after their wedding ceremony.

“Brother took Tammy out to the field and gave her a tour of the night skies, including Orion’s Belt,” Joubert said. “His love and care of his students and the people in his life are an integral part of who he is.”

Brother Laurence’s impact as a teacher is equally seen in the successes of his students.

“One of the things I wanted to do was inspire them to have a love for learning,” Brother Laurence said. “I enjoy teaching the sciences, and I think the kids recognize that I love teaching.”

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