Jean Baptiste de La Salle

Jean-Baptiste de La Salle (1651–1719) was a French priest and educator who founded the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, dedicated to providing quality education to impoverished children. He emphasized practical, accessible teaching methods and the importance of training teachers. La Salle believed education should be available to all, regardless of social status, and promoted values of community, discipline, and faith. His work laid the foundation for modern Catholic education, and he was canonized as a saint in 1900. His innovations helped make education more inclusive and organized, influencing schooling practices worldwide.