ACE Advocates News

Ian Corbett brings a different perspective to our understanding of Catholic education. A native of Ireland, Ian witnessed the decline in popularity of Catholic schools in his home country. As Ireland changed in terms of religious beliefs and people’s feelings about religion’s place in education, the schools have stayed under the jurisdiction of the Catholic Church, but involvement and participation in the spiritual component of the schools has diminished. Ian, with the knowledge and experience he has gained through ACE Teaching Fellows, the Mary Ann Remick Leadership Program, and in the Notre Dame ACE Academies, hopes to become a catalyst for renewing change in the Catholic schools system in Ireland.

"This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine..."

The words rang through St. Albert the Great Catholic Church in Compton, California. Standing at the foot of the altar and facing out towards the crowd of parishioners, a group of young ACE teachers, smiled, clapped, and sang along. Early the next morning, they would be running half-marathons and marathons for this very church and school. I was among those ACE teachers at the front of the chruch that night, and as we processed out of the church, singing and clapping the whole way, I couldn’t help thinking in that moment a thought that doesn’t come to my mind often enough: God is in this place.

Martine and St. Madeleine Sophie welcome anyone who would like to call or visit to learn more about their open philosophy and how they effectively include all students. Please visit the school website at https://smsbellevue.org/ or call 425-747-6770.

Martine Romero knows that St. Madeleine Sophie Catholic School is a special place. Though the parish has been in Bellevue, Washington for almost fifty years, the school itself is only eleven years old. When the school was founded, Fr. James Picton, the pastor of St. Madeleine Sophie wanted to create a school that was open to economic, ethnic, and academic diversity. Today, the teachers at St. Madeleine Sophie don’t see the school as a special education or inclusive school; instead, they use what they call an open philosophy. They welcome students of every kind−gifted students, students with specific learning needs, students who have profound needs and students with physical needs. Of St. Madeleine Sophie’s 205 students, seventy have a learning support plan, whether for a gifted or specific learning need. The school has fifty-six ELL students, as well as students with cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism, and students who are already working at a high school level. Martine and St. Madeleine Sophie work to create a warm and caring community that provides the best education for every single child and family.

Katie Schenkel, in her second year of teaching as an ACE Teaching Fellow at Our Lady of Prompt Succor in New Orleans, had her seventh grade class bring in objects, news articles, or stories about science happening in their lives. Katie had no idea how important this activity would be for one of her students, who had never previously displayed much interest in science class. This student brought in a picture of herself sitting next to her pet tortoise.

Katie (Burke) Biddle joined ACE for some of the same reasons that everyone does: she wanted to volunteer, and she wanted to teach. While her faith and working in a Catholic school was important, Katie felt especially passionate about elementary education. After she was placed in the second grade at Holy Redeemer in Washington DC, however, preparing second-graders for their First Communion changed her life’s path.