ACE Advocates News

Dear ACE Family and Friends,

Eleven years have passed since I stepped foot in my English classroom at Ascension Catholic High School in Donaldsonville, Louisiana, to begin my ACE teaching experience. Like any beginning teacher, I remember there was so much I felt I didn’t know. But as a lifelong student of Catholic schools, and a witness to the dynamism and dedication of the ACE Teachers who had lived and taught in my hometown of Mobile, Alabama, I knew this: I had been given an incredible gift. As a Catholic educator, I had the opportunity not only to teach, but also to engage in a mission and movement much larger than myself.

After graduating from ACE in 2007, I chose to continue my teaching career, spending four years teaching English and directing the Writing Center at Fenwick High School, a Catholic high school in Oak Park, Illinois. In 2011, I returned, along with my husband and fellow ACE alumnus, Mike Macaluso, to graduate school to pursue a Ph.D. in Curriculum, Instruction, and Teacher Education at Michigan State University. My experiences at MSU offered a conglomeration of scholarship, teaching, and service opportunities. In addition to pursuing a research agenda centered on literacy, ethics, and 21st century teacher preparation, I taught a variety of undergraduate and Master’s-level courses in MSU’s teacher preparation program, while also serving as Assistant Editor of the National Council of Teachers of English’s flagship research journal Research in the Teaching of English.

My return to the Alliance for Catholic Education brings me great joy, not only because of the opportunity I will have to work with some of the most talented teachers, administrators, and scholars, but also because of the unique promise that this position affords. By saying “yes” to serving as Director of ACE Advocates, I have assumed the responsibilities of a mission that not only allows, but indeed requires, that my work as educator, scholar, and administrator join in direct dialogue with my Catholic faith. Knowing the fulfillment that my husband and I, along with our three children, have derived from our involvement as parishioners at St. Gerard Catholic Church and School in Lansing, Michigan, and our time teaching in Catholic schools, I see this position as nothing short of life-giving. I have been handed the great privilege of working with current ACE Teaching Fellows, mentor teachers, and Catholic school administrators as a member of the ACE faculty, all while garnering the talents of ACE graduates in the service of advancing Catholic schools.

Adding to my inspiration and enthusiasm regarding my role with ACE Advocates is the knowledge that I stand supported by many of the greatest minds and hearts in Catholic schools. I conceive of the ACE Advocates directorship as a byproduct of what some might consider an embarrassment of riches. Thanks to the leadership, vision, and grace of those I am delighted to now call my colleagues, ACE has launched the trajectories of teachers, researchers, policy experts, and educational leaders in the U.S. and abroad. Initiatives like the Notre Dame Center for STEM Education and the Latino Enrollment Institute continue to expand the alliance of teachers, scholars, administrators, parents, business professionals, clergy and religious invested in Catholic schools. ACE graduates are joining the faculty of top-tier departments and colleges of education in universities across the country. They are assuming positions as superintendents, exercising their voice in and around educational policy, and serving on the boards of schools their children attend. If ever there was a time for a movement uniting supporters of Catholic schools, that time is now. I find myself at an exciting juncture—one that builds on the impressive work of ACE graduates, current colleagues, and those who have previously led and supported ACE Advocates.

Standing on the brink of this directorship, I cannot help but feel some striking similarities to the thoughts and sentiments that colored my first days of teaching in Donaldsonville, Louisiana. Much like I felt as a beginning teacher, there is still so much to learn and to ascertain. But I am certain of one thing: ACE Advocates is rooted in a mission and movement much larger than myself. The talents of ACE graduates abound. Each graduate, too, is connected to colleagues, family, parishioners, and friends who themselves offer a wealth of resources that might be garnered in support of Catholic schools. I close then with this assurance: I look forward to considering with each of you how we might make-- or continue to make--our work matter in and for Catholic education. This question is one I considered quite seriously while on the job market this year. Knowing what I know of the graduates, families, and friends of ACE, its answers hold much promise for the lives and communities served by Catholic schools in and beyond the U.S.

Yours in Christ,

Kati Macaluso

Dear ACE Advocates Community,

Greetings from Notre Dame! All God’s blessings on you, and all those whom God has entrusted to your care, as we prepare for the coming school year.

I write to share some great news. As you know, Sarah (Greene) Perkins has provided extremely generous and hope-filled leadership of the ACE Advocates over these past two years. During her tenure, ACE Advocates has continued to strengthen the spiritual mission and identity of the ACE community, while also inviting and engaging entrepreneurial leaders in Catholic education through our graduate network. Of course, Sarah was an integral member of the leadership team that planned ACE’s 20^th anniversary through the Fighting for Our Children’s Future National Bus Tour. We are grateful beyond words for Sarah’s gifts, and the leadership of the entire Advocates team here on campus.

As many of you know, Sarah and her husband Chris just welcomed a new member of their family, John Peter Perkins, who was born on June 19^th. The whole Perkins family is doing very well! Sarah’s role at ACE will be transitioning to part time, and we wanted to take this opportunity to thank Sarah for her countless contributions to the ACE Movement.

As we continue to discern the future direction and growth of our mission for Catholic schools, I will provide leadership of ACE Advocates, along with the rest of our team on campus, in the interim.

As we prepare for the coming school year, let us remember the words of Christ ringing in our ears: “Behold, I make all things new!” May God renew each of us in our discipleship, in our ministries, and in our love for God and one another, as we proclaim the Gospel ever anew!

Fr. Lou DelFra, CSC
Director of Pastoral Life

William McGurn of the New York Post offers his view of what makes Catholic schools so necessary and successful.

Whether it's the 99 percent of Catholic school students who graduate or the fact that a Latino child is 2.5 times more likely to graduate from college if he or she has attended a Catholic high school, Catholic schools are coming through for children in a big way.

The full article by William McGurn can be found in the January 31, 2014 edition of the New York post entitled Catholic Schools' Secret: Love.

Each day during Catholic Schools Week, we will post a reflection on the focus of the day centered around this year’s theme: "Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service". You can find a complete list of the reflections here. The following reflection is from Sarah Greene:

In my first year teaching at a Catholic school, I kept a folder of each student’s work, for organization and accountability. I would basically collect, grade, pass back, and then re-file student work so I had it documented. I spent many hours in front of my trusty file cabinet that first year!

So I remember so vividly the day I cleaned out my file cabinet at the end of my first year of teaching.

I loaded up my station wagon with bins of student work and extra copies of the worksheets I’d made all year, drove home to the ACE convent where I lived and right up to the Paper Recycling dumpster behind the school, and just emptied out my car. Graphic organizers, tests and quizzes, homework questions—I recycled it all.

I was struck by the number of paper resources I’d created and the work I’d graded—all of the things that, before I started teaching in a Catholic school, I’d consider the hallmarks of success and the measures of achievement.

To my surprise, I was content to dispose of it!

Because somewhere in that first year of teaching in a Catholic school, God granted me the grace to see teaching as ministry, as service, as a communication between souls, not as work to be done, papers to grade, and to-do lists.

As I recycled the papers, I was left with the name of the student on each file, the relationship we’d fostered, and God’s work in each of us— and it was more than enough.

As we conclude Catholic Schools Week, we give thanks to God for God's abundant graces, revealed to us in our students, teachers, parents, and administrators. May we always view our work on behalf of Catholic schools as a ministry, a service, a blessing, a gift.

Sarah Greene is the Director of Ace Advocates for Catholic Schools. Prior to her current appointment in 2013, she was a memeber of the ACE Teaching Fellows team. Sarah served with the ACE 13 cohort in Mobile, Alabama, where she taught freshman and senior English at McGill-Toolen Catholic High School.

Each day during Catholic Schools Week, we will post a reflection on the focus of the day centered around this year’s theme: "Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service". You can find a complete list of the reflections here. The following reflection is from Fr. Joe Carey, CSC:

The feast of the Baptism of the Lord ends the Christmas Season and is the beginning of the public ministry of Jesus. The first thing Jesus does is invite others to follow him. Peter and Andrew and Zebedee’s sons, James and John, are called to leave their jobs and what is familiar as fishermen and follow Jesus.  They are to leave everything to become disciples of Jesus and build the Kingdom of God. These followers discover they will be sent to proclaim the Good News and invite others to be part of Jesus’s mission.  We are also called and sent to continue this ministry.

Teachers in Catholic Schools also called to live a life of service by sharing knowledge and faith with students.  It is a ministry of love.  Blessed Basil Moreau encouraged the members of the Congregation of Holy Cross and their collaborators to make Christ know, loved and served.  This important work can be seen in Catholic Schools.

I saw it recently when I visited Bishop Dunne School in Dallas, Texas.  I shadowed a recent ACE grad.  Keaton teaches French, English and Art.  It was in a small Art class that I saw how this passionate teacher lives this mission. The students were doing water coloring of some objects and when they were finished, she asked them to critique each other’s work.  Some would see this as a negative process.  Keaton, however,  is teaching them how to do this in a nonjudgmental and negative way.  Each student did it from love and as a result they became aware of what was good and what could make the painting even better.

What I saw in Keaton’s classroom is repeated in Catholic Schools every day.  It is not about only sharing information and seeking results.  The teachers are following the call of Christ and helping students know they are loved and cared for.

Catholic Schools Week celebrates the dedication of educators who respond to the call of Christ to follow him by sharing faith and knowledge with their students and calling them to serve the needs of others. It is about receiving God’s love and giving it away.  Let us pray in thanksgiving this week for Catholic Schools.

Fr. Joe Carey, CSC is the Chaplain for the Alliance for Catholic Edcuation. Prior to joining the ACE family, Fr. Joe served in Campus Ministry for both the University of Notred Dame and St. Mary's College. He was also the Director of Vocations for the CSC order and taught at Notre Dame High School for six years.