ACE Advocates News

Carl Loesch is one of seven children whose combined years in Catholic schools total more than 100. It's not hard to see how these schools have formed him. There's his deep commitment to the faith and to service. His strong academic training in math. Two Theology degrees from Notre Dame. And a career dedicated to Catholic education.

"I just wanted to give back," he says when explaining his decision to become a Catholic school teacher. And so he has. For nine years he taught and coached in Fort Wayne and then, at the invitation of Bishop D'Arcy, pursued a position in administration through the ACE Teaching Fellows and Remick Leadership programs. Today he serves as the highly respected principal of Marian High School in South Bend.

Of his experience in ACE, Carl points out that both programs prepared him not only academically, but spiritually and socially, too. "The emphasis on forming us as Catholic educators is exactly what we need to be prepared to educate and care for the precious souls entrusted to us. The emphasis on prayer and the sacraments as necessary for our ministry help sustain me in my daily work. Finally, the emphasis on community taught me to share my gifts with others and to be open to learning from others."

Carl Loesch is still giving back to the Catholic schools he loves, and it's clear the schools are still forming him, too. He recently shared this story about what he learned from a courageous transfer student with autism and the student body that accepted him: "On his first day at Marian, the student walked very nervously into the cafeteria and sat down at a table by himself. He began to eat his lunch, and then a beautiful thing happened. A couple young men came over and invited him to sit with them. From that point on, I knew he was going to be okay. This young man went on to serve the school as a manager for two varsity sports. I could barely hold back my tears of joy at the end of his senior year when I got to place a state runner-up medal around his neck for his support of a team in their run to state.

This courageous young man and our welcoming student body taught me how to see the good in others. As St. John Chrysostom said, 'What greater work is there than touching the minds and hearts of young people.' More often than not, they are the ones teaching me."

No matter what role she plays as an educator--resource specialist, author, classroom teacher--this ACE Teaching Fellows graduate emphasizes that she's doing not her work, but God's.

How did you come to be involved in education and Catholic schools?

I always tell people that education chose me, not the other way around. From tutoring to teaching religious education, I was involved in education from a young age. However, it wasn't until my time in ACE that I truly realized that education was, indeed, my vocation.

What led you to ACE?

The community pillar was what really made ACE stand out over other service programs I was considering, such as Peace Corps. I realized that I wanted to share my day-to-day experiences with a group of like minded individuals. My experience in community did not disappoint!

How did ACE prepare you for what you've done since graduating and for what you're doing now?

ACE challenged me to truly be a professional educator by staying current on research and translating that into my own practice. I also recently realized that while I (thankfully) don't keep a reflective journal about my students and my classroom like I was required to during ACE, that I do continually reflect on what I'm experiencing.

And while I'm not currently working in a Catholic school, I bring those experiences with me every day. During our first ACE summer, Fr. Scully told us that we needn't be anxious about teaching because we were doing God's work in our classrooms, not ours. I started each morning with a prayer asking God to help me do His work. I find myself still praying those words each morning.

How do you see ACE making a difference in Catholic schools?

ACE helps young people discern a vocation to serve children in Catholic schools. What bigger difference could be made?

Jess and her husband, Tre', live in Columbus, Ohio. After many years serving as an elementary education resource specialist at the Ohio State University, she returned to the classroom and is now teaching 1st-5th grade science. Her book, Inquiring Scientists, Inquiring Readers: Using Nonfiction to Promote Science Literacy, Grades 3-5, co-written with Terry Shiverdecker, can be pre-ordered and will be officially released on October 25.

September 2012

Dear Friends,

Warm greetings from Notre Dame and the Alliance for Catholic Education! With the new school year in full-swing, we wanted to take a moment to thank all who make the ACE Movement a force for sustaining, strengthening, and transforming Catholic schools.

Thank you to the 180 teachers and 60 school leaders enrolled in ACE's degree programs this year! Thanks to the many teachers who are gaining additional skills through ACE's English as a New Language and Teaching Exceptional Children programs! Thank you to the countless superintendents, principals, and mentor teachers who are helping ACE form a new generation of exceptionally talented, faith-filled leaders for Catholic schools! Thanks to the nearly two-thousand ACE graduates who continue the work of making a high quality Catholic school education available to all!

Thank you to ACE's innumerable friends, partners, and collaborators. You are the engine for ACE's work in service to Catholic schools, the Church, and the nation; you are the ACE Movement!

This will be an exciting year for ACE's mission, and this monthly e-newsletter will keep you updated on our programs and activities. I hope that you'll find our newsletter to be informative, but also invitational: We're always eager to hear from you, and to learn more about how we can be of service. And, if you enjoy what you read, we ask that you invite your colleagues and friends to sign up as well.

May the new year bring many graces to you and your family, and may Christ the Teacher shower you with blessings!

Chuck Lamphier, Director, ACE Advocates

Come one and all for pre-game refreshments in the courtyard of Carole Sandner Hall and, 30 minutes post-game, for Mass in Remick Commons. Not familiar with campus? Click here for a map.

Notre Dame vs. Stanford
10/13

Notre Dame vs. BYU
10/20

Notre Dame vs. Pitt
11/3

Notre Dame vs. Wake Forest
11/17

Stephen LaBrecque (ACE 19) captures the spirit of ACE Teaching Fellows when he says, "I want to give back and help students, not just academically, but also spiritually, emotionally, and athletically." We asked him a few questions as he was preparing to start his first year of community life and teaching in Dallas, Texas.

Tell us a little bit about your background.

I just graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a bachelor's degree in English. Prior to ACE, my experiences in education have been varied. I taught religious education throughout high school, and I tutored at the Robinson Community Learning Center while at Notre Dame. I also did an Appalachia Service Seminar at a small high school in David, Kentucky.  This year I will be teaching English at Bishop Dunne Catholic High School in Dallas.

What drew you to Catholic education?

When I made the decision to transfer to Notre Dame, I was drawn by the University's mission to educate the mind, body and spirit. This focus on the whole person played a large role in my decision to join ACE and teach in Catholic Schools. I want to give back and help students, not just academically, but also spiritually, emotionally and athletically.

How have your first months in ACE shaped your vision of education?

My [early] experiences in ACE have helped to refocus my view of education. Too often we, as educators, get caught up grouping students by test scores and grade levels and demographics. ACE has shown me that we must get back to the human elements of education. We cannot forget that we are dealing with students, parents, and local communities. As teachers we must remember that first and foremost we are serving people.

Below, Stephen is pictured with the members of his ACE community (L to R): Gregg Schettini, Maria Isabel Eugenio, Stephen, Blair Carlin, Keaton Van Beveren, and Nick Reed.