ACE Advocates News

Mary Forr (ACE 18) knows first-hand the difference that having a strong community can make in moving to a new city. After the challenges of being a first-year teacher in ACE, Forr describes that “by the end of your second year of ACE, you realize what a treasure your time in ACE was. You are by far the coolest teacher in your school. Your housemates have become a second family. And the city where you lived has become home. And then, it’s over! And once again you leave the comfort of the familiar. You’re thrown out of your familiar school, your community, and your city and once again you’re left trying to figure out your life. Trying to figure out how to keep the three pillars of ACE standing strong in what may be, once again, a new job, a new city, and a new group of people.” Fortunately, Forr and many others in the greater Washington, D.C. area have found strength in the D.C. ACE Advocates community.

Drs. Kati and Mike Macaluso have published Teaching the Canon in 21st Century Classrooms, a new book for practicing secondary English teachers.

It was Friday, October 26. Deborah Brown stared out the window of her Uber as it rolled down tree-lined Notre Dame Avenue, pulling into the Morris Inn. It was her first time visiting Notre Dame, and the foliage flanking the Dome exceeded every expectation an Alabama native could bring to the Midwest at the peak of autumn. Karina Chamorro, a 2018 Notre Dame graduate and resident of Seattle, pulled onto campus and without so much as a second thought, trekked toward the familiar light of the Grotto. Jesse White, in from Pennsylvania via an overnight Amtrak ride, toured campus with his daughter, a senior in high school and prospective Notre Dame student.

Arielle Gannon began her teaching experience at Juan Diego Academy in Mission, Texas, where she spent two years as a member of ACE 22 teaching AP physics, AP calculus AB, and robotics. Recognizing the importance of the technology sector in the U.S. and global economies and the shortage of computer science professionals, Arielle dedicated herself to developing a computer science curriculum on a wider scale. She notes the important role of computer science programs in educating future leaders of industry and commerce.

After her time as an ACE Teacher, Arielle completed Notre Dame’s ESTEEM program, where she learned how to structure and set up her own company. She recently established teacherCODE, a company that uses the theory and practicality behind coding to equip teachers in other disciplines to teach computer science in grades K-12.

Watch this video to learn more about Arielle’s commitment to elevating technological education in Catholic classrooms!

The Chicago ACE Advocates recently gathered in fellowship and solidarity with a Mass and dinner celebration at St. Sylvester Church and School. St. Sylvester Principal Allyn Doyle hosted, and Rev. Lou DelFra, C.S.C., presided over Mass.