Dr. Richard and Susan Duffey and their seven children testify to the power of Catholic school teachers to touch the lives of whole families—and the ability of families to nurture the value and vocation of teaching.
The Duffeys live in Mobile, Alabama, where ACE teachers have served for 18 years. "Susan and I and our children have watched them make a tangible difference in the Mobile schools as they bring youth, faith, energy, and solid teaching to their classrooms," says Dick, noting that ACE teachers' enthusiasm spreads "to their students, students' parents, and fellow faculty and staff members."
The Duffeys know this first-hand. All seven children attended Catholic grade school and high school, and they came to know many ACE teachers personally. Dick and Susan's generosity was a contributing factor; the Duffeys have welcomed Mobile ACE teachers to their home and dinner table on many occasions. As Dick and Susan learned more about ACE, they began to see the program's national scope, observing that ACE teachers were "transforming the landscape of Catholic education, not just in Mobile, but throughout the country," Susan recalls. The next step was not surprising: Upon graduation from college, the Duffeys' oldest children, Kati and David, became ACE teachers themselves.
The story is just beginning for the Duffey family and the ACE family. Kati is married to Mike Macaluso, another ACE graduate, and both are pursuing doctoral studies in education. David has moved on from ACE to law school. Their younger siblings are "watching attentively," the Duffeys report, and considering ACE participation among the opportunities to "initiate a lifelong journey of giving back to God." Meanwhile, ACE teachers continue to serve in Mobile, building the future in various ways and blessed to find community members who, like the Duffeys, share their enthusiasm. "Susan and I could not be more pleased for the experience ACE has brought to
the lives of our whole family."
Christie is especially enthusiastic about literacy: "It's almost become an obsession. I want all of my kids to read at grade level or above, no excuses." It can be a challenge for any classroom, but Christie Hjerpe remains undaunted. "With Notre Dame ACE Academies we're developing a stronger school culture, with shared beliefs that all of our kids can make it to college and heaven."