News

Leaders in the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) outlined crucial steps to strengthen under-resourced Catholic schools when US Catholic magazine interviewed them for a just-published article, "Investing in Futures: New Ways of Paying for Catholic Education."

Rev. Joseph Corpora, C.S.C., director of university-school partnerships for ACE and an education consultant for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, highlighted "five keys to turning around the decline in Catholic schools," as reported by Kristen Hannum in the magazine's February 2013 edition. One of those keys is the growing trend of stewardship in the form of large-scale endowment support.

John Schoenig, director of ACE's Program for K-12 Educational Access, expanded on the theme, stressing that at-risk schools often need to implement broad, sustainable changes. "This is the hour that laypeople with vision can effect a systemic transformation in our schools," he said.

The article also quotes the perspectives of these ACE graduates: Elizabeth Brands; Joe Womac, executive director of the Fulcrum Foundation in Seattle; and Erik Goldschmidt, director of the Church in the 21st Century Center at Boston College.

This Johns Hopkins graduate just finished his first semester in the ACE Teaching Fellows (STT) program, and so far, so good. "The first few months have been really rewarding," he says.

Teaching fifth graders in Rio Grande City, Texas is a far cry from studying political science in Baltimore, Maryland, where Sam earned his bachelor's degree last May.  Just the same, the STT experience has been positive for him, largely because of the people he's met. 

Sam speaks highly of his students. "They are great," he says, "and I really enjoy learning from them as much as I (try to) teach them. They have been so welcoming of me into the Mexican culture; it has really helped me to understand them and genuinely made me happy."

At the same time, the native Texan and his fifth graders enjoy a mutual love for the Lone Star State. "We have really come to form this bond," he says, "through sharing where we come from and where we want to go." In fact, some of his best moments so far have taken place outside the classroom, just swapping stories with his students.

Sam speaks highly of his peers in the STT program, too. "Getting to know so many amazing people is my favorite part of ACE. It really is an honor to be in such great company."

To learn more about the ACE Teaching Fellows program, click here.

"Towards a Catholic Spirituality of Administration" and "Catholic Culture in Our Schools" were two keynote talks that Rev. Ronald Nuzzi, senior director of the Mary Ann Remick Leadership Program in the Alliance for Catholic Education, delivered at a recent workshop for Catholic school principals.

The regional workshop, sponsored by the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious, was held in Lincoln, Nebraska, on Nov. 9-10, 2012, and was attended by religious sisters from ten different communities.

The event was reported this month in the newsletter of the School Sisters of Christ the King and on the website of the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious.

This first gathering of principals sponsored by the Council was hosted at the Villa Regina Motherhouse of the School Sisters of Christ the King. Attendees heard ideas from Father Nuzzi and other speakers that helped them approach their administrative roles within the apostolate of Catholic Education.

The Most Rev. Fabian Bruskewitz, recently retired bishop of the Diocese of Lincoln, and Msgr. John Perkinton celebrated the Mass for the participants. Lincoln's new bishop, the Most Rev. James Conley, closed the symposium with the celebration of Vespers.

Photo: Participants in the workshop on Catholic school administration joined in prayer and learning with Msgr. John Perkinton of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Fr. Ronald Nuzzi of the Mary Ann Remick Leadership Program.

Clark Power, director of the Play Like a Champion Today program,was spotlighted as a "Notre Dame expert" in a recent University of Notre Dame story noting a new federal directive from the U.S. Department of Education that requires schools to include students with disabilities in sports programs or provide equal alternative options. The story was posted on January 25.

Separately, Power talked to the Son Rise Morning Show about the importance of character formation in sports for students in Catholic schools. He was interviewed by host Brain Patrick on January 10.

Play Like a Champion Today, an innovative coach and parent education program, is part of the Alliance for Catholic Education. The program has conducted workshops and other activities in numerous dioceses around the United States, positively influencing the lives of student athletes through their coaches and parents.

The Son Rise Morning Show is broadcast live daily on more than 180 Catholic radio stations .

Every teacher hopes for bright and alert students who are excited to participate in the day's lesson plans. It's a special challenge to deal with students who seem uninterested, bored, and unwilling to participate.

Here are two questions that you can ask your students. The first is likely to prompt excitement, while the other will bring blank stares—but it's still worth asking.

The first question: When is your birthday? Everyone will respond and talk about how they celebrate this important day.

The second question: When were you baptized? Most people don't know.

Although your students may not know the answer—and you may not know the answer for yourself—I want to suggest that it is important to know. Asking this question is a way we can connect our lives to Christ and the Church in this Year of Faith.

This Sunday, January 13, we will celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. We will hear the Gospel of Luke 3:15-16, 21-22. John the Baptist baptizes Jesus and then hears a voice say, "You are my beloved son; with you I am well pleased."

Think about those words and the power they have. They are the inspiration that called Jesus to begin his public ministry. Jesus begins to invite others to follow him, to teach and heal people and forgive sins. These powerful words and this ministry are at the very foundation and beginning of the Church.

We need to hear these words, as well. Listen and receive them in your heart: You are my beloved son or daughter; with you I am well pleased.

We encountered Jesus in the same way in our own Baptism. This is what calls us to be the Church and to be walking into a classroom to teach. If we have reflected on our own blessedness, we can give this same love to the students, and they can pass it along to others.

So go ahead: Ask the Baptism question. Since most students won't know, ask them to find out—and then celebrate your blessedness together.