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From the moment Tim Woodward began teaching, school felt natural.

“I was really able to be myself in the classroom,” says Tim, a history and literature teacher at Cristo Rey Dallas College Prep and a member of ACE 18 in Oakland.

The ease and comfort that comes with being oneself is obvious, especially as his fellow teacher at Cristo Rey Dallas and former ACE classmate, Emily Lazor, describes Tim’s students.

“The kids love doing a Tim Woodward impression at school,” says Emily, who also shares an office with Tim. “When they do the impression, they’re so intense, and they’re so clear in what they’re saying.

“He’s always had an intensity that’s always been paired with love.”

Tim’s love for his students and willingness to do whatever he can for them led to ACE to recognize him with the 2020 Michael Pressley Award for Excellence in Catholic Education

This piece originally appeared on the NDWorks website.

When 90 first-year graduate students in the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) Teaching Fellows program came together for a group photo this summer, there were noticeable changes from the previous year. Physical distancing was in place, and everyone wore masks. Most importantly, the class of second-year graduate students from the year before was absent. ACE is yet another program affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

Photo Credit: Cristo Rey New York High School

ACE Teachers past and present can appreciate the pressures of preparing engaging lesson plans for their students on a day-in, day-out basis. It’s a tall task.

And in an age when a Google search for “teacher resources” can return millions of results within seconds, which tools can actually provide value to teachers and their students can be difficult to parse out.

ACE graduates Mary Grace Mangano and Amanda Pertierra recently shared their successes using resources from Facing History and Ourselves, which have opened up pathways for deep conversations and connections among their high-school students. Earlier this year, the duo secured an In-Depth Program Grant from the organization—valued at more than $10,000—for their students and fellow teachers at Cristo Rey New York High School.

Congratulations to Greg Celio, SJ, (ACE 11 - Nashville), who was ordained to the priesthood on July 15 at Dolores Mission Church in Los Angeles, CA.

• View Ordination Mass
• Read Greg's Bio
• Watch the Ordination Video

After gathering ideas and input from ACE graduates and friends at last summer's virtual summit, the ACE Advocates team coordinated a series of weekly conversations focused on critical issues impacting Catholic schools and educators.

Five months and 19 sessions later, Kati Macaluso and Taylor Kelly sat down with Audrey Scott to reflect on the significance of the series and the impact it has made on Catholic educators and supporters from across the country.