News

Teachers have the unique opportunity to be the architects of their classrooms. Great teachers create a community of learning that encourages a growth mindset, engages curious minds, and reminds students of their dignity both in and out of the classroom. In this kind of environment, teachers foster relationships that allow each student to take ownership of their learning. Creating this sort of classroom is not an easy task and takes a dedicated, intentional teacher.

President Donald Trump, Secretary Betsy DeVos, Sen. Marco Rubio, and Florida Gov. Rick Scott visited St. Andrew Catholic School in the Diocese of Orlando Friday, witnessing firsthand the role that the Florida tax-credit scholarship program has played in empowering thousands of Florida families to choose the best education for their child.

Earlier this week, the children of St. Andrew Catholic School in Orlando learned that President Trump, Secretary DeVos, U.S. Sen. Rubio, and Florida Gov. Scott might visit their school on Friday. St. Andrew is one of the Notre Dame ACE Academies in the Diocese of Orlando.

Ian Corbett brings a different perspective to our understanding of Catholic education. A native of Ireland, Ian witnessed the decline in popularity of Catholic schools in his home country. As Ireland changed in terms of religious beliefs and people’s feelings about religion’s place in education, the schools have stayed under the jurisdiction of the Catholic Church, but involvement and participation in the spiritual component of the schools has diminished. Ian, with the knowledge and experience he has gained through ACE Teaching Fellows, the Mary Ann Remick Leadership Program, and in the Notre Dame ACE Academies, hopes to become a catalyst for renewing change in the Catholic schools system in Ireland.

"This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine..."

The words rang through St. Albert the Great Catholic Church in Compton, California. Standing at the foot of the altar and facing out towards the crowd of parishioners, a group of young ACE teachers, smiled, clapped, and sang along. Early the next morning, they would be running half-marathons and marathons for this very church and school. I was among those ACE teachers at the front of the chruch that night, and as we processed out of the church, singing and clapping the whole way, I couldn’t help thinking in that moment a thought that doesn’t come to my mind often enough: God is in this place.