Gifts from Above: ACE in 2011 and 2012

2011 held some remarkable changes for the Alliance for Catholic Education. With the beginning of the year came the rollout of the Advocates' new website, which in turn brought the rollout of ACE's new website in September. We owe great thanks to ACE Advocates Assistant Director Ricky Austin for spearheading both projects and delivering these creative, user-friendly sites in record time. In May, ACE faculty and staff—long housed in multiple locations across campus—moved into the beautiful Carole Sandner Hall, capping the event with a weekend-long series of celebrations in September. Throughout the year ACE took an active role in the campus wide University of Notre Dame Forum, welcoming many guests. They included Michelle Rhee, former Chancellor of Washington, DC Public Schools, who participated in a panel last April; American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, who participated in a panel in September; and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who spoke in November.

More changes are on the horizon for 2012. Later this month, ACE will draw attention to Catholic Schools Week for a larger audience on- and off-campus and the Strategic Interventions Teams program will go virtual. Throughout the year, Play Like a Champion Today® will develop educational materials for coaches who work with children with disabilities. Throughout the year, ACE will also launch initiatives within many of its units, including new studies to be released by the Mary Ann Remick Leadership Program and plans for additional endeavors in research, professional development, and partnerships.

You'll find more detailed updates among these virtual pages as the year unfolds. Meantime, please keep ACE in your prayers, with gratitude to God, the author of these good gifts and guide of us all!