Giving New Life to the Meaning of Catholic Education

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.

Ian Corbett (ACE 21, Sacramento) currently teaches at Holy Angels Catholic School, a Notre Dame ACE Academy in Indianapolis. In 2012, Ian was in his last year at St. Patrick’s College in Ireland when the poster advertising ACE Teaching Fellows caught his eye one day as he hurried down a set of stairs. Intrigued, he went to a talk by the director of ACE Ireland, but ultimately decided that he needed to see the inside of a classroom in Ireland first. In his two years of teaching in Ireland, Ian was blessed with a principal who embodied the mission of Catholic education. A determined and persistent man, Gareth Heagney had a passion for education and for Catholic values. He worked each day to create a safe environment for all by showing how much he valued every contribution to the community. In this example, Ian saw the power of a great Catholic school leader–and his interest in ACE made him think that this program could help him harness some of his own gifts for the mission of Catholic schools.

Ian applied to and was accepted into Teaching Fellows, and at the end of his second year, talked with Fr. Sean McGraw, C.S.C., about ways he might eventually be involved in ACE’s partnership project in Ireland. Fr. Sean encouraged Ian to earn his Master’s degree and gain leadership experience through the Remick Leadership Program. That way, Ian would be ready to face any number of challenges in the classroom and at the school level. Ian is currently in his first year of the program and teaches at Holy Angels Catholic School in Indianapolis, which is also a Notre Dame ACE Academies school.

Ian’s experiences in the United States Catholic education system and ACE have shaped his vision for his future in Ireland. ACE’s insistence on research-based practices has struck a chord with Ian; he appreciates knowing the best and most effective educational tools. He also sees some value in the test-taking culture in the United States because he believes diagnostic testing can be valuable for teachers. In Ireland, testing happens rarely, but Ian has found that diagnostic testing at the right time can inform teaching and curriculum to best serve students at their individual levels.

Spiritually, Ian has come to understand the importance of the religious foundation for Catholic schools. Especially through the Remick Leadership Program and in his experience with the Notre Dame ACE Academies, Ian sees how the creation of a common school culture with clearly articulated Catholic values creates connections in a community of teachers, staff, and students. The best lesson Ian has learned from the Remick Leadership Program is that a good leader helps to draw out the shared beliefs of the community and then finds ways to put those beliefs into daily action. Every action at Holy Angels is based on the foundation of the Gospels: from the curriculum to the school’s ideas about discipline, the school strives to put the teachings of Jesus at the core of its policies. This gives new life to the meaning of Catholic education; no longer is it merely a set of teachings to be memorized. Instead, Catholic education becomes a way of living the love that Jesus calls us to share with others.

In the future, Ian hopes to work on behalf of or alongside ACE to grow the partnership in Ireland. Ian says that the Irish often resist change, but he also knows that change is necessary. He looks forward to rebuilding both trust with the Irish people and the Catholic foundation of the schools and curriculum. When Ian returns to Ireland, he will bring all the knowledge that his ACE experience has instilled in him along his journey.