The Observer - ACE Teacher Attends President's Address as Honored Guest

Taken from the University of Notre Dame's independent newspaper, The Observer.

While most of the nation was watching President Barack Obama deliver Tuesday's State of the Union address from the comfort of their own homes, one of Notre Dame's Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) teachers had a once-in-a lifetime opportunity.

Speaker of the House John Boehner invited first-year ACE teacher Jack Kelly to attend the address as his guest. With this invitation, Kelly had a front row seat overlooking members of Congress, which he said was an incredible opportunity.

"I studied Political Science and Theology at Marquette University, so meeting the Speaker of the House and [Cardinal Donald Wuerl] at such a historic speech was a dream come true," Kelly said. "It was a blessing to sit with one of my students in witness to the advantage of Catholic education."

Boehner invited one student, one parent and one teacher from each of the four Consortium of Catholic Academies' inner-city schools to attend President Obama's speech.

Kelly, a middle school teacher at the St. Thomas More Catholic School in Washington, D.C., is earning his master's degree from Notre Dame through the ACE program. He said he especially enjoyed Obama's discussion of education.

"I was encouraged by President Obama's attention to the American educational system, especially his conviction that education begins within the home," he said. "I appreciated his support of America's teachers, but I was most impressed when he challenged children watching the address to serve their country by seeking an educational profession."

Continue reading the article from the Observer.