ACE Leads in Service to Catholic Ed

In 1994, Rev. Timothy R. Scully, C.S.C., ’76 and Rev. Sean D. McGraw, C.S.C., ’92 founded Notre Dame’s Alliance for Catholic Education program (ACE) in response to the urgent need for talented teachers and administrators in under-resourced Catholic schools. This program continues to offer high quality educational opportunities to low-income families across the nation (View the video).

Since its inception, ACE has grown from a service initiative composed of a handful of Catholic school educators, to a movement that has commissioned 1,200 teachers and more than 125 administrators to serve Catholic education in the United States. ACE actively supports Catholic schools to ensure that they remain vibrant signs of hope.

Today, ACE encompasses several initiatives aimed at strengthening Catholic schools, which function as hopeful solutions for more than 2 million children.

Passionate and generous college and University graduates join ACE Service Through Teaching, a two-year post-graduate service program in its 16th year of preparing teachers to serve in needy Catholic schools. ACE annually places some 175 teachers in 31 communities throughout the United States. The program’s three pillars—professional education, community, and spirituality—encourage new ACE teachers to grow as well-formed Catholic school educators, committed community members, and dedicated role models.

The Mary Ann Remick Leadership Program prepares leaders to serve in Catholic education as principals and superintendents. Quickly becoming the largest program of its kind in the United States since its inception in 2002, the program has prepared some 125 faith-filled candidates who now serve in leadership positions in 28 states and 52 dioceses. In its preparation and formation of transformative leaders, the Mary Ann Remick Leadership Program quickens the nationwide renewal of Catholic schools.

The ACE Fellowship unites and forms a leadership force of alumni, families, and friends of ACE eager to serve Catholic schools and support Catholic educators. Currently, 25 ACE Fellowship regional networks gather the talented ACE graduates and numerous advocates of Catholic education to promote continued service for Catholic schools in the United States and internationally.

Notre Dame has come to be recognized as the national leader of a growing movement to revitalize America’s Catholic schools through innovative approaches. Thirteen universities in the University Consortium for Catholic Education have adopted the ACE model of teacher formation for Catholic educators. ACE Consulting provides quality management, academic, and financial guidance to under-resourced Catholic schools so that they can thrive in difficult economic times. ND ACE Academies seeks to establish effective and sustainable inner-city Catholic schools as national models.

Seeking to find and form leaders and to provide high-quality educational opportunities for the under-served, ACE strives to bear witness to hope in service to Catholic education.

Learn more about Notre Dame’s ACE program.