Six new ACE Academies will be established in partnerships with the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and the Diocese of Palm Beach.

Read more: .

A major grant to the Institute for Educational Initiatives’ AP-TIP IN program will support state teachers.

Read more: .

Innovate Foundation awarded the initiative a grant to create new opportunities for schools.

Read more: http://iei.nd.edu/news/62488-grant-from-innovate-foundation-boosts-stem-teaching-fellows-initiative/.

Local youth exhibited their artwork at the South Bend Museum of Art through a program of the EYEN initiative.

Read more: http://iei.nd.edu/news/62303-community-based-courses-in-education-generate-research-and-new-insights-for-campus-city/.

Indiana’s school choice program is one of the largest in the United States. Until now, little has been known about how this initiative to increase parents’ educational options for their children is affecting either the schools or the students.

The University of Notre Dame’s (CREO) has been awarded a $1 million grant to examine a range of those effects. This ground-breaking, three-year initiative uses data allowing comparisons among traditional public, charter and private schools.

Support from the Chicago-based , which invests in research to improve education around the world, will allow CREO director , a sociologist of education, to ask questions central to the merits of such a school choice program. The questions include:

• What impact do the vouchers, which allow more students to attend private schools, have on student achievement gains and the schools these students attend?
• How do Indiana charter schools, which have doubled in number over nearly five years, affect student achievement gains?
• Are the impacts from vouchers and charter schools greater for some groups of students than for others, thus influencing the racial/ethnic and socioeconomic achievement gaps observed among many students?
• Compared with traditional public schools, how are charter and private schools different in terms of their organizational and instructional conditions (e.g., school leadership, professional development, funding, learning climate and parental involvement)?

Students in Indiana’s public, charter and private schools all take the same standardized assessment tests, so the data from the state’s Department of Education create a unique opportunity for broad, meaningful comparisons of student achievement levels.

“Our hope with this grant is to better understand the conditions under which schools are effective — or not — in improving student outcomes. What we learn will help not only policymakers but educators in all types of schools,” said Berends, a fellow of the .

Collecting additional survey data from schools and teachers will allow Berends and his CREO colleagues to delve more deeply into the particular school conditions under which different voucher and charter school impacts may occur.

The Spencer Foundation, established in 1962, makes grants dedicated to research deemed necessary in order to improve education.

Contact: Bill Schmitt, Institute for Educational Initiatives, 574-631-3893, wschmitt@nd.edu

College football coaching legend , along with his wife, Beth Holtz, will receive this year’s Notre Dame Prize for Catholic Education, and will serve as the principal speaker at the 2015 Commencement Ceremony of the University of Notre Dame’s (ACE) on July 11 (Saturday).

“We are blessed that Coach Holtz has accepted our invitation to celebrate and give thanks for the years of service to the ministry of Catholic education of our ACE graduates,” said , founder of ACE and Hackett Family Director of Notre Dame’s .

“Throughout his career, Coach Holtz has shown a powerful commitment to form leaders of strong character and evangelical virtues, and his dedication and love for Our Lady’s University are unmatched,” Father Scully said. “His witness will resonate deeply with all members of the ACE ���dz����ܲԾ��ٲ�.”

At the annual Commencement exercises, scheduled for 3:30 p.m. in the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, the University will bestow 108 graduate degrees upon the next generation of Catholic school teachers and leaders who completed their periods of formation with ACE.

A total of 83 graduates, who pursued their two years of studies — while teaching in Catholic K-12 schools in underserved areas around the country — will receive the (M. Ed.) degree. Twenty-five graduates from ACE’s , whose 26 months of formation prepared them to be principals and other leaders in Catholic education, will receive a .

, University vice president and senior associate provost, will confer the degrees.

Holtz said he is excited to address the ACE graduates, most of whom will continue their careers as educators and leaders serving children from all backgrounds, many of them in Catholic schools.

“I think it is marvelous the difference the ACE program has made in the lives of so many young people,” Holtz said. “The sacrifice these educators have made to help younger people has been invaluable.”

Holtz coached the Fighting Irish football team from 1986 to 1996, and he led the team to a national championship in 1988. He also received an honorary degree from the University in 2011. He later became a football analyst for ESPN and remains a sought-after motivational speaker.

Contact: Bill Schmitt, ACE, 574-631-3893, wschmitt@nd.edu

Four and half years after the devastating earthquake in Haiti destroyed much of the country’s infrastructure, the University of Notre Dame’s has helped the rebuild its schools in its effort to renew education in the Caribbean country.

With more than $1 million in support from the Notre Dame and ACE communities, Holy Cross has , which had been reduced to rubble. The new facility in the slum neighborhood of Port au Prince called Carrefour serves 1,000 K-12 students, twice the number as before the earthquake. The new building and campus present a stark contrast to the surrounding neighborhood. The principal of , Rev. Rosemond Marcelin, C.S.C., said, “We rebuilt this school to be beautiful and expansive so that the children who come here could see beyond the trash and squalor that they live in and dare to have beautiful and audacious dreams for their lives.”

Advancing Basile Moreau’s mission to serve the poorest children and families in this community, one-third of the students receive major tuition assistance, and another third attend the school at no cost. ACE, working with generous Notre Dame benefactors, has provided 100 scholarships for each of the next five years to increase access for the poorest students. ACE has also partnered with benefactors to beautify the campus, with landscaping and the addition of a soccer field.

Holy Cross and ACE leaders are now adding new computer labs, strengthening the English language curriculum and instruction, and developing a health clinic to serve the students, many of whom lack access to regular medical care, eyeglasses and adequate nutrition. This summer, Basile Moreau hosted more than a dozen Notre Dame faculty, staff, students and alumni, including ACE graduates leading English language camps and a medical team to coordinate a health screening of nearly 1,000 students and teachers.

“The transformation at Basile Moreau 91��Ƶ is simply breathtaking,” said , founder of the Alliance for Catholic Education. “From the rubble, a beautiful school has emerged and is now bustling with activity and exciting and innovative programs. Basile Moreau is a beacon of hope and a testament to the power of the Gospel in service to our most vulnerable children.”

ACE’s work in support of Holy Cross schools is only a small portion of the powerful impact ACE is making in Haiti. ACE’s initiatives include working with Catholic Relief Services and the Haitian Catholic Church to train thousands of teachers, as well as transforming educational outcomes through an innovative literacy program that benefits more than 7,500 students in impoverished Catholic schools. Notre Dame’s represent perhaps the largest, most impactful and most promising set of projects currently underway in Haitian education.

The offers a breadth of initiatives transforming this hard-hit country’s future through quality education for its next generations. Notre Dame’s highlights the University’s broader efforts, integrating education, health care and overall sustainability to support human development in Haiti.

Contact: Bill Schmitt, Alliance for Catholic Education, 574-631-3893, wschmitt@nd.edu

The University of Notre Dame’s (ACE) will send forth 254 Catholic school teachers and leaders to serve in more than 175 schools around the country, capping a summer of intensive study, community formation and spiritual fellowship on campus.

ACE’s annual missioning Mass, scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Friday (July 25) in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, serves to celebrate and bless the teachers and leaders as they return to the communities they serve across the country.

The , archbishop of Mobile, Alabama, will preside at the Mass as well as in missioning ceremonies to be held at 8:30 p.m. Thursday (July 24) at the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes. He will join ; ; and , founders of ACE, in sending forth 178 , 54 participants in ACE’s and 22 teachers in the program.

The missioning Mass marks the close of ACE’s summer programs of graduate-level coursework; leadership formation for Catholic school principals, superintendents and pastors; and professional and spiritual rejuvenation for Catholic educators on Notre Dame’s campus. During its first 20 years, ACE has gained national recognition as a leading provider of talent and resources to sustain, strengthen and transform Catholic elementary and secondary schools.

ACE teaching fellows earn a master of education degree after two summers of coursework and two academic years teaching in under-resourced Catholic schools. Most are also members of the ACE’s partner organization, . Remick Leaders also earn a master of arts degree in educational leadership in a 25-month program, while ENL teachers earn ENL/ESL/ELL certification in their respective states.

Mobile, led by Archbishop Rodi, is one of 27 dioceses and archdioceses around the country that have invited ACE teachers to serve locally in their schools. A product and strong supporter of Catholic education, Archbishop Rodi attended Catholic elementary and secondary schools in his hometown of New Orleans before receiving a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University and a law degree from Tulane University. In 2008, the National Catholic Educational Association awarded the archbishop the for his work in rebuilding Catholic schools after Hurricane Katrina in the Diocese of Biloxi, where he served as bishop.

As a part of the missioning events this year, ACE will also present the 2014 Notre Dame Award for Outstanding Service to Catholic Education to , vice president and chief investment officer at Notre Dame.

Malpass will receive the award in recognition of his lifetime commitment to Catholic schools and to the mission of the University of Notre Dame, and for his support of the Alliance for Catholic Education since its founding. Inspired by the call made by the Notre Dame Task Force on Catholic Education in , Malpass has been the driving force to create Catholic Investment Services, a fund offering Catholic organizations the opportunity to invest with a world-class organization committed to Catholic values.

The Alliance for Catholic Education impacts the lives of several hundred thousand children nationwide by preparing highly talented teachers and school leaders, while offering research and broad support for Catholic 91��Ƶs in the United States — the world’s largest private school system. ACE works in partnership with hundreds of schools to ensure that the students in their communities, many of them from low-income families in high-poverty communities, have access to a high-quality education.

AmeriCorps engages more than 75,000 members in intensive service annually to serve through nonprofit, faith-based and community groups at 25,000 locations across the country. This year marks the 20th anniversary of AmeriCorps. Since 1994, more than 830,000 Americans have provided more than 1 billion hours of service addressing critical challenges from poverty and hunger to disasters and the dropout crisis.

Contact: Bill Schmitt, 574-631-3893, wschmitt@nd.edu

The University of Notre Dame’s (ACE) will bestow master’s degrees on 108 Catholic school educators and leaders at 3:30 p.m. Saturday (July 12) at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center. of Pennsylvania is the featured commencement speaker.

Notre Dame will grant master of education degrees to 83 who have served the last two years in 30 different communities across the nation in the innovative program that was founded in response to a call for talented, recent college graduates to serve as instructional leaders for children in under-resourced Catholic schools. Twenty-five educators will receive a master of arts in educational leadership from the . The initiative is the largest program of its kind, providing world-class formation to passionate Catholic school leaders.

This year’s graduates continue Notre Dame’s 20-year legacy of fueling Catholic schools with passionate leaders. These men and women bring a new imagination and zeal to help strengthen Catholic schools and empower marginalized children. The cohort of graduates brings the total number of ACE Teaching Fellows to more than 1,300 alumni who have served as classroom teachers in one of ACE’s partner schools nationwide. Seventy percent of them have continued their careers in K-12 education.

Since its inception in 2002, the Mary Ann Remick Leadership Program has embraced a vision of leadership that promotes strong Catholic school culture, applies executive management skills and fosters academic excellence. More than 250 Remick Leadership graduates serve Catholic schools in 38 states and 82 dioceses around the world.

Casey will offer the commencement address as a member of the . Before his distinguished career in law and public service in Pennsylvania and his first election to the U.S. Senate in 2006, Casey performed a year of voluntary service as a fifth-grade teacher and eighth-grade coach in inner-city Philadelphia.

Notre Dame Vice President and Senior Associate Provost will confer the degrees on behalf of the University. The annual Commencement exercises will also feature remarks by , the Hackett Family Director of the , who founded the Alliance for Catholic Education in 1993 along with

“We are blessed with talented and faith-filled graduates seeking to extend the gift of a great Catholic school education to as many children as possible. Their tireless commitment provides a witness of hope for Notre Dame, the Church and our nation,” said Father Scully. “They remind us that every child, especially the most vulnerable, must have the opportunity for a quality education. We are deeply grateful for their service and the support of their families.”

Contact: Bill Schmitt, Alliance for Catholic Education, 574-631-3893, wschmitt@nd.edu

After a 30,000-mile, seven-month string of visits to Catholic schools around the country, the University’s ACE Bus returned to campus Monday, June 9, and drove up to the Main Building for an event presenting awards to two champions of local public schools.

, who founded the (ACE) 20 years ago, bounded from the bus, greeted by more than 200 current ACE teachers and members of the campus community while the Notre Dame Fight Song rang out across the quad.

As part of the homecoming celebration, Father Scully presented to , retired director of the bilingual services department of the South Bend Community 91��Ƶ Corp., and , a member of the campus administration who also serves as vice president of the board of the SBCSC. Robles continues to serve on that panel as an at-large member, as well.

Father Scully said Robles, who served South Bend schools as an educator and administrator for 30 years before her 2012 retirement, has been “a pillar of our community in education.”

Jay Caponigro receives the Notre Dame Champion for Education Award

Robles, in remarks aimed largely at the audience of young ACE teachers preparing for the classroom this summer, encouraged their dedication to public service and dubbed education “a calling.” She said they will be rewarded because “you’ll be remembered by a lot of people” who will express appreciation years later.

Caponigro, after receiving his Champion for Education Award, encouraged the next generation of teachers to look at the talents of their students and “also look at all those in the community who want to help you make your students achieve to their fullest capacities — whether those are parish staff or business leaders or folks from nonprofits.”

Father Scully also presented a to Brian and Jeannelle Brady of Elkhart, Indiana, who generously donated the bus that was used for the .

Brian (’74), an , serves on the College of Arts and Letters Advisory Council and Gigot Advisory Board. Jeannelle, a graduate of Saint Mary’s College (’74), is a member of the Performing Arts Advisory Council. Together, they have three sons, all graduates of Notre Dame: Coley (’00), Terry (’01, ’02 MSA) and Ryan (’05).

Notre Dame’s message along the way has consistently affirmed a dedication, through research and service, to provide the opportunity for all children to receive a quality education.

Teaching is “immensely important” in kids’ lives, Brian Brady said, encouraging the ACE participants in their career goals. “I would like to see every child have the same opportunity my grandchildren have.”

, Hackett Family Director of the University of Notre Dame’s , received a prestigious from the (NECO) at a ceremony in New York on Saturday (May 10). He also provided the invocation at the event.

NECO presents the Medals of Honor every year to a group of American citizens who live a life dedicated to helping others; preserve and celebrate the traditions and values of their ancestry group; encourage tolerance and acceptance among ethnic, racial and religious groups of the world; and share their gifts for the benefits of humanity, “proving themselves valuable citizens of the United States.” Past medalists include six U.S. presidents, Nobel Prize winners and leaders of industry, education, the arts, sports and government. NECO honors those who make freedom, liberty and compassion a part of their life’s work.

Father Scully was recognized for his exemplary service and commitment to Catholic schools through his founding of the (ACE) at Notre Dame. Since its founding, ACE has prepared thousands of Catholic school teachers and leaders to serve as teachers and school leaders in predominantly under-resourced schools. ACE strengthens and transforms Catholic schools through an array of research-based programs, including the innovative , which have closed the achievement gap for inner-city students. ACE’s efforts also include building support for Catholic education at the national and local level.

The Medal of Honor ceremony took place on Ellis Island, the iconic gateway through which 12 million immigrants passed during the first half of the 20th century in their pursuit of the American Dream. For more details, visit .

Contact: Bill Schmitt, Alliance for Catholic Education, 574-631-3893

The University of Notre Dame’s program has received a $207,000 grant from the (CNCS) to support 147 AmeriCorps members who will serve as teachers of record in rural and urban schools throughout the United States.

AmeriCorps members supported by these grants will serve in 50 cities in 14 states. This grant will allow ACE to expand its impact and to ensure the placement of carefully formed teachers in the most high-need schools. This partnership with AmeriCorps enables ACE to recruit highly talented candidates; supports ACE’s cohesive, research-based high quality academic teacher training; and enables ACE to place these members as teachers.

“AmeriCorps is an indispensable resource to help meet critical challenges facing our communities,” said , senior administrative director of ACE. “We’re thrilled that the Corporation for National and Community Service has recognized the value that AmeriCorps members serving with ACE offer to communities across the United States. These AmeriCorps members will meet pressing local needs as they develop civic and leadership skills that can last a lifetime.”

“AmeriCorps members are improving the lives of millions of citizens and having a positive and lasting impact on the toughest challenges facing our communities,” said Wendy Spencer, CEO of CNCS. “While they serve others, AmeriCorps members also expand opportunity for themselves — gaining skills and experience to jump-start their careers. As we mark the 20th anniversary of AmeriCorps, we congratulate ACE for its strong application and thank all AmeriCorps members for their dedication to service.”

The was highly competitive, due to the strong and growing demand by organizations seeking AmeriCorps resources. The 2014 competition prioritized investments in economic opportunity, education, veterans and military families and disaster services and continued a new initiative for governors and mayors.

In addition to the grant funding, CNCS will make available $163 million in education scholarships for the AmeriCorps members funded by these grants. After completing a full term of service, AmeriCorps members receive an award of $5,645 that they can use to pay for college or to pay back student loans.

AmeriCorps engages more than 75,000 members in intensive service annually to serve through nonprofit, faith-based and community organizations at 25,000 locations across the country. These members help communities tackle pressing problems while mobilizing millions of volunteers for the organizations they serve.

The AmeriCorps program marks its 20th anniversary in 2014. Since 1994, more than 830,000 Americans have provided more than 1 billion hours of service addressing critical challenges from poverty and hunger to disasters and the dropout crisis.

ACE is a leading program of the University of Notre Dame that recruits, educates and supports talented college graduates who serve as teachers in under-resourced schools across the United States. ACE teachers simultaneously participate in an innovative two-year degree that prepares them for the rigors of the classroom and to become the next generation of educational leaders for America’s elementary and secondary schools. For more information, visit .

AmeriCorps is administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency that engages more than 5 million Americans in service through AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, the Social Innovation Fund and the Volunteer Generation Fund. CNCS also leads the president’s national call to service initiative, . For more information, visit .

Contact: Kathleen Fulcher, 574-631-7052, ace.1@nd.edu

Hundreds of educational leaders and others eager to enhance the future of Catholic schools will attend a unique collection of summertime conferences hosted annually by the University of Notre Dame’s (ACE).

The June and July conferences, some of which are currently accepting registrants, are part of ACE’s mission to sustain, strengthen and transform Catholic schools. They are a growing component of the busy summers when ACE conducts the majority of its on-campus academic programming and graduate-level classes for the next generation of Catholic school teachers and leaders.

Preparation of outstanding college graduates to teach in Catholic schools is the organization’s best-known activity, now welcoming its 20th cohort of aspiring educators as ACE prepares a major celebration of the nation’s Catholic schools to mark its 20th anniversary.

The conferences are hosted by various units of ACE that have grown in recent years to respond to particular issues and needs, with a focus on specific stakeholders. Those interested in attending or learning more can visit these conferences’ respective Web pages.

• ACE Teaching Fellows Annual Conference (June 11-14). Participants in the will convene to assess and catalyze their growth as master teachers, educational leaders and generators of problem-solving research. Several benefactor-supported fellowships support highly promising educators who wish to continue their careers in Catholic classrooms while pursuing advanced knowledge and skills. Fellows cultivate these leadership assets along with their mentors during the conference.

• (June 14-19). This intensive formation experience gives participants a first-hand experience of people and places on the cutting edge in implementing school choice policies. Catholic school supporters will receive skills, insights and working relationships to equip them as advocates in the parental choice movement. Major speakers on- and off-campus will increase these future leaders’ understanding of the social, legal, political, pedagogical and moral dimensions of parental choice.

• (June 21-23). This annual conference, titled “Character Education through Sports Leadership” for 2013, emphasizes developing the whole person through sports. Guest speakers offer professional development for coaches and athletic administrators at both the youth and high school levels. Hosted by ACE’s experts in sports as ministry, the conference gathers representatives of parochial leagues around the country to network and share best practices. .

• (June 23-28). Students in Catholic schools across the country are not getting federally funded services to which they’re entitled; this institute assists diocesan superintendents, principals and other educational leaders to address this problem. Attendees will receive updated information about complex federal funding policies plus practical road maps for the process of consultations by which educators obtain equitable shares for their students from Title 1, Title 2 and Title 3 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Information and registration are available .

• (June 24-28). A four-day enrichment experience for Catholic school principals, titled “Fueling the Fire of Leadership in Catholic 91��Ƶs,” will engage expert faculty and practitioners as they develop an action plan to increase motivational practices for instruction, enrollment and school identity. Principals will explore tangible, evidence-based strategies to increase teacher motivation and self-efficacy, improve supervision processes and encourage teacher self-evaluation to improve the professional learning environment of schools. for this academy hosted by .

• Latino Enrollment Institute (June 25-28). The campaign will invite principals from around the country to discuss strategic possibilities and pursue practical strategies to increase enrollment, particularly among Latino children, in Catholic schools.

• Superintendents Strategic Leadership Conference (July 9-12). ACE Consulting will host its annual, invitation-only conference for diocesan schools superintendents, providing expert speakers and facilitating in-depth conversations to explore key issues faced by school leaders.

• 91��Ƶ Pastors Institute (July 9-12). Pastors whose parishes include schools are invited to this annual institute to learn to manage and leverage better the distinctive relationship between a parish and its school. The institute, hosted by ACE’s Catholic 91��Ƶ Advantage campaign, develops many skills and perspectives that a pastor will need in overseeing a parish school, its people and its finances. Insights presented will support pastors’ reflections on the value of Catholic schools to parishioners and to the Church’s future.

• Mary Ann Remick Leadership Conference (July 12). This conference, a capstone event for those earning their master’s degrees in educational administration through the , is a unique and informal venue for South Bend-area educators to discuss current research with ACE leaders and experts from across the country. The graduate students preparing to serve as principals present the action research they have conducted, and local visitors attending free-of-charge exchange ideas on school challenges and solutions.

• ACE Summer Forum (July 12-14). The ACE Summer Forum is a professional development opportunity for Catholic school supporters and ACE graduates, focusing on urgent needs in Catholic schools and how advocates can address them. This summer, Forum participants will discuss raising local awareness for Catholic schools and connecting local initiatives to the broader ACE movement.

• ACE 19 Parent Retreat (July 24-26). Parents whose sons or daughters have just finished their first year in often have many questions about these first-year teachers’ experiences. hosts a special retreat for these parents at Notre Dame to get their questions answered and to see the broader context of the . The retreat also allows these parents of the ACE 19 cohort to hear presentations, worship together and swap stories.

Contact: Bill Schmitt, media and communications specialist, 574-631-3893, wschmitt@nd.edu

The University of Notre Dame’s (CREO) has been designated an “international research network” by the (WERA). This recognition of CREO’s leadership in the sociology of education will open new doors for international scholarly collaborations in research on educational inequality.

CREO, directed by distinguished sociologist , will now have WERA support in building a global community of scholarship on educational equity issues as they relate to education policy.

As one of the newly established international research networks, called WERA-IRNs, CREO will examine the state of research, synthesize knowledge and stimulate collaborations, with a goal of identifying promising research directions in the field of educational inequality around the world.

“We’re privileged to accept this leading role from WERA in order to build an interactive, real-time, accessible platform for scholars to discuss contemporary issues in education research and data at the national, regional and global level,” said Berends, who is a faculty fellow of Notre Dame’s (IEI).

, a Notre Dame sociologist who serves as assistant director for the , will work closely with Berends and with , associate professor and assistant director of CREO, representing the research synergy that already exists among units of the University.

“When its WERA-IRN status takes full effect during fall 2013, CREO will build upon its strong reputation with an ambitious agenda to be a world-class resource for education researchers,” Price said.

Plans include a global series of interactive lecture webcasts, a hosted blog space and discussion board for international participants, and archived videos and other materials, all to support research in CREO’s designated field: “sociology of education on educational inequality.”

These plans are meant to build an international network of scholars among graduate students, young scholars and globally recognized researchers alike — with CREO at the hub of the network.

Other WERA-IRN networks have been announced in this new initiative, designated to build global collaborations in such areas as “teacher education for the 21st century,” “global ethics in higher education” and “pedagogical design for learning in digital classrooms.”

WERA, based in Washington, D.C., is an organization of major national, regional and specialty education research associations dedicated to sharing scholarship, developing networks and mutually supporting capacity building.

CREO conducts basic and applied research on schools and the learning process. The research explores the formal and informal organization of schools, the curriculum, teacher practices and student social relationships to determine how these factors interact with student background and ability to affect student learning. Special attention is given to less privileged students and Catholic schools.

The IEI advances Notre Dame’s commitment to the future of children and schools. Directed by , the institute supports interdisciplinary research, programs and projects involving more than 60 faculty fellows across the campus.

Contact: Bill Schmitt, communications and media specialist, 574-631-3893, wschmitt@nd.edu

A day of discussions and workshops devoted to one of the most crucial issues in education — bringing world-class aptitude in science and math to the next generation of U.S. citizens — will cap the series on “” on June 12 (Tuesday).

Leading experts in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education from around the country will join local practitioners at a “Forum on K-20 STEM Education” to focus on recent developments in the teaching and learning of those fields. They will pay special attention to K-12 contexts while also considering the years (K-20) spanning graduate studies.

“Improving the nature of science and math education in the United States is essential for the country to maintain its leadership in the global economy and for individuals to navigate an increasingly complex world,” said , a member of the (IEI) task force planning the all-day event.

“At a time when the United States lags behind in STEM education achievement and interest in STEM careers, improving the curriculum, instruction and assessment around STEM disciplines is paramount.”

Morris, who directs the IEI’s program spreading Advanced Placement science and math courses in Indiana high schools, has worked with IEI associate director , in collaboration with Matt Kloser, an (ACE) graduate who holds a Ph.D. in science education and previously served on the ACE faculty of instruction.

“This forum will leverage the wisdom and practice of national experts and award-winning teachers of math and science to deeply investigate the future of science and math education,” said Lyden.

The morning will consist of two panel discussions, followed by break-out discussions in the afternoon to focus on relevant issues and practical applications in STEM education. The event, starting with sign-in at Notre Dame’s Jordan Hall of Science at 8:15 a.m., is free of charge. Educators from the surrounding region are invited to attend, and Professional Growth Points can be earned by attendees. Online registration is available on the and the list of featured panelists.

Speakers include:

• Jonathan Osborne, the Shiriam Family Professor of Science Education at Stanford University
• Angie Calabrese Barton, professor of science education at Michigan State University
• Hugh Ross, a high school teacher with degrees in both engineering and education who leads workshops for science teachers
• Michael Shaughnessy, president of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
• Julie Booth, assistant professor of educational psychology at Temple University
• Suzanne Dolembo, math teacher at Mishawaka High 91��Ƶ who was recently a finalist for 2012 Indiana Teacher of the Year

Afternoon sessions for interaction between experts and local practitioners will include topics such as:

• “Closing the Achievement Gap in Science and Math Education”
• “The Role of Technology in Math and Science Classrooms”
• “From Zero to 60: A Flipped Workshop Presenting a Roadmap for becoming a Designer of Online STEM Learning Environments”
• “How to Develop Strategies for Improving Yourself as a Professional Science/Math Educator”

The 2011-2012 Notre Dame Forum, “Re-Imagining 91��Ƶ,” has engaged faculty, staff, students and distinguished visitors in a series of events hosted by . The Forum Committee has been chaired by , director of the IEI and co-founder of ACE, and , professor of law and ACE coordinator of policy.

Contact: Bill Schmitt, 574-631-3893

The University of Notre Dame’s (ACE) will once again welcome hundreds of visitors to campus this summer for a unique series of conferences, all advancing ACE’s mission to sustain, strengthen and transform Catholic schools.

The conferences, some of which are currently accepting registrants, constitute a growing part of the busy summer to be enjoyed by ACE participants. More than 250 of those participants will receive skills and personal formation to earn master’s degrees as K-12 Catholic school teachers and leaders.

Various units of ACE, which have multiplied during the initiative’s 19 years in response to the needs of children in under-resourced Catholic schools, host conferences that address today’s urgent issues. These include galvanizing top-notch teachers and school leaders; encouraging parental choice policies and informed financial strategies for Catholic school sustainability; promoting athletic coaching that ministers to young people; and introducing parents and South Bend-area educators to the summertime wellspring of Notre Dame’s commitment to K-12 schooling.

These conferences are coming up in 2012:

ACE Teaching Fellows Annual Conference (June 5-10). Participants in the Melody Family ACE Teaching Fellowship program convene to assess and catalyze their growth as master teachers, educational leaders and generators of problem-solving research. Several benefactor-supported fellowships support highly promising educators who wish to continue their careers in Catholic classrooms while pursuing advanced knowledge and skills. Fellows work with mentors to cultivate these leadership assets during the conference. Read more about the conference .

Advocates for Parental Choice Symposium (June 15-20). This intensive formation experience gives participants a first-hand experience of people and places on the cutting edge in implementing school choice policies. Catholic school supporters will receive skills, insights and working relationships to equip them as advocates in the parental choice movement. Major speakers and visits to Wisconsin and Florida will increase these future leaders’ understanding of the legal, social, constitutional, political and moral dimensions of parental choice.

Hope in Action: Transforming Haiti Through Catholic Education (June 19-20). A select group of Church, education, philanthropic and international developmental leaders will gather to probe how a stronger Catholic education system can transform Haiti’s education sector and advance the nation’s social and economic development. Forum hosts and partners will introduce innovative pathways for quality Catholic education in Haiti. Partners in this international leadership forum include , the and the Haitian Episcopal Commission for Catholic Education, as well as three units of the University — ACE, the and the . Read more about ACE in Haiti .

Play Like a Champion Today Sports Leadership Conference (June 22-24). This annual conference, titled “Champion Character in Sports” for 2012, emphasizes developing the whole person through sports. Guest speakers offer professional development for coaches and athletic administrators at both the youth and high school levels. Hosted by ACE’s experts in sports as ministry, the conference gathers representatives of parochial leagues around the country to network and share best practices. Register for the conference .

Superintendents Strategic Leadership Conference (June 24-27). ACE Consulting will host its annual Superintendents Strategic Leadership Conference, inviting educational leaders from dioceses across the country. This year’s conference is titled “Together in Mission: Creating a Culture of Hope.” Expert speakers and in-depth conversations will explore key issues faced by school leaders. Learn more about the Superintendents Strategic Leadership Conference"here":http://ace.nd.edu/consulting/professional-development/superintendents-strategic-leadership-conference.

Principals Academy (June 26-29). A four-day enrichment experience for Catholic school principals will focus on identifying and shaping a school’s culture to benefit leadership and learning. The values of a school, expressed actively and nurtured in a culture, provide a framework in which teachers can reduce students’ achievement gaps and leaders can promote continuous improvement in a school. This academy, hosted by ACE Consulting, will help principals develop action plans to improve and utilize their school culture. Register for the Principals Academy.

Equitable Services Institute (July 8-12). Students in Catholic schools across the country are not getting federally funded services to which they are entitled. The Equitable Services Institute assists diocesan superintendents, principals and other educational leaders to solve this problem. Attendees will receive updated information about complex federal funding policies plus practical road maps for the process of consultations by which educators obtain equitable shares for their students from titles 1, 2 and 3 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Learn more about, and register for, the Equitable Services Institute .

91��Ƶ Pastors Institute (July 17-20). Pastors whose parishes include schools are invited to this annual institute to learn to better manage and leverage the distinctive relationship between a parish and its school. The Institute develops many skills and perspectives that a pastor will need in overseeing a parish school, its people and its finances. It provides insights for valuable reflection on the value of Catholic schools to the children and parents of a parish and to the future of the Church as a whole.

ACE Parent Retreat (July 25-27). Parents whose sons or daughters have just finished their first year in often have many questions about these first-year teachers’ experiences. ACE Advocates hosts a special retreat for these parents at Notre Dame to get their questions answered and to see the broader context of the journey their ACE teachers are taking. The retreat also allows these parents of the ACE 18 cohort to hear presentations, worship together and swap stories. Learn more about the ACE Parent Retreat .

Mary Ann Remick Leadership Conference (July 13). This conference, a capstone event for those earning their master’s degrees in educational administration through the (RLP), is a unique and informal venue for South Bend-area educators to discuss current research with ACE leaders and experts from across the country. The RLP participants present the action research they have conducted to help address key day-to-day issues facing Catholic schools, and local educational leaders attending free-of-charge may exchange useful ideas. Read about the “Remick Leadership Conference ”http://researchandaction.wordpress.com/conferences/“>here and read about the value of action research ”http://ace.nd.edu/news/catholic-education-journal-focuses-on-ace-leadership-in-action-research">here.

Contact: Bill Schmitt, 574-631-3893

Global Football and the Educational Series (PLC) have partnered to create a character award to recognize athletes participating in the Global Ireland Football Tournament (GIFT) 2012 in Ireland this summer.

PLC is an affiliate of the at the University of Notre Dame and is a program for teaching, outreach and research. Its mission is to develop the whole person through sports in a moral community by producing and delivering character-oriented, research-based educational programs for coaches, parents, athletes and administrators.

Each of the 10 high schools and two universities whose football teams will travel from the United States to play their 2012 season-opening game in Ireland on Aug. 31 (Friday) will be asked to nominate one athlete for the award before heading overseas.

The PLC Character Award will then be highlighted at a private banquet hosted by PricewaterhouseCoopers on Aug. 30 (Thursday) in Dublin, and the award will be presented at the Pre-Game Tailgate at the UCD Bowl Stadium before Notre Dame plays Navy at the Aviva Stadium on Sept. 1. PLC will offer a special presentation to Dublin-area coaches, teachers and students, and the traveling GIFT schools’ families and staff will also be invited.

“As a Notre Dame alum and Monogram Club member, I was impressed when the Play Like a Champion Today program was first initiated in 2006,” said Global Football President Patrick Steenberge. “I have followed with keen interest their development and impact on student athletes, coaches and families across America, and am extremely proud to have them now as a working partner in Ireland for the Global Ireland Football Tournament.

“Together we will work to carry their positive message overseas, and recognize one top player per participating GIFT team for his character, then name one of them with the PLC/Global Football Character Award for GIFT 2012.”

Kristin Sheehan, former Notre Dame cheerleader and ND Monogram winner, is the program director for PLC. She said: “Sport provides an ideal setting to develop the moral and spiritual character of young people. The PLC Character Award will applaud student athletes who possess and demonstrate the soul of a champion.

“These athletes are driven team leaders, disciplined and focused in their sport and respected by their team and larger community for their teamwork, integrity and service. Play Like a Champion Today is honored to share our champion philosophy with coaches, parents and athletes in Ireland through partnership with Global Football, a true champion-centered program.”

Three American football showcases featuring a total of 12 teams from Arizona, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas and Wisconsin will be played at Parnell Park in Dublin, Páirc Tailteann in Navan, and at a third venue still to be announced as part of the GIFT 2012 event. The games will be played on Aug. 31 at 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., on the eve of the Emerald Isle Classic at the AVIVA Stadium between Notre Dame and Navy.

Tickets for all GIFT 2012 events, which each offer six hours worth of top-quality American football action, will go on sale March 15, priced 15 euros for adults and 10 euros for students, with free admission for children age 12 and younger.

Under the guidance of President Patrick Steenberge, a former Notre Dame quarterback and high school All-American at Erie Cathedral Prep, Global Football has produced football games in 19 nations during the past 16 years. Working partners include American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), Pop Warner, NFL, Super Bowl Host Committees, USA Football, Notre Dame, Penn State, CONADEIP Mexico, Tanzania Sports Council and dozens of NCAA Division III colleges as well as National Football Federations worldwide.

An innovative coach and parent education program that is transforming the culture of sports today, offers an athlete-centered, research-based approach to coaching and sport parenting by offering interactive coach clinics, parent workshops and athlete character-building initiatives.

The National Governing Body for American Football in Ireland, the Irish American Football Association is recognized by the Irish Sports Council and the Federation of Irish Sports. It is affiliated to the European Federation of American Football and the International Federation of American Football. The Irish American Football League plays adult, full-contact American football U.S. college football rules and has also established an 8v8 league to allow new teams to progress.

A leader in university and sports travel management, plays a critical role in the success of the Emerald Isle Classic and Global Ireland Football Tournament and is providing more than 10,000 guests with comprehensive travel solutions to Ireland.

The University of Notre Dame has named two Catholic schools in the Diocese of St. Petersburg as (NDAA) schools.

The NDAA partnership marks a significant deepening of the relationship between Notre Dame and K-12 schools in the Diocese of St. Petersburg, begun in 1997 when the University first provided teachers to local Catholic schools through Notre Dame’s (ACE) program.

Bishop Robert Lynch invited ACE to consider St. Petersburg as an NDAA site, and St. Joseph (Tampa) and Sacred Heart (Pinellas Park) were selected after a comprehensive feasibility study showed strong local support for the partnership and affirmed the schools’ capacity to serve area students effectively, particularly through the opportunities created by Florida’s private school tax credit. “These schools make an important difference in the lives of hundreds of families,” said Bishop Lynch. “We welcome Notre Dame’s support for our efforts to extend the advantages of Catholic schooling to as many children as possible in our diocese.”

By designating Saint Joseph and Sacred Heart as NDAA schools, ACE and the diocese seek to sustain long-term, comprehensive excellence in these schools by implementing a unique model of Catholic schooling. The NDAA model is built on the three pillars of ACE: educational excellence, the experience of community, and faith formation in the Catholic tradition.

The mission of the NDAA initiative is to provide a Catholic education of the highest quality to as many children as possible by mobilizing the resources of the University, the diocese, parental choice programs, and local communities. ACE faculty and staff will work closely with the NDAA schools and diocesan leaders in Tampa Bay to boost enrollment and enhance school leadership, curriculum, instruction, professional development, financial management, marketing and Catholic identity. According to NDAA director Christian Dallavis, “We share Bishop Lynch’s vision of creating opportunities for more families to choose a Catholic education of the highest quality for their children. We are excited to work in these Tampa Bay communities with dynamic teachers and incredible school leaders to help put more kids on the path to college and heaven."

“These schools bring hope for the future to families, communities and the Church. We at Notre Dame are honored to work alongside many caring people to buttress that hope and to support the Catholic school mission that serves our children so well,” said , founder of ACE and director of the at Notre Dame.

St. Joseph principal Brenda Henson Budd added, “As St. Joseph Catholic 91��Ƶ approaches its 116th year, we are overjoyed with our new partnership with Notre Dame. This new alliance gives us confidence that we will inspire academic excellence and form young people in faith in West Tampa for another 100 years to come.” Andy Shannon, principal of Sacred Heart, endorsed the partnership as well, adding, “We are thrilled for Notre Dame to join Sacred Heart’s mission of preparing children for a life lived in service to Jesus, the Church, and the ���dz����ܲԾ��ٲ�.”

These schools represent the first expansion of the NDAA model, which began when a pilot cluster was , in 2009.

The NDAA initiative is funded by a generous grant from the Walton Family Foundation, with support from the partner dioceses, Notre Dame, and private benefactors.

This announcement takes place during , which is celebrated nationwide Jan. 29 to Feb. 5.

For more information about the Notre Dame ACE Academies, visit on the Web.

Contact: Christian Dallavis, Dallavis.1@nd.edu, 574-631-4962

, an innovative literature-based mentoring program that provides an alternative to prosecution for low-risk juvenile offenders, was recently awarded county funding to sustain its operation in St. Joseph County, Ind. With the unanimous approval of the county council and commissioners, Judge Peter J. Nemeth of the St. Joseph Probate Court has appropriated basic funding for Reading for Life for 2012.

Peter Morgan, executive director of St. Joseph County’s Thomas N. Frederick Juvenile Justice Center, points out, “Reading for Life has been more successful in diverting young people from the juvenile justice system than traditional programs such as community service. The program’s success makes it very cost-effective.”

Developed at the University of Notre Dame’s (IEI), Reading for Life is a character education diversion program that focuses on seven cardinal and theological virtues, and engages youth in small-group discussions of classic and contemporary literature with trained mentors. The goal is to encourage young people to make more prudent life choices. The program mentors juvenile offenders through the Juvenile Justice Center’s probation department.

“This is a very exciting development for Reading for Life,’” says , director of the program. “For those of us in the academy who conduct applied research, it is always great when a community organization sees such value in our work that they want to incorporate it into their own programming. This really is a scholar’s highest honor.”

Seroczynski, an associate program director with IEI, notes that Reading for Life could not be successful without the tireless hours that volunteer mentors from our community invest in these young people. “Our volunteer mentors are the heart and soul of the program,” she adds. “They genuinely care about these youth and want them to become successful young adults.”

Reading for Life is “a concrete example of how the Institute for Educational Initiatives’ long investment in moral education is now paying dividends,” says , an IEI Fellow and professor of developmental psychology in Notre Dame’s (M. Ed.) program. “The Reading for Life program in St. Joseph County should serve as a model for literature-based character education across the country.”

For the past two years, Reading for Life has been supported by the Arête Initiative at the University of Chicago.

Contact: Bill Schmitt, media/communications specialist, Institute for Educational Initiatives, 574-631-3893, wschmitt@nd.edu

; (PLC), the athletics-focused initiative in the (ACE) at the University of Notre Dame, has teamed with the Trusted Sports Foundation in two awards programs that honor the country’s most inspirational high school athletes in the sports of football and soccer.

The football awards program, called the and now in its third year, presents $25,000 in academic scholarships annually to 12 young football players recognized for a commitment to excellence combined with character and courage. The awards are based on the story of Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger, known for his persistence in making the Notre Dame football team as featured in the film “Rudy.”

The new soccer awards program, called the , will award $25,000 in academic scholarships to 12 high school soccer players who best exemplify the same combination of traits. In both the football and soccer programs, Trusted Sports Foundation invites the general public to nominate inspiring young athletes, appoints a selection committee of noted personalities from those sports, and awards the scholarships. The nonprofit foundation is a partner with PLC in both programs.

“These awards reflect the powerful life lessons that we see young people learning from sports every day,” said Kristin Sheehan, program director for PLC. “We celebrate not only the inspirational football and soccer players, but also the culture of integrity, perseverance and moral leadership that is passed to these athletes by coaches and parents.”

PLC, now in its sixth year, is an innovative coach and parent education initiative that frames coaching as a character-building enterprise, with sports complementing the educational process as an avenue toward personal integrity and moral leadership for young people.

Trusted Sports founder John Ballantine said: “We’re excited to partner with Play Like a Champion Today® to reassert sports as a tool for personal development and to highlight nominees as examples of how supportive teams, coaches and programs can foster effective members of society.”

The PLC/ACE initiative, named after the famous sign in the locker room of Notre Dame’s Fighting Irish football team, offers a child-centered, research-based approach to coaching and sport parenting; more than 15,000 coaches and 3,000 parents have participated in Play Like a Champion Today® workshops.

The nonprofit , based in Bend, Ore., focuses on empowering youth to live up to their full potential through positive sports experiences that form active, healthy habits for a lifetime. Inspireum, also based in Bend, is a social enterprise dedicated to celebrating outstanding youth achievement that inspires the next generation and strengthens communities.

Contact: Bill Schmitt, media/communications specialist, Institute for Educational Initiatives, 574-631-3893, wschmitt@nd.edu