Alliance for Catholic Education

A funny thing happened on the way to creating this podcast with Fr. Bob…  When we first went to record this episode, he was vice president and associate provost for interdisciplinary initiatives. In that role, he oversaw the Institute for Educational Initiatives, among other wonderful institutes and centers on campus.  Then, in December 2023, the University's Board of Trustees elected Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., as Notre Dame's 18th president. Fr. Bob graciously re-joined us in-studio so we could get everyone up to speed, so to speak, and hear from Fr. Bob himself about when he first got the news and how humbled he is to serve in his new role as priest-president. https://president.nd.edu/

As we wait in joyful hope, it's time for our year-end gift to you, highlighting a few memorable moments from this year's Think. Pair. Share. conversations, as we talked all things modern education with some of the best minds—and hearts—in the field. Thank you to our listeners, the team at the Institute for Educational Initiatives and the Alliance for Catholic Education, and of course to our guests: Fr. Nate Wills, CSC, Kati Macaluso, Alec Torigian, and Taylor Kelly. We look forward to continuing the conversations in 2024!

From following in Rev. Edward Sorin, C.S.C.'s clarinet playing footsteps, to leading others in the mission to educate by embracing one's belovedness and radiating it out to a world in need Taylor Kelly, an associate director of the Institute for Educational Initiatives at the University of Notre Dame, discusses her role walking alongside others as they discover their capacity for human flourishing and spreading joy to others, as well as the Laetare Medal, the Holy Half Marathon, and being a member of “The Oldest Band in the Land.”

From Fr. Ted Hesburgh hand-in-hand with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to providing radical accompaniment, opportunity, and formation to students, in order to help enable their fullest flourishing Alec Torigian, national coordinator for ACE's Pursuing Achievement Through Higher Education initiative, discusses his role walking with middle to high school aged students on their educational journey while working in concert with the Church to close the opportunity gap in this country, as well as ultimate frisbee, Larry Bird and the Intentionality Brothers, and regilding or “regoldenizing” the Golden Dome.

From the Grotto and St. Bernadette to Breen-Phillips Hall and Coach Leahy, envisioning a future for Catholic schools that fully integrates faith formation with the disciplines, increases academic rigor, and deepens clinical partnerships for the betterment of all students Dr. Kati Macaluso, the academic director for ACE Teaching Fellows, discusses her new role working alongside faculty in service to teachers who said yes to bringing young students to wholeness in the image of a God who loved them into being, as well as dorm trivia and Notre Dame's unofficial G.O.A.T. leprechaun.

From seminary life in Old College and full house Masses at Keough Hall, to leading team prayer in the storied locker room of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish Fr. Nate Wills, CSC, director of the Alliance for Catholic Education's Blended Learning Initiatives and faculty in the Mary Ann Remick Leadership Program, discusses his vocation within a vocation, empowering Catholic school teachers and leaders to use the tools of technology for greatest impact, as well as hearing the Pope's call in person, ND fun facts, and chatting with Delilah.

Our year-end compilation of a few fun and memorable moments from this year's conversations, as we talked all things modern education with some of the best minds—and hearts—in the field. Thank you to our listeners, the team at the Institute for Educational Initiatives and the Alliance for Catholic Education, and of course to our guests: Fr. Lou DelFra, CSC, Nicole McNeil, Nikhit D'Sa, Katy Lichon, John Staud, Fr. Joe Carey, CSC, Kate Schuenke-Lucien, Matt Kloser, Andrea Christensen, Will Newkirk, and Gina Svarovsky. We look forward to continuing the conversations in 2023!

From Thanksgiving family traditions like tropical turkey, secret stuffing, and pleasant pumpkin rolls, to becoming agents of change by building empathy and designing pathways through STEM and engineering to make the world better Dr. Gina Svarovsky, founding faculty director of the Center for Broader Impacts and associate professor in Notre Dame's Center for STEM Education, discusses feeling empowered by the engineering design process to research, discover, and build solutions, as well as gears as art forms, raccoons as pets, and gratitude at Thanksgiving.

From jack-o-lantern tales and top-o-the-chart treats, to the authentic power of truth and healing in the Indigenous experience Will Newkirk, Director of the American Indian Catholic Schools Network, discusses standing together as co-conspirators of hope—at the intersection of Indigenous culture and Catholic identity—looking to the future by witnessing, sharing, and celebrating stories, as well as candy corn's mixed upside and Star Trek's spooky role in Halloween lore.

From coffee ice cream and hoagies, submarines, or po'boys, to how designing instruction that optimizes motivation over memorization in the classroom also optimizes learning. Andrea Christensen, Director of Education, Schooling and Society, shares why teaching her students is the privilege of her life and how we all have a role to play in affecting positive change in schools, as well as, celebrating punctuation marks, talking like a pirate, and wishing every day was National Literacy Day.

From banter, bits, and doing it all for the music and the fans, to the animating power of STEM education as a force for good in the world Dr. Matt Kloser, founding director of the Center for STEM Education, shares how “The Story of Science” is an unfinished narrative we can all help write, as well as, S'more Than Coffee playing tennis with John McEnroe, and closing out the show on keyboards with Bruce Springsteen.

From summertime foods, frisbees, and exploring Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood, to the transformational power of finding the “secret sauce” at St. Procopius and all Catholic schools Kate Schuenke-Lucien, the Director for Haiti in the Global Center for the Development of the Whole Child, shares how the universality of loss connects us and how being a voracious and joyful reader animates her work building resilient child development and education systems that draw on the three pillars of Haitian society: the home, the school and the church, as well as being an aspirational vegetarian, and the fine culinary rivalry between Chicago and Wisconsin (hot) dogs.

From handmade Father's Day gifts and the origin stories of “Cup of Joe” and FJ's cookies, to the fine art of welcoming people on the journey and building community for all Fr. Joe Carey, CSC, the chaplain for the Alliance for Catholic Education, discusses being called to love everyone he meets and serve others in the imitation of Jesus; listening, affirming, and helping people along the way, as well as being related to the Gerber baby, the secret ingredient in his famous cookies, and laying the groundwork for a rom-com vs Disney showdown.

From graduation trivia and Roberto Clemente, Jerome Bettis and all things Pittsburgh athletics, to leading the revitalization of Catholic schools Dr. John Staud, the executive director of the Alliance for Catholic Education program discusses choosing hope and the example of Christ and the body of Catholic Social Teaching as the radical animating principle guiding the work of ACE, as well as, laurel berries, mortar boards, and listening to The Who and Zeppelin at ten.

From Easter traditions and proper chocolate-bunny-eating etiquette to embracing and empowering the transformative power of the Latino community within Catholic schools Dr. Katy Lichon, Director of Catholic School Advantage and the English as a New Language Program, discusses the domestic Church and how the legacy of Catholic education can inform our future; celebrating all gifts, talents, and cultures, as well as, Easter egg hunts, rolls, and what can happen when you give a mouse a cookie.

From St. Patrick and his feast day to five-day cricket extravaganzas and adopting a human-centered approach to research application in the lived experience of children and teachers Nikhit D'Sa, Assistant Professor and Senior Associate Director for Research at the Global Center for the Development of the Whole Child discusses social emotional learning, teacher wellbeing, and the role of play in low-resource and fragile contexts, as well as, corned beef and cabbage, four-leaf clovers, and the Emerald Isle.

From The Shamrock to The Dome, traveling a providential path to understanding how children learn and what role education plays in the development of a just society Nicole McNeil, professor of psychology and Director of the Education, Schooling, and Society program considers the science behind children's cognitive development and the duality of the power of education to change people's lives.

From Philly soft pretzels and New Year's celebrations to the essential role of lay people as “Agents of Spirituality” in our Church. Fr. Lou DelFra, CSC, faculty member and Director of Pastoral Life for the Alliance for Catholic Education, reflects on ACE as a movement of the Holy Spirit and its culture of discernment, as well as middle schoolers as litmus tests for relevancy and celebrating Catholic Schools Week with a joyful and boisterous racket.

A year-end compilation of just a few of the fun and memorable moments from our inaugural year of conversations. Thank you to our listeners, the team at the Institute for Education Initiatives and the Alliance for Catholic Education, and of course to our guests: John Schoenig, Chrissy Trinter, Ernest Morrell, Neil Boothby, Maria McKenna, Kevin Baxter, Kristin Valentino, Mark Berends, Luis Fraga, Anna Haskins, Chloe Gibbs, and Mike Macaluso. We look forward to continuing the conversations in 2022!

From reflections on being the Notre Dame leprechaun to inspiring lifelong, engaged readers. Dr. Michael Macaluso, faculty member of the Alliance for Catholic Education and fellow of the Institute for Educational Initiatives, explores the implications literacy has on how we understand and therefore interact in the world, the origins of the new Alexandria Award, as well as his thoughts on a zombie apocalypse, mistaken lyrics, and DC versus Marvel comics.

Listen to Dr. Anna Haskins talk about her current research process when it comes to working with working with parents and school personnel when it comes to the long-reaching consequences of parental incarceration on children.

From apple picking and pumpkin patches to community building and examining the economics of education in pursuit of better outcomes for disadvantaged children and families. Dr. Chloe Gibbs, Director of Notre Dame's Program for Interdisciplinary Educational Research (ND PIER) and Assistant Professor of Economics, discusses the importance of rigorous, relevant and impactful policy research as the critical foundation in deciding which interventions and social programs are worth the investment to her thoughts on superstitions, bobbing for apples, and Halloween candy outliers.

From stamp collecting and favorite numbers to examining how the education system, the family, and the criminal justice system connect and interact—both preserving and mitigating social inequality. Dr. Anna Haskins, Associate Professor in Sociology and the Center for Research on Educational Opportunity (CREO) considers the role of schooling in society, the long-reaching consequences of parental incarceration on children, and the eternal debate between talking and texting and peeps versus circus peanuts.

Listen to Dr. Luis Fraga talk about his experience of testifying before the House Judiciary Committee (with his son!) about the United States' history of voting rights suppression and voter disenfranchisement as a way of providing context for the current legislation being considered to transform the Voting Rights Act.

Listen to Dr. Luis Fraga explain the Latino Studies Scholars Program, where this year 10 Notre Dame students who have shown leadership in working on behalf of Latino communities will receive $25,000 merit-based scholarships. Learn more at https://latinostudies.nd.edu/undergraduate/latino-studies-scholars-program.

Listen to Dr. Luis Fraga discuss how Notre Dame's Institute for Educational Initiatives is an ideal place for him to pursue his scholarly goals, particularly his work in Catholic schools. Learn more at iei.nd.edu.

From illuminating the artistic side of a political scientist to two-way immersion and empowering and serving communities of understanding and tolerance Dr. Luis Fraga, Director of the Institute for Latino Studies at the University of Notre Dame, reflects on the transformative nature of Catholic education and the potential lasting legacy of building diverse communities of understanding and tolerance, as well as the adventures of family road trips and being a grandfather again.

Listen to Dr. Mark Berends discuss his research findings when working with the Indiana Choice Scholarship Program.

Listen to Dr. Mark Berends discuss the Center for Research on Educational Opportunity (CREO) within Notre Dame's Institute for Educational Initiatives and how CREO strives to be a space that fosters diversity, equity, and inclusion. Learn more at iei.nd.edu/creo.

Listen to Dr. Mark Berends explain more about the Fellows within Notre Dame's Institute for Educational Initiatives and how he sees them as bridge builders who will further the Institute's educational research and advance its programs. Learn more at iei.nd.edu.

Listen to Dr. Mark Berends discuss Notre Dame's Program for Interdisciplinary Educational Research (ND PIER), the program within the Institute for Educational Initiatives that trains doctoral students in research design, implementation, analysis, and inference. Learn more at iei.nd.edu/pier.

From imagining running the Olympic 1500m to galvanizing the hearts and minds of those who believe in the power of education. Dr. Mark Berends, Director of the Institute for Educational Initiatives at Notre Dame, talks about looking forward while reflecting on the incredible dedication and spirit of hope that strengthens and sustains the mission to positively affect children in Catholic schools, as well as his thoughts on Etch-a-Sketch and what it means to be a tailender.

From daring to compete as a race car driver to discovering how the transactional nature through which children's interactions with their family, community, and culture can shape the course of their development. Kristin Valentino, Director of the William J. Shaw Center for Children and Families and a Professor of Psychology at Notre Dame, discusses the integration of biological, psychological and environmental factors that impact parent-child relationships in overcoming adversity and achieving overall well-being, as well as her days in the ROTC and why her favorite of the Seven Dwarfs will surprise you.

From contemplating a guitar duet with Bruce Springsteen to leading the charge for thriving Catholic schools across the United States. Kevin Baxter, Director of the Mary Ann Remick Leadership program at Notre Dame, shares some thoughts about the intangible aspects that make Catholic schools so special, leadership as vision, strategy and tactics, as well as his reflections on silly fears and big family moves.

From the origins of Sesame Street and Photovoice, to the pedagogy of vulnerability, to equity, inclusion, and diversity as foundations of education Maria McKenna, Associate Professor of the Practice in the Department of Africana Studies and the Education, Schooling, & Society program at Notre Dame discusses youth empowerment, equity, inclusion, and diversity as foundations of education, as well as her stand on cereal as soup and why she doesn't really want to live forever.

We began the journey of Grace Period on Noah's ark, weathering the first global pandemic and the destructive waters of the Great Flood. We continued the journey on the waters of Galilee, where our travels were beset by sudden squalls that threatened to swamp our boat. And last week, Holy Week, we walked the great storm of Jesus' Way of the Cross. These waters, which disrupted our lives and were the cause of so much fear – Christ has walked over them, and stands firmly now on the shore. How? The Gospel's ultimate answer is so simple, yet it is our greatest discovery: Christ is risen, alleluia! Christ is truly risen, alleluia! Thank you for walking this journey of grace with us over these past weeks. May our Risen Lord who has conquered the storm fill us with hope as we guide our boats to shore. Learn more at ace.nd.edu/grace-period.

From dreaming of mastering Creole overnight to learning through doing and creating sustainable pathways out of adversity for children and youth. Neil Boothby, Director of the Global Center for the Development of the Whole Child at Notre Dame and an internationally recognized expert and advocate for children in adversity around the world explores inward vulnerability and outward resilience, the “conspiracy of goodness”, his weakness for Lay's potato chips, and the perks of having a time capsule. Learn more at iei.nd.edu/media

This week on Grace Period, Fr. Lou invites us to walk during this Holy Week with Jesus through the great storm of His life. Though Christ's Way of the Cross is utterly singular in human experience, He also teaches us that His journey is one we must all make, each in our own way. And Jesus invites us to make it – like Him, as a journey of self-sacrifice – but also as a journey of hope. Learn more at ace.nd.edu/grace-period.

This week on Grace Period, Fr. Lou focuses on how we can persevere with hope when it seems like Christ is absent during our time of need. We look to the Gospel of Mark, when a furious squall threatens to sink the disciples' boat as Jesus sleeps. Was Christ powerless against the squall? Did he not care? Jesus was showing them (and us) what it's like to trust, even in a storm, that we have a God who has our lives—and all that happens within them—securely in hand. The more we can allow this bedrock spiritual reality to settle into our souls, the more calm and hopeful we can be in the midst of life's storms. Learn more at ace.nd.edu/grace-period.

This week on Grace Period, Fr. Lou continues with the story of the disciples in the storm and focuses on Saint Peter as an example for all of us amidst the storms of this school year. While ever so flawed, Peter knows there is one in the storm who is greater than the storm, and sends himself out onto the waves toward Christ. This week, our prayer is that we might always keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and recommit to the practices—the Eucharist, Scripture, and daily prayer—that keep us centered on Him. Learn more at ace.nd.edu/grace-period.

This week on Grace Period, Fr. Lou exchanges Noah's ark for a fishing boat and the New Testament story of Jesus and the disciples in the storm. Just as the disciples were overcome with fear in the middle of the storm, we too have shouldered fear and uncertainty this school year. This week, take some time to reflect on the role that fear has played in your life this year. Then allow yourself to be taken in by Christ's response to the disciples: "Do not be afraid, I am here with you," and continue to live in hope. Find out more at ace.nd.edu/grace-period.

This week on Grace Period, Fr. Lou DelFra, CSC, focuses on the stirring in Noah's heart that gets him out of bed and calls him to action—even when that action seems a bit absurd given the circumstances. That stirring is hope. Hope is a gift, a divine gift offered by God right into our hearts that then seeps from our hearts into our limbs. Our prayer this week is to be ever open to this gift, which our classrooms and communities so need: God's gift of hope. Learn more at ace.nd.edu/grace-period.

From Beowulf and hip-hop to the power of literacy transforming lives and changing the world. Ernest Morrell, Director of the Center for Literacy Education, Coyle Professor of Literacy Education, and faculty member in the English, and Africana Studies Departments at Notre Dame, discusses the power of literacy, the limitless potential of children, and being a night person all while having Michelangelo and Raphael painting in his garage.

Welcome to Grace Period, a weekly series of audio reflections with Fr. Lou DelFra, CSC, designed for you…to help you pause, listen for God's voice in your lives, and begin anew. As we move through these final months of the pandemic, Fr. Lou looks at another global crisis, a Biblical one, perhaps the global crisis ever recorded, and the spiritual gifts it called forth among God's people. Join us next time on Grace Period, as we continue to open ourselves to the gift of hope. Learn more at ace.nd.edu/grace-period.

From the delicacy of ice cream to the intersection of mathematics and Catholic Social Teaching. Chrissy Trinter, Associate Professor of Mathematics Education of the ACE Teaching Fellows and in the Notre Dame Center for STEM Education, shares some thoughts on mathematics and Catholic Social Teaching, her passion for students' human flourishing, Star Wars and why you won't see her singing karaoke any time soon.

From handy super powers to the origins of school choice in America. John Schoenig, ACE's senior director of teacher formation and education policy, shares some thoughts on why school choice matters, Catholic education in light of the pandemic, and how Jack Nicholson and Prince left a stamp on his childhood.

Think. Pair. Share. brings you stories about education and the people who make it happen. We start with the premise that information is being shared all around us in big and small ways, often at the same time. A conversation can teach you how to split an atom even as you learn the favorite color of the person sitting opposite you. Education is not simply about the giving and receiving of information, but rather having an enlightening experience. Listen, connect, grow with us.

Welcome to spACEs: An ACE Podcast Adventure! Our episodes feature stories about the unexpected things that happen to you and around—shared through a Catholic lens. Episode one takes us to St. Edward Catholic School in Chillicothe, Illinois, on a Wednesday afternoon last fall—a day that ACE 24's Luke Heineman and his principal, Mr. Mike Domico, will never forget.

This month, the ENL team discusses the summer slide, the impact it can have on ELLs, and strategies teachers can implement to prevent this loss of learning and language over the summer months. The conversation is anchored around the Chalkbeat article by Susan Gonzalez entitled "The not-so-secret ELL summer slide problem that no one has quantified". Tune in for great stories and helpful strategies to prevent the summer slide for your students.  Read the article here: https://www.chalkbeat.org/posts/co/2015/08/07/the-not-so-secret-ell-summer-slide-problem-that-no-one-has-quantified/ Find more 15 on the 15th Resources at ace.nd.edu/enl/resources

This month, we discuss the loaded and vast topic of assessment. We're focusing today's conversation on summative assessments and the specific strategies that classroom teachers can use to more accurately assess their English language learners. The article "Assessing ELLs in ESL or Mainstream Classrooms: Quick Fixes for Busy Teachers" by Laureen A. Fregeau and Robert D. Leier anchors the discussion and offers concrete adaptations that can have a real impact for English language learners.   Jenny Dees and Clare Roach are joined by Charlotte Perez, a graduate of the ENL Hernandez Fellows program, a member of the ENL Clinical Faculty, and the Resource Teacher at St. Cecilia in the Diocese of Camden, New Jersey. We identify some stress-relieving strategies for teachers that will benefit every child in the classroom, including ELLs.  Tune in and grab a few tactics to try in your classroom this week! The article can be found here: http://iteslj.org/Techniques/Fregeau-AssessingELLs.html Find more 15 on the 15th Resources at ace.nd.edu/enl/resources

This month, the podcast offers insightful ideas and practical strategies for early childhood language learners–including concrete ways to incorporate students' native languages into classroom libraries, labels, and even dramatic play materials. Read this month's article: https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1013928.pdf We're joined by Courtney O'Grady, a graduate of the ENL Hernandez Fellows program and a long-time early childhood educator who teaches at St. Raymond in the Diocese of Joliet. In addition to Courtney's expertise in a traditional early childhood classroom, Clare Roach shares her experience starting a two-way immersion preschool program in South Bend, Indiana, an outreach effort of ENL. Tune in to learn more about how our Catholic schools can make a child's first encounter with school and the learning process even more fruitful. We are currently accepting applications for this years ENL Hernandez Fellows cohort. To learn more about the program and begin an application, visit ace.nd.edu/enl/apply In addition to the article and the podcast, check out these helpful resources: Academic vs Intellectual Goals article: https://deyproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/dey-lively-minds-4-8-15.pdf Illinois Early Learning Project Tip Sheets: https://illinoisearlylearning.org/resources/tipsheets/ Head Start Center for Inclusion Visuals: http://headstartinclusion.org/classroom-visuals Colorín Colorado: http://www.colorincolorado.org