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BY ERIKA ANDERSON
Staff Writer
ATLANTA--After a long day of teaching at St. Thomas More School in Decatur,
Annemarie Welch knows that she can go home and receive support from peers who
are also experiencing their first year as teachers.
Welch, 22, and three other graduate students from the University of Notre
Dame live in Atlanta and participate in the Alliance for Catholic Education
(ACE) program. The first ACE program participants to come to Atlanta, these
students spend two years teaching at Catholic schools and living together as
they earn a master’s degree in education.
“Living in community provides us with a support base,” Welch said.
“It’s so important having people who are going through the same
experience and who know where you are. It’s neat to have other people who
can really relate.”
Welch shares an apartment with Liberty Jones, who teaches first grade at St.
Anthony’s School in the West End. Directly across the hall is the
apartment of Chad Gabrich, who also teaches at St. Anthony’s, and Brian
Fulmer, who teaches fifth grade at St. Jude the Apostle School in Atlanta.
The four establish their community life by sharing meals each evening at the
women’s apartment. The television and computer are at the men’s
apartment and each individual has keys to both places.
Welch and Jones said that they have learned the value of flexibility while
living in community with each other.
“You really have to roll with the punches,” Jones said. “All
four of us are very different and there are four very strong personalities. We
have conflicted sometimes, but we know that it’s important that we
communicate and talk with each other.”
Jones, 22, earned a bachelor’s degree from Notre Dame in anthropology
and African-American studies. She said that she got involved because there was
a great need for African-American teachers in the program.
ACE was established in 1994 to provide the opportunity for graduate students
of Notre Dame and other colleges and universities to give two years of service
in Catholic grade schools and high schools across the South. Students begin the
program in the summer, taking classes at Notre Dame and student teaching. They
then move to the South, where they teach and continue to take classes over the
Internet to earn their master’s degree.
Joyce Johnstone, associate director of the master’s program at Notre
Dame, is the academic advisor. She said that after participating in the ACE
program, 66 percent of the students continue to work in Catholic education.
“Even if they don’t stay in education, even if they leave and go
on to law school or something like that, they are committed to Catholic
education,” she said. “Our main purpose is to continue to build the
body of Catholic laity who are committed to Catholic education.”
Johnstone also said that the students are placed in schools in the South
because there are fewer Catholic colleges and universities in that region from
which to draw teachers.
In 1994, 40 students participated in the program. There are now over 120 ACE
teachers across the South. The program centers around three pillars, which are
helping the students to become professional educators, to establish community
life and to further develop their faith. Welch said that when looking for a
service project, the three components of ACE drew her towards the program.
“Being Catholic is very important to me,” she said. “I love
my faith and I love sharing my faith. I am learning to teach as Jesus
did.”
Each ACE teacher works with another teacher from her or his school in a
mentoring program. This teacher can give advice, guidance and ideas to the new
ACE teacher.
John Evers, principal of St. Anthony’s, said that the ACE teachers
benefit from the knowledge of the established teachers.
“It’s nice to have these people who are trying to learn the
teaching profession,” he said. “They work with people who are good
teachers. This is a very good learning ground and they try very hard. We just
try to give them the best possible learning environment.”
Gabrich, 25, a native of South Bend, Ind., received a bachelor’s degree
in psychology from Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C. After working in
Atlanta in a sales position, he was unhappy and envied the excitement that his
friends in the ACE program had about their jobs.
“It’s been a wonderful experience,” he said. “It is the
one job that I’ve found that I like to get up and go to every morning. I
really look forward to it.”
Gabrich teaches middle school science at St. Anthony’s and also
volunteers as a wrestling coach at St. Pius X High School. He said that he has
learned that teaching is unpredictable.
“I just have to take it day by day and see what each day brings,”
he said.
He also said that his students have to deal with more issues than he did
when he was in school, but that his goal is for them to learn about themselves.
“I want to get them to accept each other so that they know where they
are and where they came from,” he said.
Jones, a native of Clearwater, Fla., said that she has discovered that
teaching is not an easy job.
“Teaching is a lot harder than I thought it would be,” she said.
“I really have a deep respect for teachers.”
Welch, who holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Notre Dame,
said that she is adjusting to the learning process of her students.
“It’s a big transition to try to give them the structure that they
need and the guidance, but still be open enough to let them learn on their
own,” she said.
She also said she feels blessed to be teaching at St. Thomas More.
“It’s an absolutely wonderful school. The faculty and staff have
been completely supportive of me,” she said. “I really feel like St.
Thomas More is a place where learning is happening and where learning is really
treasured.”
Fulmer, a native of Cadillac, Mich., received his bachelor’s degree in
religion from Earlham College in Richmond, Ind. He got involved with the
program after he had been substitute teaching and realized his interest in it.
He was attracted to the program because of the community life, as well as the
training.
“In order to be a great teacher, you have to learn to be a great
teacher,” he said. “That’s what ACE does.”
Fulmer said he feels blessed to be a part of St. Jude’s, where he
teaches fifth-grade religion.
“I really feel like I’ve lucked out,” he said. “I’m
at a great school with a great staff and great students. It’s been a
really positive experience for me.”
Barbara Poole, principal of St. Jude’s, said that it is also a positive
experience for the school.
“The ACE program puts our kids in contact with people who are good role
models for them,” she said. “These are kind and caring young adults
who are interested in education. The kids see that. It says to kids that these
young people really value education and that sends a good powerful message to
them.”
In a video promoting ACE, Notre Dame president, Father Edward Malloy, CSC,
said that the program allows the graduate students to build upon their Catholic
roots, while learning in an active environment.
“I think these young people have taken a risk. They’re building on
a solid foundation,” he said. “They’ve been well chosen and I
think they’ve been well prepared. Now they’re out there on the firing
lines. They’re going to be challenged in many ways, but they are a sign of
hope to all of us.”
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