Alliance for Catholic Education
We’re thrilled to introduce this year’s blog team! To help you get to know these seven bloggers, we asked them to complete a brief Q&A to introduce themselves. You’ll hear more from them during the year about their classes, their community and their spirituality, but for now please get to know each blogger below!
Aidan Couch
Aidan is originally from South Bend, Indiana, and stayed in South Bend for his undergraduate degree where he studied economics at the University of Notre Dame. In ACE, Aidan teaches middle school math and religion at St. Catherine of Alexandria in Tulsa, Oklahoma
What is your favorite thing to do in Tulsa?
Free golf at O’Brien Park!
What song would be the soundtrack to your classroom?
Should’ve Been a Cowboy by Toby Keith
Bridget Hall
Bridget is from Hedgesville, West Virginia, and attended Vanderbilt University where she studied Political Science, German, and Philosophy. Bridget teaches middle school English Language Arts at St. Mary’s in Mobile, Alabama.
If you were a saint, what would you be patron of?
I would love to one day be the patron saint of moments of joy - God fills my days with so many tiny rays of light, and I would love to be able to pray continuously for spotlights of joy for others!
What guest would you want to come visit your classroom if your school had a career day?
I would love to have my older brother, who is an officer in the US Coast Guard, come visit our class!
Clayton Glasgow
Clayton hails from Spring Lake, Michigan, and then attended Notre Dame for undergrad studying environmental science. Clayton teaches high school science at Cleveland Central Catholic in Cleveland, Ohio.
What guest would you want to come visit your classroom if your school had a career day?
Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant; she is an African American wildlife ecologist who studies large carnivores (most recently, bears) and is the co-host of Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom, which airs on NBC and Peacock. She recently received the Gracie Award for best television host, becoming the first scientist to win the award. I would want my students to learn from her resilience, tenacity, curiosity, and drive to give back to her community by pursuing what she loves.
What song would be the soundtrack to your classroom?
"My Shot" from Hamilton. That's the attitude I want my students and myself to have every day.
Maddie Schlehuber
Maddie was an American Studies major at Notre Dame during her undergraduate. She is originally from Sunfish Lake, Minnesota. In ACE, Maddie teaches middle school social studies at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Brownsville, Texas.
What is your favorite thing to do in Brownsville?
I like to see how many tacos I can eat in one sitting.
If you were a saint, what would you be patron of?
Missing assignments! I know St. Anthony has the market cornered on lost things already, but I would like to think this could be a niche for teachers and students alike.
Marco Orendain
Marco is originally from Prosper, Texas, and attended Saint Louis University where he studied Neuroscience and Theology. Marco teaches high school science in Los Angeles, California, at Verbum Dei Jesuit.
What guest would you want to come visit your classroom if your school had a career day?
Other than Jesus, Forrest Galante! He’s a wildlife conservationist with a wealth of knowledge about all things animals, ecosystems, and more.
What song would be the soundtrack to your classroom?
Água de Beber. Bossa Nova banger! My students love this song and other Bossa Nova songs, highly recommended for the classroom.
Mary Margaret Schroeder
Mary Margaret teaches 5th grade at Most Holy Trinity in Detroit, Michigan. Originally from Summit, New Jersey, she attended Yale University for undergrad where she studied Psychology.
What is your favorite thing to do in Detroit?
My favorite thing to do in Detroit is to enjoy a Saturday morning long run with my community members on Belle Isle, an island with a beautiful park that sits right between Detroit and Canada!
If you were a saint, what would you be the patron of?
Laughter!
Jack Hutter
Jack is originally from Twinsburg, Ohio, and stayed in his home state for undergrad where he went to the University of Dayton and studied elementary education. Jack teaches 4th grade in New York City at St. Charles Borromeo.
What guest would you want to come visit your classroom if your school had a career day?
Two people: Pope Leo XIV and LeBron James
What song would be the soundtrack to your classroom?
I’m Still Standing by Elton John (for obvious reasons!)