ACE Teaching Fellows Blog

ACE Chicago Community left to right: Alex Alatriste, Uku Urb, Mary Rozembajgier, and Mike Hanisch

Troll Bogeys

In the chapter titled, “Halloween,” in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, the three characters known by fans around the world now as “The Golden Trio” were not yet friends...

ACE Teachers before ACE Marathon in Atlanta

One Step at a Time

What do distance running, teaching, and discipleship have in common? Hills. Lots of hills. Energy was high going into ACE race weekend—an opportunity to race and see some of the...

ACE Interns Maria Vaquero (Left) and Jackie Perez (Right) on the ND Football field in recognition for Extra Yard for Teachers

The Holy Spirit Has My Back

There were many things I didn’t know about Notre Dame before applying. Like how South is objectively the better of the two dining halls, or how the squirrels here only...

Students outside during recess for Catholic Schools Week

In Defense of “Organized Chaos": A Teacher’s Celebration of Catholic Schools Week

To much of the world, the last week of January is just that—the end of the first, long month of the new year. For Catholic school communities, however, it’s a...

I'm Going to Miss This

All teachers know the magic of returning from winter break. For ONCE, you feel rested and motivated for the new semester ahead. Sure, there is always a bit of exhaustion...

The Waiting Period

You’re sitting at an airport gate, surrounded by harried and weary travelers, and you hear over the intercom that your plane is delayed. Sighing, you settle into the hard-backed seat...

Mike Hanisch (Right) holding a section soccer trophy with his three students to his left

Thanksgiving: For the Time as a Teacher to (Finally) Rest and for Time Well Spent

When I chose to accept my place as an ACE Teaching Fellow, I was a 22-year-old liberal arts major who had really no idea what he wanted to do with...

Tyler Johnson presenting in ACE Summer class

Teaching Confidential: Adventures in the Pedagogical Underbelly

In 2000, chef and television star Anthony Bourdain’s first book, Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly, was published and beloved by many, topping the New York Times’ nonfiction bestseller...

Happy Worship Wednesday!

“Happy Worship Wednesday!” the words I begin MOST Wednesdays with (barring any technical difficulties) before I play a few minutes of Gospel or worship music. As the song starts, my...

Joseph Baah smiling to someone off camera while presenting at Early Commit Institute

Brick by Brick: The Path Forward

Picture this: your best friend’s mother gets you a summer job at an enrichment program. You’re 17 years old, with no prior work or teaching experience. Growing up you’ve never...