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Where We Serve: Mission

Quick Facts

Life in the City

The Valley is a amazing blend of American, Mexican, and Texan culture that you can find nowhere else in the country. We enjoy Friday night football games, free movies in a local theater, and local taquerias. It is also a great place to live if you love the sunshine.

For more information about ACE, including how to apply, click HERE.

Mission
Mission is the grapefruit capital of the U.S. located in the Texas-Mexico border area known as “the Valley.” Named for La Lomita Mission which was built right on the Rio Grande River, Mission is a city of approximately 45,000, but it is only 15 minutes from McAllen, a larger city with plenty of restaurants, shopping, and nightlife. It is also only about an hour from South Padre Island and Brownsville ACE community.

Teachers Serving This Community

  • Jeffrey Bowlby

    Jeffrey Bowlby | ACE 19

    Teaches Middle School Science at Our Lady of Sorrows

    What's been the best moment of your ACE experience so far?

    Meeting each member of my community and getting to know them as individuals; we are all very different in general, but our core values are very similar. It's been great to get to know them and get closer to them.

    Background

    B.S. Biological Sciences and Enviornmental Sciences, Kings College
    Originally from Mt. Holly, NJ
  • Tess Plummer

    Tess Plummer | ACE 18

    Teaches Middle School Language Arts at Our Lady of Sorrows School

    What is your favorite teaching moment?

    My eighth grade students and I really got into Romeo and Juliet at the end of the year. I gave them the task of modernizing a scene from the play and performing it, but I had no idea how creative and hilarious they would be. One group made a Hunger Games version, and one group turned the scene where Juliet takes the sleeping potion into a bachelorette party. Another group even made a musical where they incorporated pop music into the script, so when Juliet faked her death Lady Capulet and the others yelled "Somebody call 911! Shorty fire burnin' on the dance floor!" It was phenomenal.

    Background

    B.A. English with minors in Political Science and Faith-Justice, St. Joseph's University
    Originally from Dublin, PA
  • Sam Wernick

    Sam Wernick | ACE 19

    Teaches 5th Grade at Immaculate Conception

    What's been the best moment of your ACE experience so far?

    I really enjoyed the opening retreat. It was great to get to know so many amazing people that I have the privelege of spending the next two years with.

    Background

    B.S. Political Science, Johns Hopkins University
    Originally from Dallas, TX
  • Ann Marie Ferry

    Ann Marie Ferry | ACE 18

    Teaches Middle School Social Studies and Religion at St. Joseph

    How has ACE shaped your spiritual life?

    Teaching religion has shaped my spiritual life in ACE. My students have challenged and inspired me to live out my faith on a daily basis.

    Background

    B.A. Political Science with a minor in Catholic Social Tradition, University of Notre Dame
    Originally from Westlake, OH
  • Katie Dufner

    Katie Dufner | ACE 18

    Teaches Middle School Language Arts at Immaculate Conception

    What is your favorite ACE tradition, and why?

    My favorite ACE tradition is the celebration during Graduation Weekend because it is one of the few times that 3 consecutive classes of ACE teachers come together. It is a wonderful community building event because first year teachers are able to meet the graduating teachers they will be replacing and everyone is able to spend time with their new community members.

    Background

    B.A. Program of Liberal Studies and Spanish, University of Notre Dame
    Originally from Short Hills, NJ
  • Megan Whyte

    Megan Whyte | ACE 19

    Teaches 5th Grade at Our Lady of Guadalupe

    Why did you say 'yes' to serving with ACE?

    I said yes to ACE for a number of reasons. Being from Ireland, I thought that the program would provide me with a chance to live and serve in a completely different part of the world. I was also intrigued by the community aspect of ACE. I have never lived away from home before and knew that living with a new group of people would open up a wide variety of opportunities for me. Overall, however, I said yes to ACE because it allows me to teach and subsequently learn with and from the 5th Grade students I will be teaching at Our Lady of Guadeloupe Elementary School in Mission.

    Background

    B.A. Education with a minor in English, St. Patrick's College (DCU)
    Originally from Dublin, Ireland
  • Jeffrey Bowlby
  • Tess Plummer
  • Sam Wernick
  • Ann Marie Ferry
  • Katie Dufner
  • Megan Whyte

Schools We Serve

ACE teachers serve at the following schools: