Meet the New Blog Team!

To help you get to know this year’s ACE Teaching Fellows blog team, we asked them to complete a brief Q&A to introduce themselves. Throughout the school year, you’ll get to see and hear more about their classrooms, homes, and communities. For now, get to know each team member below!

 

Emma Bradley (ACE 29, San Jose - HS Social Studies)

Emma is from Bow, NH. She attended Georgetown University, where she studied political science.

Question 1: What is the most unique experience you had in the classroom this past year?

Emma: On a random October Tuesday during my 4th block 9th grade global studies class in San Jose California this past year, we experienced a small but definitely *felt* earthquake! A student returned from the bathroom  looking shook, but all right, exclaiming "Ms. Bradley the toilet started shaking!!" Thankfully everyone was okay but that was definitely a moment of classroom bonding - especially when the majority of my students, who are used to living through mild Northern California earthquakes, reassured me that "that one was nothing, Ms. Bradley - it just felt like a little massage chair."

Question 2: What is your favorite thing to do with your ACE community?

Emma: There is a famous spot called "Rocko's" right near Santa Clara University less than 10 minutes from our house with the most amazing award-winning ICE CREAM TACOS -- this was definitely a SanJosACE favorite post-community dinner dessert destination.

 

Camila León (ACE 29, Tulsa - 5th grade)

Camila is from Elkhart, IN. She attended the University of Notre Dame for her undergrad, where she studied psychology.

Question 1: What is your favorite thing to do with your ACE community?

Camila: Recently - learning and playing basketball with them :) Last year - game nights!

Question 2: What is the most unique experience you had in the classroom this past year?

Camila: Getting to authentically share and connect my culture in a classroom for the first time in my life.

 

Colin Donovan (ACE 29, New Orleans - HS Science)

Colin is from St. Charles, MO. He attended Benedictine College for his undergrad, where he studied chemistry.

Question 1: What is the most unique experience you had in the classroom this past year?

Colin: Stealthily, my students piled an assortment of items they had smuggled in on the last day onto my desk, including but not limited to baseball cards, hot wheels cars, and an entire Xbox setup.

Question 2: If you could teach a subject that isn't traditionally taught, what would you teach and why?

Colin: Quantum mechanics because it’s wacky science, and who doesn’t love wacky science?

 

Michael Averill (ACE 29, Brownsville - MS Social Studies)

Michael is from Saugerties, NY. He attended Siena College for his undergrad, where he studied political science.

Question 1: What is the most unique experience you had in the classroom this past year?

Michael: Bringing four 8th graders to Catholic Advocacy Day in Austin, Texas where we got to meet our state representative and hear the Bishop of the Diocese of Brownsville address thousands of Catholics.

Question 2: If you could teach a subject that isn't traditionally taught, what would you teach and why?

Michael: Camping because I love experiencing the outdoors in the company of others.

Question 3: What is your favorite place on Notre Dame's campus?

Michael: The outdoor Stations of the Cross between the lakes.

 

Uyen Le (ACE 29, Jacksonville - 5th grade)

Uyen is from Carrollton, TX. She attended the University of Notre Dame, where she studied English.

Question 1: What is the most unique experience you had in the classroom this past year?

Uyen: My students wrote and performed their own myths!

Question 2: If you could teach a subject that isn't traditionally taught, what would you teach and why?

Uyen: I would teach the history of fashion - How fashion has evolved over time, and how fashion has been used to express individualism or the ideas of a generation/society/demographic.

 

Luke Sisung (ACE 29, Fort Worth - HS ELA)

Luke is from Roxie, MS. He attended the University of Notre Dame, where he studied English.

Question 1: What is your favorite thing to do with your ACE community?

Luke: Backyard Bonfires and Pool Hall Outings

Question 2: If you could teach a subject that isn't traditionally taught, what would you teach and why?

Luke: I would love to teach a poetry course that specifically analyzes popular song lyrics from various bands and artists of different eras.