Alliance for Catholic Education
Cleveland, Ohio – Three schools in the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland will join the network of Notre Dame ACE Academies this school year, in a continuing partnership between the diocese and the University of Notre Dame’s Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE).
St. Jerome and Our Lady of Angels, located in Cleveland, and Corpus Christi Academy in Lyndhurst, will be part of ACE’s network, which creates thriving and resilient Catholic schools through an emphasis on Catholic school culture, strong teaching and learning, and operational vitality.
Bishop Edward C. Malesic, JCL, joined in the announcement with Dr. Ryan Clark, the director of Notre Dame ACE Academies, and Dr. Frank O’Linn, the superintendent of schools for the diocese.
“Catholic education is one of the largest and most important youth ministries within our diocese,” said Bishop Malesic. “I am very grateful for the collaborative work between Dr. O’Linn, our education leadership, and the Notre Dame ACE schools to bring this innovative, multifaceted program to three more of our Catholic schools, ensuring their academic excellence, accessibility, and sustainability for years to come. The partnership of these schools will make them places where our children encounter the love and teaching of Jesus, giving them the best environment in which to flourish in their studies and personal formation.”
The mission of the Notre Dame ACE Academies is to provide a Catholic education of the highest quality to as many children as possible by mobilizing the resources of the University, (arch)dioceses, statewide parental choice programs, and local communities. ACE faculty and staff will work closely with local leadership of Notre Dame ACE Academies in Greater Cleveland to increase academic achievement, systematize operations, and strengthen the schools’ Catholic identity by enhancing school leadership, curriculum, instruction, professional development, financial management, and marketing.
Notre Dame ACE Academies were founded in 2010 as a response to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ call for a “new model of sponsorship and collaboration” between Catholic institutions of higher education and parish schools. The network has heeded the call and has experienced both academic and enrollment gains in its schools.
“The Diocese of Cleveland's intentional, innovative approach continues to inspire our work to strengthen and sustain Catholic schools,” said Clark.
“Now entering our sixth year of partnership with St. Anthony of Padua and St. Augustine in Akron and Barberton, we're excited to extend that work to three additional schools in Cleveland. The dedication of the pastors, principals, and teachers to the full human flourishing of the students they serve is a testament to what this partnership can achieve. We look forward to building on this shared foundation together.”
“Our collaboration with Notre Dame ACE Academies has been fruitful for St. Anthony and St. Augustine, and I am excited to see that influence grow,” O’Linn said. “ACE has been our partner in strengthening the schools through improved processes and practices and also investing in people, developing all of us who serve the schools, including our new Diocesan Director for NDAA, McKenna Corrigan, and new Regional Director for NDAA Cleveland, Lisa Oriti.” McKenna Corrigan, Assistant Superintendent who has recently served as interim Regional Director for the two NDAA schools in greater Akron, will now oversee the Diocese of Cleveland’s NDAA initiative in all 5 schools as Diocesan Director for NDAA.
St. Jerome School was built three years after the founding of the parish and opened on September 1, 1922, with 250 pupils. At that time, there were eleven classrooms which could accommodate up to five hundred students. The Ursuline Sisters of Villa Angela were the first staff at St. Jerome, and a convent was built on the school grounds to house them. Additional classrooms were added, and the number of students grew to 650 by the 1940s.
As the number of parishioners began to decline during the passing decades, the number of students began to decline, too; today, more than two hundred students attend St. Jerome’s. In recent years, additions to the classroom facilities included a new library, a computer lab, and a science lab.
During the 100+ years of existence of St. Jerome's School, more than 6,000 students have graduated from the eighth grade, including 20 students who have been ordained to the priesthood, 50 who have become Religious Order Sisters, and three who have become Religious Order Brothers. Through a cooperative partnership with families and the community, St. Jerome School provides a quality education emphasizing faith formation, academic excellence, and service based on Catholic values.
More about Our Lady of Angels School
Our Lady of Angels school opened on September 10, 1923, with an enrollment of 103 students. Over the next 10 years, the enrollment grew to more than 400 students, eventually reaching 1,100 in the 1960s. The Sisters of St. Joseph were in charge of the educational program, and thousands of children received a high-quality education thanks to the selfless efforts of the sisters.
In the decades since then, enrollment has decreased along with the number of parishioners and the local population. Today, with an enrollment of nearly 300 students, the school continues to reflect the parish’s commitment to its youth by providing a high-quality education to its students, both secular and religious, and is proud of its fine reputation in the Greater Cleveland area.
Rooted in Christ and inspired by Mary, Our Lady of Angels School nurtures lifelong learners who grow in academic excellence, service, and the Catholic faith.
More about Corpus Christi Academy
Corpus Christi Academy was formed in August 2016 when pastors and families from two beloved Catholic grade schools joined forces to keep Catholic education alive and thriving in the Lyndhurst/South Euclid area. Saint Clare School in Lyndhurst and Sacred Heart of Jesus Academy (formerly Saint Gregory the Great) in South Euclid officially merged to create the new school. The merger brought together two schools with a combined 160-year legacy — both with excellent reputations for academics, family bonds, community traditions, and a vibrant Catholic identity.
Corpus Christi Academy students have access to excellent resources, including academic and extracurricular programs, such as an art program, more extensive drama and music offerings, more clubs, and a stronger and larger athletic program. With the merger, technology and library resources from both schools were combined, providing greater opportunities to students.
Corpus Christi Academy empowers students and families to take initiative through transformative encounters in mind, body, and spirit and to foster and develop respectful, responsible, and resilient leaders in our world today. Growth is facilitated and realized through curriculum and experiences that balance creativity, effective literacy, and rigor.
About Lisa Oriti, Regional Director, NDAA Cleveland
Lisa Oriti is a dedicated Catholic school leader with more than 20 years of experience in education, including over a decade as Principal of St. Benedict Catholic School in Cleveland. She is recognized for leading school improvement initiatives, coaching and developing educators, strengthening Catholic identity, and using data-driven strategies to improve student achievement. Under her leadership, St. Benedict earned STEM Designation in 2026 through strategic planning, curriculum innovation, and staff development. Lisa is passionate about building collaborative relationships with families, parishes, and communities to create thriving learning environments where students and educators can succeed. “I am excited to join the Notre Dame ACE Academies team as Regional Director in the Diocese of Cleveland,” said Oriti. “Catholic education has been at the heart of my career, and I look forward to working alongside school leaders, teachers, and families to help our Catholic schools continue to grow and thrive.”
About the Alliance for Catholic Education
Part of the Institute for Educational Initiatives at the University of Notre Dame, the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) works to sustain, strengthen, and transform Catholic schools. ACE forms teachers and leaders; develops and disseminates innovative tools and research to integrate academic excellence and spiritual growth; and enhances financial accessibility and operational vitality to ensure that all children – especially those in marginalized communities – have the opportunity to experience the gift of an excellent Catholic education. ACE annually serves more than 300 schools and 250,000 students in over 40 states.
Photo Credit — Adobe Stock
Media Contacts
Nancy Fishburn
Executive Director of Communications
Catholic Diocese of Cleveland
216.696.6525
nfishburn@dioceseofcleveland.org
Daniel Telles
Director of Communications
Institute for Educational Initiatives, University of Notre Dame
574.631.3893
dtelles@nd.edu