Alliance for Catholic Education
Wendy Kopp and Richard Barth were presented with the 2016 Notre Dame Award for Outstanding Contributions to Catholic Education by Fr. Tim Scully, C.S.C., the Hackett Family Director of the Institute for Educational Initiatives and co-founder of the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE), at a dinner tonight on the campus of the University of Notre Dame.
Wendy KoppKopp is the chief executive officer and co-founder of Teach For All and the founder of Teach For America. Barth has served since 2005 as the chief executive officer of KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program), a non-profit network of college-preparatory, public charter schools serving elementary, middle, and high school students.
"Wendy and Richard share our belief that every child deserves an excellent teacher," Fr. Scully said. "The need has never been greater for passionate leaders who are prepared to serve children, particularly those who live on the margins."
Earlier in the day, Kopp participated in a discussion with Fr. Scully entitled, "What We Have Loved: A Conversation on Transformational Teaching," that was moderated by ACE co-founder Fr. Sean McGraw, C.S.C. ACE graduate Paty Salazar Harty and Teach For America graduate Darin Lim Yankowitz also took part in the discussion.
"If we are to change education, we must bring the brightest minds into today's schools and classrooms. Wendy and Richard have shown their ability to empower underserved neighborhoods, communities, and children, through their transformative work with Teach For All, Teach For America, and KIPP Charter Schools," Fr. Scully said.
Kopp is CEO and Co-founder of Teach For All, a global network of independent organizations that are cultivating their nations' promising future leaders to ensure their most marginalized children have the chance to fulfill their true potential. Wendy founded Teach For America in 1989 to marshal the energy of her generation against educational inequity in the United States. After leading Teach For America's growth and development for 24 years, Wendy transitioned out of the role of CEO in 2013 and today remains an active member of Teach For America's board. Wendy led the development of Teach For All to be responsive to the initiative of inspiring social entrepreneurs around the world who were determined to adapt this approach in their own countries. Now in its eighth year, the Teach For All network is comprised of partner organizations in 40 countries on six continents.
Richard BarthBarth became CEO of the KIPP Foundation in December of 2005. Over the past ten years, he has overseen the significant growth of the network from 45 to 200 schools, dramatically expanded KIPP's leadership development programs, advocated for high performing charter schools on Capitol Hill, and secured more than $260 million in new, long-term philanthropic commitments, including more than $100 million from the federal government. Barth came to KIPP from Edison Schools, where he served as President of District Partnerships and managed school partnerships serving more than 40,000 students. Prior to joining Edison, Barth was one of the founding staff members of Teach For America.
Fr. Scully, C.S.C. and Fr. McGraw, C.S.C. founded ACE in 1993 to respond to the growing need for high quality education options for poor, at-risk children in urban areas by improving the quality and accessibility of Catholic schools in communities across the country. Since that time ACE has become the nation's leading, fully-integrated catalyst for the renewal and transformation of Catholic Schools, serving hundreds of under-resourced communities both in the United States and beyond. It has succeeded in attracting and forming over 2,000 outstanding teachers and leaders for Catholic schools in over 116 (arch)dioceses with over 70 percent of them still serving in schools and classrooms after 23 years. ACE's variety of programs and initiatives have touched 1 in 4 Catholic schools across the country.