Alliance for Catholic Education
Austin
Life in the City
Over in Austin, you can find ACE teachers hanging out at the Central Library, thrifting on Guadalupe Street, eating breakfast tacos at Veracruz, sipping coffee from Desnudo, walking along Lady Bird Lake, or singing along to the many live music shows! We love watching the bats fly out from the South Congress Ave. Bridge, going to UT games, and two-stepping at The White Horse. Y’all are welcome anytime!
ACE Austin
Anastasia Adams
St. Dominic Savio
HS Language Arts
James Dolan
San Juan Diego
HS Social Studies
Colleen Mackin
St. Ignatius Martyr
MS Language Arts
Colleen Murdock
St. Ignatius Martyr
5th Grade
Shane Stanton
Holy Family
MS Language Arts
Hometown
Lander, WY
Undergraduate Institution
Benedictine College
Undergraduate Studies
Majors: Secondary Education & English
Minor: Psychology
If you had to pick one word to describe your ACE experience thus far, what would it be? Why?
Transformative. I have never experienced such a period of growth and change than I did during this first year of teaching. It was beautiful and difficult. It is the most authentic experience of transformation that I have gone through. I didn't realize how much changed until I looked back, at the beginning of our ACE summer, and noticed the gifts and blessings that my year had been flooded with. While the experience was occurring, all I could think of was the struggle and hardship. When I looked up, however, I noticed how much had changed. All in all, the experience has been transformative.
Hometown
Mohegan Lake, NY
Undergraduate Institution
Georgetown University
Undergraduate Studies
Major: History
Minors: Government & Music
Why did you say "yes" to serving as a Catholic school educator through ACE Teaching Fellows?
My mom was Peace Corps Nepal and my Dad sailed around the world with the Merchant Marines. Their experiences serving others far from home changed both of them for the better. I chose ACE because I wanted a similar experience, and teaching history in a Catholic high school was the most meaningful experience I could imagine getting my hands on.
Hometown
Jacksonville, FL
Undergraduate Institution
University of Notre Dame
Undergraduate Studies
Major: English
Minors: Irish Studies, Sport, Media, and Culture (SMAC), & Glynn Family Honors Program
What is one of your favorite memories from your first year in ACE Teaching Fellows?
My favorite memory from my first year of teaching was watching how my 7th graders connected with and loved S.E. Hinton’s “The Outsiders”! It was such a rewarding experience to see my students derive so much joy from such a powerful book.
Hometown
Wilmette, IL
Undergraduate Institution
University of Notre Dame
Undergraduate Studies
Major: Global Affairs
Minor: Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation
How do you hope to grow in your experience as an ACE teacher?
I hope to grow closer to my faith and better understand God’s vision for me in calling me to serve as a Catholic school teacher. I would like to grow to become more like “Christ the Teacher” and learn how I can share God's love more fully through teaching.
Hometown
Morristown, NJ
Undergraduate Institution
University of Notre Dame
Undergraduate Studies
Majors: English & Economics
Minor: French and Francophone Studies
If you had to pick one word to describe your ACE experience thus far, what would it be? Why?
Disorienting (in a good way). ACE has really pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me grow in so many ways.