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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

HometownAnastasia Adams

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.

HometownJames Dolan

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.

HometownColleen Mackin

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.

HometownColleen Murdock

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.

HometownShane Stanton

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.

 

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