Alliance for Catholic Education
Cleveland
Life in the City
Our Cleveland community is vibrant and full of life, nestled along the southern shore of Lake Erie. Living by the lake gives us the chance to enjoy beautiful waterfront views and peaceful moments by the water. We love exploring the city’s natural beauty through its many metroparks, trails, and green spaces that wind through forests, rivers, and even urban neighborhoods. Cleveland is also rich in culture and history, and we enjoy spending time downtown visiting places like Little Italy, with its authentic food and local art, as well as museums, sports events, and other unique attractions. Whether we’re hiking, biking, enjoying the arts, or grabbing a bite to eat, Cleveland offers something special for everyone in our community.
ACE Cleveland
Spencer Cole
Cleveland Central
HS Science
Catherine Darcy
St. Benedict
MS Social Studies
Sam Mikitka
St. Thomas Aquinas
4th Grade
John Ruff
St. Benedict
4th Grade
Grace Shean
Archbishop Lyke
3rd Grade
Hometown
Modesto, CA
Undergraduate Institution
University of Notre Dame
Undergraduate Studies
Major: Science-Business
Minor: History
How do you hope to grow in your experience as an ACE Teacher?
I hope to be able to grow in community and spiritually while I am in ACE. It is a unique opportunity to be placed somewhere in the US and build a community with other teachers who are committed to the same mission as you. I've also been growing in my own faith, and to be able to grow in that with my students will be exciting.
Hometown
Saratoga Spring, NY
Undergraduate Institution
Catholic University of America
Undergraduate Studies
Majors: History & Politics
Concentration: World Politics
Honors Track: Philosophy
If you had to pick one word to describe your ACE experience thus far, what would it be? Why?
Transformative. This year has fundamentally changed my perspective on my own potential and what I can achieve. Through the challenges and responsibilities of supporting my students, I have discovered a strength and resilience in myself that I had not fully recognized before, and I have worked harder than ever to meet their needs and help them succeed.
Hometown
Naperville, IL
Undergraduate Institution
Saint Mary's College
Undergraduate Studies
Major: Elementary Education
Minor: Mathematics
How do you hope to grow in your experience as an ACE Teacher?
I hope to grow as an ACE Teacher by keeping God at the center of all I do and reminding my students of God’s everlasting love he has for them in their lives. I hope to draw wisdom from my ACE 33 peers and find the joy in each and every day as a gift from God to learn how to spread his good news to others.
Hometown
Rochester, MN
Undergraduate Institution
St. John's University (MN)
Undergraduate Studies
Major: Psychology
What are you most looking forward to most as an ACE teacher this year?
I most look forward to building relationships with my fourth graders, and making them feel known and excited to learn. I am also excited to grow through our ACE community, there is no doubt we will all lean on and support one another through each step of this journey.
Hometown
Wilmette, IL
Undergraduate Institution
Providence College
Undergraduate Studies
Majors: Elementary Education & Special Education
Minor: Spanish
If you had to pick one word to describe your ACE experience thus far, what would it be? Why?
If I had to choose one word to describe my ACE experience thus far, it would be enlightening. You truly don’t know what you don’t know until you are immersed in a new environment. Moving to a new city and school has expanded my perspective in countless ways. At the same time, ACE has taught me that learning is not just about gaining light—it is also about sharing it. As educators, we are called to shine our own light while helping our students discover and shine theirs.