What makes a thriving Catholic School? Discover the inspiring journey of building St. John Paul II Academy, as Archbishop J. Michael Miller and host, Troy Van Vliet discuss the vision, challenges, and triumphs. From shaping values and faith to fostering servant leaders, this episode highlights the transformative power of Catholic education and its …

A funny thing happened on the way to creating this podcast with Fr. Bob… When we first went to record this episode, he was vice president and associate provost for interdisciplinary initiatives. In that role, he oversaw the Institute for Educational Initiatives, among other wonderful institutes and centers on campus. Then, in December 2023, the Uni…

As we wait in joyful hope, it’s time for our year-end gift to you, highlighting a few memorable moments from this year’s Think. Pair. Share. conversations, as we talked all things modern education with some of the best minds—and hearts—in the field. Thank you to our listeners, the team at the Institute for Educational Initiatives and the Alliance f…

From following in Rev. Edward Sorin, C.S.C.’s clarinet playing footsteps, to leading others in the mission to educate by embracing one’s belovedness and radiating it out to a world in need Taylor Kelly, an associate director of the Institute for Educational Initiatives at the University of Notre Dame, discusses her role walking alongside others as …

From Fr. Ted Hesburgh hand-in-hand with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to providing radical accompaniment, opportunity, and formation to students, in order to help enable their fullest flourishing Alec Torigian, national coordinator for ACE’s Pursuing Achievement Through Higher Education initiative, discusses his role walking with middle to high school…

From the Grotto and St. Bernadette to Breen-Phillips Hall and Coach Leahy, envisioning a future for Catholic schools that fully integrates faith formation with the disciplines, increases academic rigor, and deepens clinical partnerships for the betterment of all students Dr. Kati Macaluso, the academic director for ACE Teaching Fellows, discusses h…

From seminary life in Old College and full house Masses at Keough Hall, to leading team prayer in the storied locker room of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish Fr. Nate Wills, CSC, director of the Alliance for Catholic Education’s Blended Learning Initiatives and faculty in the Mary Ann Remick Leadership Program, discusses his vocation within a vocation…

Our year-end compilation of a few fun and memorable moments from this year’s conversations, as we talked all things modern education with some of the best minds—and hearts—in the field. Thank you to our listeners, the team at the Institute for Educational Initiatives and the Alliance for Catholic Education, and of course to our guests: Fr. Lou DelF…

From Thanksgiving family traditions like tropical turkey, secret stuffing, and pleasant pumpkin rolls, to becoming agents of change by building empathy and designing pathways through STEM and engineering to make the world better Dr. Gina Svarovsky, founding faculty director of the Center for Broader Impacts and associate professor in Notre Dame’s C…

From jack-o-lantern tales and top-o-the-chart treats, to the authentic power of truth and healing in the Indigenous experience Will Newkirk, Director of the American Indian Catholic Schools Network, discusses standing together as co-conspirators of hope—at the intersection of Indigenous culture and Catholic identity—looking to the future by witness…

From coffee ice cream and hoagies, submarines, or po’boys, to how designing instruction that optimizes motivation over memorization in the classroom also optimizes learning. Dr. Andrea Christensen, Director of Education, Schooling and Society, shares why teaching her students is the privilege of her life and how we all have a role to play in affect…

From banter, bits, and doing it all for the music and the fans, to the animating power of STEM education as a force for good in the world Dr. Matt Kloser, founding director of the Center for STEM Education, shares how “The Story of Science” is an unfinished narrative we can all help write, as well as, S’more Than Coffee playing tennis with John McE…

From summertime foods, frisbees, and exploring Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood, to the transformational power of finding the “secret sauce” at St. Procopius and all Catholic schools Kate Schuenke-Lucien, the Director for Haiti in the Global Center for the Development of the Whole Child, shares how the universality of loss connects us and how being a …

From handmade Father’s Day gifts and the origin stories of “Cup of Joe” and FJ’s cookies, to the fine art of welcoming people on the journey and building community for all Fr. Joe Carey, CSC, the chaplain for the Alliance for Catholic Education, discusses being called to love everyone he meets and serve others in the imitation of Jesus; listening, …

From graduation trivia and Roberto Clemente, Jerome Bettis and all things Pittsburgh athletics, to leading the revitalization of Catholic schools Dr. John Staud, the executive director of the Alliance for Catholic Education program discusses choosing hope and the example of Christ and the body of Catholic Social Teaching as the radical animating pr…

From Easter traditions and proper chocolate-bunny-eating etiquette to embracing and empowering the transformative power of the Latino community within Catholic schools Dr. Katy Lichon, Director of Catholic School Advantage and the English as a New Language Program, discusses the domestic Church and how the legacy of Catholic education can inform ou…

From St. Patrick and his feast day to five-day cricket extravaganzas and adopting a human-centered approach to research application in the lived experience of children and teachers Nikhit D’Sa, Assistant Professor and Senior Associate Director for Research at the Global Center for the Development of the Whole Child discusses social emotional learni…

From The Shamrock to The Dome, traveling a providential path to understanding how children learn and what role education plays in the development of a just society Nicole McNeil, professor of psychology and Director of the Education, Schooling, and Society program considers the science behind children’s cognitive development and the duality of the …

From Philly soft pretzels and New Year’s celebrations to the essential role of lay people as “Agents of Spirituality” in our Church. Fr. Lou DelFra, CSC, faculty member and Director of Pastoral Life for the Alliance for Catholic Education, reflects on ACE as a movement of the Holy Spirit and its culture of discernment, as well as middle schoolers a…

A year-end compilation of just a few of the fun and memorable moments from our inaugural year of conversations. Thank you to our listeners, the team at the Institute for Education Initiatives and the Alliance for Catholic Education, and of course to our guests: John Schoenig, Chrissy Trinter, Ernest Morrell, Neil Boothby, Maria McKenna, Kevin Baxte…

From reflections on being the Notre Dame leprechaun to inspiring lifelong, engaged readers. Dr. Michael Macaluso, faculty member of the Alliance for Catholic Education and fellow of the Institute for Educational Initiatives, explores the implications literacy has on how we understand and therefore interact in the world, the origins of the new Alexa…

Listen to Dr. Anna Haskins talk about her current research process when it comes to working with working with parents and school personnel when it comes to the long-reaching consequences of parental incarceration on children.

From apple picking and pumpkin patches to community building and examining the economics of education in pursuit of better outcomes for disadvantaged children and families. Dr. Chloe Gibbs, Director of Notre Dame's Program for Interdisciplinary Educational Research (ND PIER) and Assistant Professor of Economics, discusses the importance of rigorous…

From stamp collecting and favorite numbers to examining how the education system, the family, and the criminal justice system connect and interact—both preserving and mitigating social inequality. Dr. Anna Haskins, Associate Professor in Sociology and the Center for Research on Educational Opportunity (CREO) considers the role of schooling in socie…

Listen to Dr. Luis Fraga talk about his experience of testifying before the House Judiciary Committee (with his son!) about the United States' history of voting rights suppression and voter disenfranchisement as a way of providing context for the current legislation being considered to transform the Voting Rights Act.…

Listen to Dr. Luis Fraga explain the Latino Studies Scholars Program, where this year 10 Notre Dame students who have shown leadership in working on behalf of Latino communities will receive $25,000 merit-based scholarships. Learn more at https://latinostudies.nd.edu/undergraduate/latino-studies-scholars-program.…

Listen to Dr. Luis Fraga discuss how Notre Dame's Institute for Educational Initiatives is an ideal place for him to pursue his scholarly goals, particularly his work in Catholic schools. Learn more at iei.nd.edu.

From illuminating the artistic side of a political scientist to two-way immersion and empowering and serving communities of understanding and tolerance Dr. Luis Fraga, Director of the Institute for Latino Studies at the University of Notre Dame, reflects on the transformative nature of Catholic education and the potential lasting legacy of building…

Listen to Dr. Mark Berends discuss his research findings when working with the Indiana Choice Scholarship Program.

Listen to Dr. Mark Berends discuss the Center for Research on Educational Opportunity (CREO) within Notre Dame's Institute for Educational Initiatives and how CREO strives to be a space that fosters diversity, equity, and inclusion. Learn more at iei.nd.edu/creo.

Listen to Dr. Mark Berends explain more about the Fellows within Notre Dame's Institute for Educational Initiatives and how he sees them as bridge builders who will further the Institute's educational research and advance its programs. Learn more at iei.nd.edu.

Listen to Dr. Mark Berends discuss Notre Dame's Program for Interdisciplinary Educational Research (ND PIER), the program within the Institute for Educational Initiatives that trains doctoral students in research design, implementation, analysis, and inference. Learn more at iei.nd.edu/pier.

From imagining running the Olympic 1500m to galvanizing the hearts and minds of those who believe in the power of education. Dr. Mark Berends, Director of the Institute for Educational Initiatives at Notre Dame, talks about looking forward while reflecting on the incredible dedication and spirit of hope that strengthens and sustains the mission to …

From daring to compete as a race car driver to discovering how the transactional nature through which children’s interactions with their family, community, and culture can shape the course of their development. Kristin Valentino, Director of the William J. Shaw Center for Children and Families and a Professor of Psychology at Notre Dame, discusses …

From contemplating a guitar duet with Bruce Springsteen to leading the charge for thriving Catholic schools across the United States. Kevin Baxter, Director of the Mary Ann Remick Leadership program at Notre Dame, shares some thoughts about the intangible aspects that make Catholic schools so special, leadership as vision, strategy and tactics, as …

From the origins of Sesame Street and Photovoice, to the pedagogy of vulnerability, to equity, inclusion, and diversity as foundations of education Maria McKenna, Associate Professor of the Practice in the Department of Africana Studies and the Education, Schooling, & Society program at Notre Dame discusses youth empowerment, equity, inclusion, and…

We began the journey of Grace Period on Noah’s ark, weathering the first global pandemic and the destructive waters of the Great Flood. We continued the journey on the waters of Galilee, where our travels were beset by sudden squalls that threatened to swamp our boat. And last week, Holy Week, we walked the great storm of Jesus’ Way of the Cross. T…

From dreaming of mastering Creole overnight to learning through doing and creating sustainable pathways out of adversity for children and youth. Neil Boothby, Director of the Global Center for the Development of the Whole Child at Notre Dame and an internationally recognized expert and advocate for children in adversity around the world explores in…

This week on Grace Period, Fr. Lou invites us to walk during this Holy Week with Jesus through the great storm of His life. Though Christ’s Way of the Cross is utterly singular in human experience, He also teaches us that His journey is one we must all make, each in our own way. And Jesus invites us to make it – like Him, as a journey of self-sacri…

This week on Grace Period, Fr. Lou focuses on how we can persevere with hope when it seems like Christ is absent during our time of need. We look to the Gospel of Mark, when a furious squall threatens to sink the disciples' boat as Jesus sleeps. Was Christ powerless against the squall? Did he not care? Jesus was showing them (and us) what it's like…

This week on Grace Period, Fr. Lou continues with the story of the disciples in the storm and focuses on Saint Peter as an example for all of us amidst the storms of this school year. While ever so flawed, Peter knows there is one in the storm who is greater than the storm, and sends himself out onto the waves toward Christ. This week, our prayer i…

This week on Grace Period, Fr. Lou exchanges Noah's ark for a fishing boat and the New Testament story of Jesus and the disciples in the storm. Just as the disciples were overcome with fear in the middle of the storm, we too have shouldered fear and uncertainty this school year. This week, take some time to reflect on the role that fear has played …

This week on Grace Period, Fr. Lou DelFra, CSC, focuses on the stirring in Noah's heart that gets him out of bed and calls him to action—even when that action seems a bit absurd given the circumstances. That stirring is hope. Hope is a gift, a divine gift offered by God right into our hearts that then seeps from our hearts into our limbs. Our praye…

From Beowulf and hip-hop to the power of literacy transforming lives and changing the world Ernest Morrell, Director of the Center for Literacy Education, Coyle Professor of Literacy Education, and faculty member in the English, and Africana Studies Departments at Notre Dame, discusses the power of literacy, the limitless potential of children, and…

Welcome to Grace Period, a weekly series of audio reflections with Fr. Lou DelFra, CSC, designed for you…to help you pause, listen for God’s voice in your lives, and begin anew. As we move through these final months of the pandemic, Fr. Lou looks at another global crisis, a Biblical one, perhaps the global crisis ever recorded, and the spiritual gi…

From the delicacy of ice cream to the intersection of mathematics and Catholic Social Teaching Chrissy Trinter, Associate Professor of Mathematics Education of the ACE Teaching Fellows and in the Notre Dame Center for STEM Education, shares some thoughts on mathematics and Catholic Social Teaching, her passion for students’ human flourishing, Star …

From handy super powers to the origins of school choice in America John Schoenig, ACE’s senior director of teacher formation and education policy, shares some thoughts on why school choice matters, Catholic education in light of the pandemic, and how Jack Nicholson and Prince left a stamp on his childhood.…

Think. Pair. Share. brings you stories about education and the people who make it happen. We start with the premise that information is being shared all around us in big and small ways, often at the same time. A conversation can teach you how to split an atom even as you learn the favorite color of the person sitting opposite you. Education is not …

Welcome to spACEs: An ACE Podcast Adventure! Our episodes feature stories about the unexpected things that happen to you and around—shared through a Catholic lens.Episode one takes us to St. Edward Catholic School in Chillicothe, Illinois, on a Wednesday afternoon last fall—a day that ACE 24's Luke Heineman and his principal, Mr. Mike Domico, will …

This month, the ENL team discusses the summer slide, the impact it can have on ELLs, and strategies teachers can implement to prevent this loss of learning and language over the summer months. The conversation is anchored around the Chalkbeat article by Susan Gonzalez entitled "The not-so-secret ELL summer slide problem that no one has quantified".…