Alliance For Catholic Education

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, relevant and impactful policy research as the critical foundation in deciding which interventions and social programs are worth the investment to her thoughts on superstitions, bobbing for apples, and Halloween candy outliers.

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 society, the long-reaching consequences of parental incarceration on children, and the eternal debate between talking and texting and peeps versus circus peanuts.

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 diverse communities of understanding and tolerance, as well as the adventures of family road trips and being a grandfather again.

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 positively affect children in Catholic schools, as well as his thoughts on Etch-a-Sketch and what it means to be a tailender.

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 the integration of biological, psychological and environmental factors that impact parent-child relationships in overcoming adversity and achieving overall well-being, as well as her days in the ROTC and why her favorite of the Seven Dwarfs will surprise you.

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 well as his reflections on silly fears and big family moves.

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 diversity as foundations of education, as well as her stand on cereal as soup and why she doesn’t really want to live forever.

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. These waters, which disrupted our lives and were the cause of so much fear – Christ has walked over them, and stands firmly now on the shore. How? The Gospel’s ultimate answer is so simple, yet it is our greatest discovery: Christ is risen, alleluia! Christ is truly risen, alleluia! Thank you for walking this journey of grace with us over these past weeks. May our Risen Lord who has conquered the storm fill us with hope as we guide our boats to shore. Learn more at ace.nd.edu/grace-period.

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 inward vulnerability and outward resilience, the “conspiracy of goodness”, his weakness for Lay’s potato chips, and the perks of having a time capsule. Learn more at iei.nd.edu/media

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-sacrifice – but also as a journey of hope. Learn more at ace.nd.edu/grace-period.

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 to trust, even in a storm, that we have a God who has our lives—and all that happens within them—securely in hand. The more we can allow this bedrock spiritual reality to settle into our souls, the more calm and hopeful we can be in the midst of life's storms. Learn more at ace.nd.edu/grace-period. 

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 is that we might always keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and recommit to the practices—the Eucharist, Scripture, and daily prayer—that keep us centered on Him. Learn more at ace.nd.edu/grace-period.