ACE program receives award for national service work
By MEG DADAY
News Writer
It is the first day of school for Jim Rigg. His first day as a teacher; his first day at the urban, predominantly African-American, Bishop Byrne High School in Memphis, Tenn.
The Notre Dame alum explains to his senior computer class how to create a folder and then asks them to do it and name it whatever they choose. Walking around, making sure the students followed his instructions, he also reads the names of the folders. When he gets to one, he realizes that, at 22-years old, he has already forgotten how immature 17- and 18-year-olds can be. He barely suppresses a smile when he sees the name: pisscorn.
Incidents similar to this one happen nearly every day to each of the more than 150 students who are part of the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) program.
"There are so many funny things that happen," said Rigg. "They surprise me with how much they know and how much they don't know."
This year, Notre Dame received an award from the Corporation for National Service for the ACE program.
Senior Associate Director Al Stashis said, "The award is not for anything specific, but recognizes our cumulative success. It is quite an honor to be recognized in the presence of so many other great universities."
Receiving an award is not the only proof of the program's success. Notre Dame is helping set up similar programs at other universities around the country, so that they can serve parochial schools in their states.
Programs at the University of Portland, Dayton University and Seton Hall have already been established and programs at Loyola-Marymont and the Christian Brothers in Memphis are being set up.
"We talk about what our program does and its mission and focus. We share with these schools the lessons we've learned," said Stashis. "We provide them with funding to help feed their effort and advise them on how their program is developing."
Stashis believes that students are drawn to the program because they are interested in service and especially service through teaching. He also said many try teaching to see if it is their life's vocation. Seventy-five to 80 percent of ACE's applicants are from Notre Dame and Saint Mary's.
The program accepts graduates from all fields of study.
Rigg said that although he knew he wanted to teach during his sophomore year of college, he was drawn to ACE because "I like the service aspect of ACE. They really take pains in putting you in schools that need you."
Although it was a shock for Rigg to come to a small, predominantly black high school after having attended a large, suburban, mostly white high school and Notre Dame, he "has not regretted it once."
In addition to the culture shock, being a teacher is a lot of work.
Rigg leaves the house where he lives with five other ACE teachers at 6 a.m. and does not return until 7 or 8 p.m. He teaches five different classes every day which means he must write five separate lesson plans. He is also directing the school's spring musical, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."
"I have a friend who started ACE the year before me who told me, `Jim, if you do this you'll work hard, learn a lot and it'll be the most incredible experience of your life. Just don't expect to have a social life.' And it's all true," said Rigg.
Rigg also pointed out that new graduates almost always have to work long hours at their jobs. "I pity them because they complain that they aren't getting anything out of their work. I'm not doing it for the money because I don't get paid much, but I do it because everyday I teach I learn something or hear something funny or get something out of it and I don't think too many people can say that."
ACE was founded in 1994 by Father Timothy Scully and Sean McGraw. According to Stashis the mission of ACE is "to provide enthusiastic, talented college graduates to serve as teachers in Catholic schools."
When the program began, it served four dioceses and 40 students participated. Currently there are more than 150 students teaching in 13 states.
To begin an undertaking such as ACE, a great deal of initial monetary support is needed.
ACE was one of 11 national demonstration programs the Corporation for National Service helped fund. National Service was created in 1993 as a result of former President Bill Clinton's 1992 campaign promise to design a program that combines service and education.
All News Stories for Friday, January 26, 2001
