Robin Williams is perhaps the most memorable teacher in Hollywood. His "Dead Poet's Society" was the first in a long series of teacher movies that allowed Hollywood to reach out to America and advocate good teaching.

Then there was Michelle Pfeiffer, who taught inner-city kids the value of the English language in "Dangerous Minds." Richard Dreyfuss followed Pfeiffer, with his music teacher Glenn Holland in "Mr. Holland's Opus."

And most recently, Meryl Streep has taken the role of great teacher in her film, "Music of the Heart."

But what does this say about teachers?

Essentially, these films tell America that great, inspiring teachers are rare, and that only the most gifted actor can conjure the spirits that go into being this quality of a teacher.

Wait, press pause. There is a teaching force out there that also reinforces Catholic social doctrine. And no, it is not Whoopi Goldberg in "Sister Act 2." It is the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE), the Notre Dame program that sends graduates to disadvantaged Catholic schools throughout the southern United States to teach for two years, and earn a Master's degree in education.

Of course, ACE is not a new program that Notre Dame has just pulled out of its pocket. The program was established in 1994 by Father Timothy Scully, and has grown each year since.

Aside from its own physical growth, though, there has been a transformation. With its three goals of developing professional educators, building a strong community life and guiding spiritual development, ACE has become a Catholic version of American pop culture.

Just look at the goal of community life. Basically, it's MTV's "The Real World" without the 24-7 camera work. But MTV only sends its kids to cool places like London, Seattle or Hawaii. Where else is someone going to experience Real World, Corpus Christi?

"It's a couple of years where you can be with people who are kind of doing the same thing for a while," said Al Stashish, associate director of ACE and former ACE teacher. "It's a lot of fun ... in a place you probably wouldn't go to otherwise."

Stashish spent his two years in Baton Rouge, La., while others teach in places such Pensacola, Fla., Atlanta, Birmingham, Ala. and Tulsa, Okla.

But wherever an ACE teacher may find himself or herself, the community life is typically one of the important and helpful aspects of learning how to be a teacher — aside from the actual classroom experience.

Emer Doherty, also an associate director and former teacher, noted the "little things that just make a big difference." She especially remembers how after a rough day in the classroom, her fellow community members (four to six members typically live together) would make her a cup of tea. This heightened level of community development allowed for a deep understanding of friendship, perhaps deeper than the understanding allowed in the undergraduate setting at Notre Dame.

But like "The Real World," members do leave. According to John Staud, director of ACE, about 10 percent of the ACE recruits leave the program before their two years are finished. But Staud recognizes ACE as a discerning tool in the service community. He realizes teaching is not for everyone, and throughout the application process and first year of teaching, others realize the same thing.

But this does not stop Staud from encouraging students from at least finding out what ACE is and whether or not it might be a beneficial alternative for a students' post-graduate plans.

And for the 90 percent of ACE recruits who do make it through their two year commitment, a retention rate that ranks at the top of Americorps' programs, positively influencing the lives of disadvantaged children is the greatest benefit of ACE.

"As a teacher, I can share my creativity, my enthusiasm, my love of life and my faith with my students," said MJ Adams, associate director and former ACE teacher in Charleston, S.C., in ACE's 1998 annual report. "I do so with the intent of touching their lives, just as my mentors have touched my own."

With the success of such teachers as Adams, ACE has no intentions of falling from the map any time soon. In fact, teachers are only made better by those who preceded them in the program. Stashish noted his feelings of apprehension knowing that several very good ACE teachers had taught the kids he would be teaching during his first year in ACE.

But this only points to the fact that ACE is creating a level of Catholic education that turns disadvantaged schools into advantaged schools.

How many "Real World" cast members can make that claim?

Puck? Probably not.

Janet? Tempting ... but, no.

The ACE associate director triumvirate of Al, Emer and Mary Jo?

Yes.

• ACE empowers teachers to serve, educate
  
• SMC women welcome dads to campus