Alliance for Catholic Education
The Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE), part of the Institute for Educational Initiatives (IEI) at the University of Notre Dame, is excited to announce a new partnership with the Diocese of Columbus that will bring ACE Teaching Fellows to serve in Catholic schools across the diocese beginning in the 2026–27 academic year.
Through this partnership, members of the ACE Teaching Fellows 33rd cohort will live in community, teach in underserved Catholic schools, and pursue a Master of Education degree from Notre Dame while forming as educators rooted in faith, service, and professional excellence. With the addition of the Diocese of Columbus, ACE Teaching Fellows now serves 157 schools across 38 dioceses nationwide, expanding its reach in support of Catholic education.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with the Diocese of Columbus in supporting Catholic schools and the students they serve,” said John Staud, Executive Director of the Alliance for Catholic Education. “Together, we are responding to a real need with hope, forming teachers who are called to serve and strengthening schools that form young people in faith, knowledge, and character.”
The Diocese of Columbus Office of Catholic Schools, led by Superintendent Adam Dufault, serves a vibrant network of Catholic schools rooted in academic excellence and spiritual formation. The addition of ACE Teaching Fellows will help strengthen these schools by placing talented, mission-driven teachers in classrooms where they are most needed.
“We are excited to welcome ACE Teaching Fellows to the Diocese of Columbus,” said Dufault. “Their presence will be a blessing to our students, schools, and communities, supporting our mission to provide a high-quality Catholic education rooted in faith, service, and academic excellence.”
Members of the ACE Teaching Fellows 33rd cohort placed in the Diocese of Columbus include:
- Olivia Christel, St. James the Less Catholic School
- Maximilian Feist, Bishop Hartley High School
- Tyler Van Andel, All Saints Academy
- Emily Williams, Holy Spirit School
Since its founding in 1993, ACE Teaching Fellows has formed more than 2,400 teachers who have served in hundreds of Catholic schools across the country. This new partnership reflects a shared commitment between ACE and the Diocese of Columbus to invest in the future of Catholic education by supporting schools, forming teachers, and serving students with care and purpose.
About the Diocese of Columbus Catholic Schools
The Diocese of Columbus is the third largest Catholic school system in Ohio, employing over 1,400 educators serving 39 elementary schools and 12 secondary schools located throughout the 23-county diocese. The Catholic schools of the Diocese of Columbus are committed to providing a safe, loving environment where students grow in both academic excellence and moral virtue. Rooted in the rich traditions of Catholic faith, Columbus Catholic Schools are committed to nurturing the mind, body and spirit of every child to empower them to become lifelong learners and compassionate leaders.
For more information, visit education.columbuscatholic.org
About the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE)
Founded in 1993 at the University of Notre Dame, the Alliance for Catholic Education sustains, strengthens, and transforms Catholic schools through leadership formation, research, and service. Since its founding, ACE has served more than 250,000 students annually in Catholic schools across the country. ACE Teaching Fellows is the program’s flagship initiative, placing passionate, mission-driven educators in Catholic schools where they are needed most, while supporting their professional and spiritual formation.
For more information about ACE and its initiatives, visit ace.nd.edu.