New ACE teachers excited for experience

By Jennifer Tolbert
For The Catholic Week
The Archdiocese of Mobile is blessed to have three new Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) teaching fellows serving at three schools, while they also earn their Master of Education degrees from the University of Notre Dame. Here's a closer look at our new ACE teachers. 

Jehdah Burton
ArchMob School: 
McGill-Toolen 
Catholic High School
Hometown: Simi Valley, Calif.
College attended: University of Notre Dame
Degree(s): Biochemistry and Music 
What led you to the decision to enter the ACE program? I’ve been blessed to have so many incredible teachers who have shaped my educational and personal development, which greatly influenced my desire to teach. I heard about the ACE program early on in my time at Notre Dame, and was excited to be accepted —and even more so as I’ve been able to get to know McT and my other community members in Mobile!
What will you be teaching? I will be teaching CP2 Chemistry and Biology for sophomores and juniors.
What led you to pursue teaching in a Catholic school? At Notre Dame we often throw around Basil Moreau’s saying that “the mind will not be cultivated at the expense of the heart.” Although I did not attend Catholic schools until my college years, I strongly believe that education should seek to grow students both academically and personally. Catholic schools offer a great opportunity to develop knowledge alongside virtue, which I am looking forward to incorporating in my classroom.
What do you hope to impart on your students this year? Science can definitely be an intimidating subject, but the field itself is truly built from guesses and mistakes and chance discoveries. I want to show students that science does not need to be this perfect thing that is out of their reach, but rather it is a way of seeking to understand the created world around them and daring to seek solutions and craft explanations for that which we cannot always see.
What are you most excited about living in Mobile now? I’m definitely excited to explore Mobile even more and I love being so close to the Gulf! I’ve heard so many great things about the area and the people, and I look forward to learning more of why Mobile is known as the Best Place in ACE.

Grace Kaiser
ArchMob School: 
St. Mary Catholic School
Hometown: Lake Zurich, Ill.
College attended: University of Notre Dame
Degree(s): English & Psychology
What led you to the decision to enter the ACE program? I’ve known about the ACE program since my freshman year of college. Every time I talked to someone in the ACE program or attended an information session, I could see the passion and zeal with which these teachers talked about their experiences in the classroom. I saw how enthusiastic everyone in the ACE program is about giving their students the best education possible and was drawn to this mission. 
What will you be teaching? I will be teaching sixth through eighth grade Literature at St. Mary. I am so excited to read some great books with my students!
What led you to pursue teaching in a Catholic school? I’ve been lucky enough to attend Catholic schools for my whole life and really value the way I’ve been able to have faith incorporated into my education. Students are able to grow in new and holistic ways when given opportunities to grow both spiritually and academically. I am excited to be a part of this at St. Mary!
What do you hope to impart on your students this year? I hope that my students know that they are cared for and valued from the moment they come into my classroom on the first day of school. I hope they realize the power of words through our study of literature and grow more confident in their ability to read, analyze, and create their own pieces of writing. 
What are you most excited about living in Mobile now? 
Everyone has been so welcoming to me, so I am excited to continue to get to know the Mobile community! I am also excited to explore the downtown area and the Gulf. The drive to Alabama was so beautiful, and I’ve loved spending time outside here!

Pat McGee
ArchMob School: 
Christ the King Catholic School
Hometown: Ridgewood, N.J.
College attended: University of Notre Dame 
Degree(s): Business Analytics with minor in Education
What led you to the decision to enter the ACE program? 
I was considering becoming a teacher after several experiences tutoring, coaching, and teaching in college and high school. It made me realize how much I enjoyed it, and then I heard about the ACE program through someone in my dorm at Notre Dame. This led me to apply because I saw how much previous ACE teachers loved their experience.
What will you be teaching? I will be teaching sixth through eighth grade Math.  
What led you to pursue teaching in a Catholic school? After going to a public elementary and middle school, and then attending a Catholic high school, I saw the difference that a Catholic school can make in students. In Catholic school, I noticed that there was a much greater sense of community amongst all members of the school, students, teachers, and administrators alike. This made me want to pursue teaching in a Catholic school.
What do you hope to impart on your students this year? 
Besides teaching the material related to math, I hope to impart skills to my students that they will be able to use throughout the rest of their lives. I hope my students can learn the importance of honesty, hard work, respect for others, and compassion. These skills are important to success in school, but also in their futures as well, and I hope these are things that they can take away from my class.
What are you most excited about living in Mobile now? 
I am most excited about the weather! Growing up in New Jersey and going to school in Indiana has led me to dread the winter, so I am looking forward to a year without snow. Along with this, I have heard so many good things from other ACE teachers about how much fun Mobile is and how friendly and kind people in this area are. I am excited to experience these for myself in the next two years.