Archdiocese Aims to Strengthen Catholic Education

The Archdiocese of Milwaukee will partner with the University of Notre Dame’s Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) in an exciting initiative within Milwaukee’s Catholic elementary schools. “Catholic Schools for Milwaukee: Light for the Future” will officially launch Jan. 29, 2013, beginning with an informational meeting for principals and pastors at the Cousins Center, 3501 S. Lake Drive, Milwaukee, 6 p.m.

Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki and representatives from the ACE Consulting team will be present beginning at 5:30 p.m. to discuss specific objectives and benefits about the partnership.   

“This strategic approach will enable us to provide the highest quality Catholic education to the most students,” explained Dr. Kathleen Cepelka, Ph.D, superintendent of Catholic schools. “I firmly believe this initiative will be transformative for years to come.” 

Through this partnership, Notre Dame will engage its ACE Consulting team in an in-depth assessment of 26 Milwaukee urban Catholic elementary schools. These strategic assessments conducted by ACE for each school are intended to provide an objective, external and diagnostic analysis of each school in specific domains, while at the same time provide appropriate recommendations to reinforce the overall effectiveness of each school.

ACE draws upon resources and expertise developed over two decades of service to Catholic schools in dioceses around the United States, and is further supported by the research capacity of the University of Notre Dame. Areas to be assessed include:

• Catholic Identity
• Academic Excellence
• Governance
• Institutional Advancement
• Financial Operations

ACE Consulting was established as an outcome of the University of Notre Dame’s National Task Force on Catholic Education’s call to develop a high-quality, affordable consulting organization to serve Catholic schools. Today, ACE Consulting is a preeminent provider of consultative guidance and innovative thinking with regard to the unique and distinct needs of Catholic elementary and secondary schools.

The following schools will be participating in the ACE initiative:

Blessed Sacrament
Blessed Savior
Catholic East Elementary
Divine Mercy
Holy Wisdom Academy
Messmer Preparatory
Mother of Good Counsel
Notre Dame Middle School
Our Lady Queen of Peace
Prince of Peace/Principe de Paz
St. Adalbert
St. Anthony
St. Catherine
St. Charles Borromeo
St. Gregory the Great
St. John Kanty
St. Josaphat
St. Margaret Mary
St. Matthias
St. Rafael the Archangel
St. Roman
St. Sebastian
St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
St. Vincent Pallotti,
Nativity Jesuit Middle School
Northwest Catholic

To learn more about this initiative and the ACE Consulting team, click the following links:

ACE Consulting team: Biographies

ACE: Fact Sheet