Thanks to all of you for nominating so many of your friends and classmates for the 2007  “Michael Pressley Award for Excellence in Catholic Education."  It was humbling to read so many  inspiring stories and glowing testimonies!

We are proud to announce two winners of the 2007 award to be presented at the ACE Commencement July 14:

Kate McCann
ACE 4 Charlotte 
ACE Leadership Program - Cohort 2 

Patrick O'Sullivan
ACE 2 Charleston

Award Background
Michael Pressley, Ph.D. served as the first Academic Director of the ACE program and founded the Notre Dame Master of Education degree offered through ACE.  Fr. Tim Scully announced the establishment of this award in 2006 following Dr. Pressley’s passing as a way to honor his service and scholarship.   Donna Forrest Pressley and Tim Pressley (Michael's wife and son) will present the awards at the ACE Graduation.

The award is reserved for ACE graduates who have been out of the program between five and ten years and who have distinguished themselves in making significant contributions to the ministry of Catholic Education.  ACE graduates from classes 2-7 are eligible this year.

Contributions toward excellence in Catholic education can be acknowledged from any of a wide range of life experiences: as teachers, school leaders, academics, policy administrators, involved parents, parishioners, and many others.  The award is not reserved for anyone in a particular field or vocation, but for one who has demonstrated excellence and commitment to the work of Catholic education.  

Award Winner Profiles
Kate McCann

Kate has been serving Catholic education since beginning the ACE program ten years ago.  Kate was in ACE 4 and placed in Charlotte, NC teaching middle school religion, math, and science.  Following two years of service in ACE, Kate moved to Tanzania to teach English, communications, and computers at Saint Augustine University as part of the Jesuit Volunteer International (JVI) program.  As part of JVI, Kate lived in an intentional community of volunteers.  Kate continued her service in Tanzania by teaching English and physical education at the Loreto Girls Secondary School.  While serving at this high school, Kate lived in community with the African Loreto sisters at the school.          Kate (center) with ACE house mates Brian                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Anderson  and Laura (Sale) O'Connell. Also                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            pictured with Laura's two boys.                                 
Kate returned to the US in 2001 and took a position at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Chicago, IL teaching religion and math and serving as the co-athletic director.  While at Cristo Rey, Kate was involved in the retreat program, campus ministry and coaching.  In June 2003, Kate joined the ACE Leadership Program (ALP) at Notre Dame as part of the second cohort.  Kate became the first of the ALP 2 cohort to be named principal as she took the position at St. Michael the Archangel School in Silver Spring, MD.  She will be completing her masters in Catholic school leadership through the ACE Leadership Program over the 2007-08 school year. 

Patrick O'Sullivan

Patrick taught 7th and 8th grade at Nativity school in Charleston, South Carolina as part of ACE 2.  Following ACE, Patrick moved to Dallas, Texas to work at Bishop Dunne Catholic High School together with ACE 2 classmate Tom Perez.  While he started out as a full-time teacher, Patrick has now moved on to become an assistant principal.   

Patrick has many responsibilities as an administrator and still teaches one class, but he is best known for being a teacher's advocate and an active recruiter of ACE graduates to work at Bishop Dunne.   BDHS presently holds the record for most ACErs (8) working at one school.  His most recent notable addition to the faculty was Adarely Trejo (ACE 12).  Ada was a former student of Patrick's at BDHS who went on to college at Notre Dame and then taught in San Antonio through ACE.   Patrick met his wife, Molly, while teaching at Bishop Dunne.  Their daughter, Danielle, comes to school each day with them and enjoys the BDHS learning community through the early childhood education facility Patrick helped to start up.  Patrick expresses his intentions to build up his administrative credentials in the near future, for now, he and Molly are expecting their second child.


Patrick (center) and Molly (holding Danielle).  Also pictured L to R: Jacqueline Pimentel-Gannon (ACE 12), Katie Kinner (12), and Ada Trejo ( 12)