Programs

Dedicated to the art of educating young people that fosters their human flourishing

Six STEM teacher leaders wearing green polos in discussion at a table A Catholic school educator at professional development engineering a tower of index cards Four STEM teacher leaders gathering data to determine neutral buoyancy of a film cannister

As a Center committed to the translation of knowledge into practice, we seek to move beyond curiosity toward actionable service to the field, educators, and ultimately the young people whose lives we seek to impact. 

Two flagship programs carry out this pursuit, each designed to elevate the practice of educators. The Notre Dame Partnership with Advanced Coursework Teachers (PACT) empowers high school educators of Advanced Placement® (AP) or dual credit courses to shape their instructional practice to create accessible and challenging learning environments, and to do so within the context of a diverse and dynamic community of praxis. The STEM Teaching Fellowship forms middle-grade STEM teachers to be teacher leaders who cultivate a rigorous STEM learning culture for their students and catalyze change within their broader school communities.

Beyond our flagship programs, we support STEM teaching and learning through various outreach efforts. The CREST program supports local Catholic school educators and school leaders to refine STEM teaching and learning. In partnership with local schools and the ACE Teaching Fellows program, we offer affordable summer STEM camps designed to excite middle school students in the South Bend area and extend their learning. We have also partnered with select Catholic school communities to deepen the dialogue between STEM content and the Catholic faith.