COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF FOUNDATION
DECEMBER 2021
NEWSLETTER
COMING UP ACE s
Partners Like Notre Dame’s Alliance for Catholic Education are Instrumental in Making a Nationwide Impact with the CFP Foundation
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he CFP Foundation is focused on supporting education and great teachers, especially when it comes to recruiting and molding young people interested in becoming educators. But the organization can’t do it alone. On the contrary, the CFP Foundation depends on many great partners who continue to step up and make the effort a national movement. The University of Notre Dame might be the perfect example. A partner since the CFP Foundation was founded in 2014, Notre Dame has been molding talented young teachers for close to 30 years through the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE), a program focused on transforming schools nationwide.
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TRANSFORMING THE FUTURE Notre Dame’s ACE program has molded talented young teachers for close to 30 years. Since the program’s founding in 1993, ACE has strengthened K-12 schools across the country through innovative practices in four realms integral to school transformation: forming talent, expanding access, enhancing school vitality and conducting research on school improvement. The goal is to ensure
that all children, especially those from low-income families, have the opportunity to experience the gift of an excellent Catholic education. At the heart of ACE’s mission are efforts to provide a high-quality education to as many children as possible, which is right up the CFP Foundation’s alley.
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The partnership between the CFP Foundation and Notre Dame focuses on supporting ACE teachers and their students, helping amplify and accelerate the overall impact of the effort. In six years, this partnership has raised $3,464,668 to support the work of ACE on behalf of nearly 20,000 students and 340 teachers in more than 260 schools from New York to Los Angeles.
ACE’s partnership with the College Football Playoff Foundation has been instrumental in growing the ways we can serve children, particularly those on the margins. JOHN STAUD ALLIANCE FOR CATHOLIC EDUCATION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
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“ACE’s partnership with the College Football Playoff Foundation has been instrumental in growing the ways we can serve children, particularly those on the margins,” said John Staud, executive director of the Alliance for Catholic Education. “We are so grateful for the Foundation’s support.” Notre Dame is one of nearly 20 universities that are part of the CFP Foundation’s Go Teach program, which provides collegiate athletic and academic departments a platform to promote teaching as a rewarding career path. The more qualified candidates enrolled in teacher preparation programs, the more great teachers will be in classrooms. By providing athletic and academic departments at Notre Dame and other colleges a platform to assist with the marketing and recruitment
of students into the teaching profession, the Go Teach program is making an immediate impact across the country. In fact, the ACE program has recruited 26 DI, DII and DIII studentathletes in the last five years to serve in the classroom. “We love working with John and the team at the Alliance for Catholic Education,” said Britton Banowsky, executive director of the CFP Foundation. “Our organizational missions align perfectly and the work of the partnership is changing the lives of thousands of teachers and students.” One of the great ACE programs that Notre Dame offers is a two-year teaching fellowship and formation experience where participants serve in under-resourced Catholic schools across the country while also earning a cost-free Master of Education degree.
Rory Jasper, a current senior at Holy Cross College in Indiana who is majoring in political science and poverty studies, has committed to serving with ACE after graduation next summer as part of program’s 29th cohort of teachers. A native of New Orleans who currently serves as the team manager for the Notre Dame women’s basketball team, Jasper attended St. Joan of Arc Catholic School and had Liz Gonzalez as his ACE teacher as a seventh grader. “I would say Ms. Liz had a great impact on me and is an inspiration toward me wanting to become a teacher,” Jasper said. “I was cynical and didn’t understand the significance of education. She elevated me, gave me confidence, and believed in me. She noticed I was having trouble reading and took an avenue to help me after school. She wanted to make sure I could read going into high school.”
GO IRISH!
Rory Jasper (right, with fellow ACE intern Mary Claire) has aspirations of becoming a teacher and is excited to begin his journey.
“I’d like to work with ACE to up those numbers,” Jasper said. “Most black males don’t have a father figure in their lives. There are little lessons that black teachers can give black boys. Those lessons I was cynical and didn’t understand can build in those the significance of education. She young boys’ lives and grow. elevated me, gave me confidence, A lot of teachers and believed in me. She noticed I don’t have that was having trouble reading and took connection and an avenue to help me after school. I think it is so important. As a She wanted to make sure I could person of faith, I read going into high school. think it is huge.” The ACE RORY JASPER teaching HOLY CROSS COLLEGE SENIOR fellowship Besides teaching and giving includes placing teachers at back, one of Jasper’s goals is to respective Catholic schools to teach help ACE recruit more African for two years. While Jasper has no American male teachers. idea where he will be placed, he said
he would like to get back to help his hometown of New Orleans one day, but he knows ACE will initially put him in the right place to help people and grow as a teacher. “I’m a big person of faith,” Jasper said. “As a Christian, helping others means achieving, perfection, completion and guidance. And I always attribute my journey to His divine intervention, grace, mercy and favor. I knew the ACE program was really high in giving back to others. People in the ACE program aren’t focused on the paycheck; they only want to help young students.” Jasper went to Tucson, Arizona, last summer as part of PATH (Pursuing Achievement Through Higher Education), ACE’s college prep program for middle and high school students, where he got his first hands-on experience teaching under-privileged youth.
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“It was a great experience to learn how teaching in ACE was going to be,” Jasper said. “I learned to work 110 percent. Education is part of my actual ‘why’ in life. Education is so important to me and I am excited for the next two years with ACE.” With partnerships in about 35 different dioceses around the country, ACE will place teachers with housing alongside other ACE teachers, and there is plenty of support and resources. “Rory checks every single box we have,” said Tim Will, associate director of communications for ACE and the Institute for Educational Initiatives at Notre Dame. “He’s wellrounded and his personality and outgoingness are outstanding. We are always looking for impressive young men to be mentors and be part of our extracurricular programs. Our ACE teachers are asked to do so much. It’s amazing to see what ACE teachers get tapped to do. The ultimate goal is to help education and Rory is definitely going to be successful.” In addition to helping ACE grow and improve its formation
It’s amazing to see what ACE teachers get tapped to do. The ultimate goal is to help education and Rory is definitely going to be successful. TIM WILL ACE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
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We are so grateful for our many partners. The collective impact we make in support of educators is a team effort and a direct result of the amazing partnerships we have with organizations across the country. From all of us at the CFP and the Foundation, we simply say thank you. BRITTON BANOWSKY COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF FOUNDATION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
efforts through its Master of Education program, the funds available through the partnership also support a competitive grant process that offers ACE teachers much-needed funding for projects that enhance their classrooms. Thanks to the generosity of donors and partners like the CFP Foundation last year, ACE teachers and leaders from nearly 30 different schools were awarded grants through a competitive process to provide their students with Chromebooks, graphing calculators, new desks, athletic uniforms, field trip experiences and other school supplies.
“The Notre Dame Athletics Department is proud to be able to partner with the College Football Playoff Foundation to help address a critically important need — one that is fully consistent with our values of education, faith, and community,” said Jack Swarbrick, vice president and James E. Rohr director of athletics at Notre Dame. “The partnership with Notre Dame is a case study in how an athletic department can support educational programs across campus,” said Banowsky. “We are so grateful for the university’s vision and leadership in support of this incredibly impactful work.”
ECKRICH CONTINUES TO STEP UP
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orporate partners help the CFP Foundation reach fans and expand its impact to teachers across the country in markets we might not be able to reach without their support. Eckrich stepped up over the last few years by leaning in to support teachers through various Tag-A-Teacher classroom resource giveaways. They expanded the effort this year with a tour that stopped at 30 schools and held a nationwide contest. The result: more teachers supported.
The CFP Foundation’s partnership with Eckrich has benefited thousands of teachers nationwide.
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CRESCENT CITY SUPPORT Impact Work in NOLA Ramps Up Again
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here is a shortage of teachers nationwide, an issue that the College Football Playoff (CFP) Foundation is focused on helping reverse with the help of great partners. In New Orleans, the challenge of recruitment and retention of quality teachers is magnified, as the area generally has higher turnover rates than the national average. Education experts point to several reasons, including recruitment of teachers who don’t plan to stay in teaching for their whole careers, a lack of job security and work that tends to be longer hours for lower pay. The COVID-19 pandemic and Hurricane Ida have only exacerbated the problem in the New Orleans area. The CFP Foundation, in conjunction with the Allstate Sugar Bowl, has been working with
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New Schools for New Orleans for A clear checklist of best several years. While the 2020 CFP practices has been created to National Championship may be in ensure a successful path for the rearview mirror, leadership transition the effort by the CFP with a goal towards Foundation remains higher retention to maintain an of teachers. This impactful legacy in includes weekly the Crescent City. check-ins with The organizations principals, scheduled collaborated to principal forums for support the creation peer information of a New Schools sharing, touring other for New Orleans schools and giving GROWING (NSNO) program to more personal time EDUCATORS develop and grow off. There is also a Creating a new pipeline of natural leaders. It focus on providing teachers remains a focus in included the creation one-on-one coaching New Orleans. of the Principal in the first two years Collaborative, an opportunity for of leadership, as well as creating school leaders to have access to a specific succession plan at each tools and best practices to ensure school that is revised annually. their schools and stakeholders are The CFP Foundation, NSNO, and well set for new leadership. the University of New Orleans have
also partnered to create a new local pipeline of teachers, as the the CFP Foundation has provided stipends for student teachers, mentors and school-based liaisons. The CFP Foundation has also sponsored new recruitment efforts to attract teachers for New Orleans schools, led by NSNO. Key activities included a new community-wide recruitment coordinator position, launch of the Teach New Orleans recruitment website and a media campaign to promote Teach New Orleans. In its first year, Teach New Orleans generated 65,000 website visitors, 2,000 job applications and 130 teacher hires. “Recruitment and retention are the biggest challenges that public schools in our country face, especially in urban districts and rural areas,” said Alex Jarrell, New Schools for New Orleans Chief Innovation Officer. “We’ve focused on efforts and methods to recruit the right candidates and train them. In addition, we want to educate our current teachers even more and make them feel valued. Every teacher matters.”
The CFP Foundation has invested in initiatives and has hosted activities to retain New Orleans teachers, including:
+ Provided funds to award
15 teachers with $2,000 grants per year for four years in conjunction with the New Orleans Excellence in Teaching Awards.
+ Partnered with the National
Board for Professional Teaching Standards to provide 15 professional development scholarships to teachers.
leaders to formulate a strategy that is making a major difference for teachers and the young people of New Orleans by bringing nearly $3 million in financial resources to meet the specific challenges this market faces.” The biggest takeaway of it all? Data that can’t be ignored. For instance, before the partnership, NSNO was losing 29 percent of its teachers, but the most recent data from 2019-20 to 2020-21 showed a nine percent decrease to 20 percent.
+ Supported approximately 800 projects for teachers in the New Orleans area through DonorsChoose.org.
+ Completed two school
media center makeovers and purchased 300 wireless hotspots for New Orleans public schools.
“Teachers have always been the lifeblood of education,” said Jeff Hundley, Allstate Sugar Bowl CEO. “Recognizing that, we’ve had the good fortune to work with the CFP Foundation and local education
We’re proud to stand with the Allstate Sugar Bowl and support New School for New Orleans’ efforts to recruit and retain more quality teachers. BRITTON BANOWSKY CFP FOUNDATION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
“We’re proud to stand with the Allstate Sugar Bowl and support New School for New Orleans’ efforts to recruit and retain more quality teachers,” said Britton Banowsky, CFP Foundation Executive Director. “We thank everyone involved for all they do. Our partners make these efforts a success and we could not do it without them.” The CFP Foundation and Allstate Sugar Bowl will continue to work with New Schools for New Orleans to recruit and retain quality teachers. Just like a good math equation, they all add up.
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A LASTING LEGACY
CFP Foundation’s Partnership with the AutoZone Liberty Bowl Making a Difference at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and School Program
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n early November, the AutoZone Liberty Bowl and CFP Foundation presented a check for $310,553.63 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, bringing the total of support by the Liberty Bowl and CFP Foundation for St. Jude’s School program and teachers to more than $3 million over the last six years. Many St. Jude patients are at the hospital for months, and in some instances years, receiving their medical treatment. The objective of the partnership is to fund the team of teachers who are on staff at St Jude, helping these young patients maintain and continue
The AutoZone Liberty Bowl is proud to continue our longtime support of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, in conjunction with the CFP Foundation. CHRIS MOORE AUTOZONE LIBERTY BOWL 2021 PRESIDENT
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IMPACT PARTNERS The CFP Foundation and the AutoZone Liberty Bowl continue to make a difference for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital and School Program. their educational and academic progress. “The AutoZone Liberty Bowl is proud to continue our long-time support of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, in conjunction with the CFP Foundation,” said Chris Moore, 2021 President of the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. “These partnerships make it possible to make an important and positive impact on the lives of the kids at St. Jude.” The mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Consistent with the vision of its founder Danny Thomas,
no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family's ability to pay. St. Jude’s School Program works as a part of the hospital’s health care team to provide opportunities for each student to continue their normal educational experience. The program also strives to provide advocacy to ensure that each student receives appropriate educational services in their community school. “The AutoZone Liberty Bowl is one of our fantastic partners that is making a difference in their community,” said Britton Banowsky, CFP Foundation Executive Director. “What a wonderful way to support teachers and the overall mission of St Jude.”
BOWL SEASON CELEBRATES TEACHERS
The CFP Foundation has come together with Bowl Season to bolster an already impactful effort. Taking things to the next level, each of the bowl games have been tremendous partners in supporting teachers.
Three ways to access the 2022 Extra yard for Teachers Summit powered by Get Your Teach On.
JANUARY 8 , 2022
For more information visit cfp-foundation.org
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