Archdiocese welcomes three ACE teachers

Compiled 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. 


Sydni Brooks
ArchMob School: Little Flower
Catholic School
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
College Attended: University of Notre Dame
Degree(s) earned: Bachelor of Arts in English
What led to your decision to enter the ACE program?
I have always thought about teaching later in my life, so when I was introduced to the ACE program my senior year of college, it seemed like a sign to begin that journey earlier. I’ve been a mentor, captain and older sibling for most of my life, and the ability to lead people with humility and grace is one of the most important roles I hope to continue to carry. Being a teacher seems to be one of the best ways to continue that role. 
What will you be teaching?
I will be teaching Middle School English and Language Arts at Little Flower Catholic School.
What led you to pursue teaching in a Catholic school?
I have attended Catholic schools since I was three, so Catholic education is all I know. I have been blessed with great teachers, mentors, coaches, and advisors through my Catholic education, and their dedication to their faith through the mode of teaching has sculpted me into the person I am today. I would like to provide that same attention, direction, and intentionality to other students so that they know they are more than capable to accomplish anything they desire.
What do you hope to impart on your students this year?
I want my students to believe in their own ability to succeed and excel in their academics, but I also want my students to learn about themselves through the classes they take and the knowledge they learn. I want my students to think critically about the world around them and how it relates to them through the avenue of English and Language Arts class.
What are you most excited about living in Mobile now?
The heat! I am not a fan of cold weather, so this will be a wonderful change from the Midwest winters.


Jackson Elberts
ArchMob School: Christ the King Catholic School
Hometown: Northbrook, Ill.
College Attended: Xavier University (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Degree(s) earned: B.A. Political Science (w/history minor)
What led to your decision to enter the ACE program?: 
My love for Catholic schools, attending them all my life, as well as for the further advancement of my education.
What will you be teaching?
I'll be teaching fifth grade at Christ the King.
What led you to pursue teaching in a Catholic school?
 I have grown up in the Catholic School system, so both giving back and being a part of something greater than myself is a joy to do.
What do you hope to impart on your students this year?
I want them to grow into the loving, respectful and kind people they are all called to be. 
What are you most excited about living in Mobile now?
Being from the Chicago area, I'm looking forward to experiencing an unfamiliar regional culture and exploring all that it has to offer. 


Anna Staud
ArchMob School: McGill-Toolen 
Catholic High School
Hometown: South Bend, Ind.
College Attended: University of Notre Dame
Degree(s) earned: Bachelor of Arts in Economics and English
What led to your decision to enter the ACE program? 
I always wanted to be a teacher, and the ACE program's mission stood out to me, as well as its emphasis on community and spiritual growth. 
What will you be teaching? 
I will be teaching 10th Grade American Literature and AP Literature and Composition at McGill-Toolen Catholic High School. The English Department is fabulous, and I'm excited to join such a passionate and talented group of teachers. 
What led you to pursue teaching in a Catholic school? 
Having been blessed with the opportunity to attend Catholic schools my entire life, I experienced first hand the transformational power of a Catholic education.  Theology will be an important lens through which my students and I will grapple with literature, and I hope to explore together how the truth and beauty of our faith integrate with the content we're studying. 
What do you hope to impart on your students this year? 
Beyond growing in their analytical and creative skills, I hope my students come to a greater appreciation of literature's potential to create empathy and to imagine a better world. 
What are you most excited about living in Mobile now?
 Everyone has been so welcoming! I am looking forward to exploring Mobile's coffee shops and nearby beaches. It's also exciting to be close to the Gulf and to finally escape a South Bend winter!