Shavar Jeffries to speak at ACE educators commencement | News | Notre Dame News | University of Notre Dame Skip To Content Skip To Navigation Skip To Search University of Notre Dame Notre Dame News Experts ND in the News Subscribe About Us Home Contact Search Menu Home › News › Shavar Jeffries to speak at ACE educators commencement Shavar Jeffries to speak at ACE educators commencement Published: July 12, 2017 Author: Theo Helm Shavar Jeffries Shavar Jeffries, president of Democrats for Education Reform (DFER) and a leading advocate for expanding public and accountable school-choice opportunities for underserved families, will serve as the keynote speaker at the 2017 Commencement Ceremony of the University of Notre Dame’s Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) on Saturday (July 15). “We are delighted that Shavar has accepted our invitation to celebrate our graduates’ gifts to the children and communities we serve and their impact on the future of Catholic education,” said Rev. Timothy R. Scully, C.S.C., the Hackett Family Director of Notre Dame’s Institute for Educational Initiatives. “Shavar has worked tirelessly to expand the choices that parents have for their children – especially those living in underserved and under-resourced communities. His efforts are a powerful witness to the belief that every child deserves the best education possible.” Jeffries has been a vocal champion of the belief that children’s ZIP codes should not define their destinies. In 2010, he was elected to the Newark Public Schools Advisory Board and was then unanimously selected by his colleagues to serve as board president. He became president of DFER in September 2015. Jeffries also serves as a partner at Lowenstein Sandler, where he has argued for families seeking fair practices in funding education and ensuring that the laws governing education systems help students. ACE commencement exercises are set for 3:30 p.m. in the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center. Notre Dame will bestow 115 graduate degrees upon a next generation of Catholic school teachers and leaders who completed periods of formation and service with two nationally recognized programs. A total of 88 ACE Teaching Fellows graduates will receive master’s of education (M. Ed.) degrees as the culmination of two years of academic study combined with teaching in Catholic K-12 schools in underserved areas around the country. Twenty-seven graduates from ACE’s Mary Ann Remick Leadership Program will receive M.A. degrees in educational leadership, concluding 26 months of formation that prepared them to be principals and other leaders in Catholic education. Contact: Theo Helm, ACE, 336-918-9314, thelm1@nd.edu Posted In: Faith Home Experts ND in the News Subscribe About Us Related October 03, 2022 dCEC to Award 2023 ND Evangelium Vitae Medal to Robert P. George September 22, 2022 In memoriam: Rev. Richard Warner, C.S.C., longtime leader for Notre Dame, Congregation of Holy Cross September 15, 2022 In new book on global Catholicism, Provost John McGreevy explores modern history, current challenges of the Church September 15, 2022 Death penalty abolitionist Sister Helen Prejean to speak at Notre Dame September 14, 2022 Apostolic nuncio to Great Britain to deliver the 2022 Keeley Vatican Lecture For the Media Contact Office of Public Affairs and Communications Notre Dame News 500 Grace Hall Notre Dame, IN 46556 USA Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Pinterest © 2022 University of Notre Dame Search Mobile App News Events Visit Accessibility Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube LinkedIn