Institute for Educational Initiatives

Dear Friends,

At the Institute for Educational Initiatives, we strive to improve the education of all children through practices that can transform the educational system, with a special emphasis on Catholic schools and the underserved. In order to affect change and advance the hope and promise of our national and global educational opportunities, our initiatives are animated by the Gospel call and grounded in cutting-edge research and design.

Through programs such as the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE), the Institute impacts PK-12 education by integrating rigorous research into on-the-ground practice. Through centers such as the Global Center for the Development of the Whole Child, the Institute reaches across the world to improve the physical, emotional, social, and cognitive well-being of the most vulnerable children. Our monthly podcast, Think. Pair. Share., spotlights our faculty and fellows, their ideas, and their impact.

We invite you to learn more about the Institute and join us on campus for our annual Excellence in Teaching Conference on March 10-12, 2023. This year’s theme, “Reading for a Better World,” recognizes the importance and challenges of teaching texts in today’s classrooms. Interested educators – especially English teachers, literacy leaders and coaches, and school and community librarians – will hear from renowned authors and educators who envision the teaching of literature as a force for good in the world. We’ll also workshop classroom strategies with expert faculty who imagine how students can read the world and write the future. You can learn more and register here.

The Institute for Educational Initiatives is pleased to partner with ThinkND to share our research and learning opportunities. Join us!

Best wishes,

Mark Berends

Hackett Family Director, Institute for Educational Initiatives

Professor of Sociology

University of Notre Dame