For Thomas Betterly, the University of Notre Dame’s Alliance for Catholic Education is the perfect place to continue his lifelong desire to help others to become enriched by a Catholic education like the one he received at Marian Catholic High School, Hometown.

The Hazleton resident earned a fellowship in ACE that will afford him the opportunity to mentor children in under-resourced Catholic schools while earning a cost-free Master of Education degree at the South Bend university.

Betterly, a 2020 graduate of Marian is set to graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics - secondary education from the St. Joseph University, the Jesuit institution in Philadelphia whose mission is one of service and social justice.

Betterly’s high school and undergraduate endeavors is one of the reasons Notre Dame accepted him with open arms.

Marian days

“My Marian education helped to set the framework for the work I accomplished at St. Joe’s,” Betterly said, pointing out his involvement in activities at the Philly campus were similar to those he spent at Marian. He said opportunities to “be involved” at Marian included extracurricular activities such as the school’s Rock Music Ministry, Student Council and Campus Ministry, which he said, “I have a passion for.”

He added, “I think my work with clubs like the Future Business Leaders of America or Student Council at Marian taught me many transferable skills, like integrity, responsibility, dedication, the importance of working with others, and the importance of serving a greater good.”

A busy young man in Hometown, Betterly traveled with the cross country and track and field teams as a manager, which, he said, “allowed me to learn how to communicate with others.”

He volunteered for other duties there that some might consider to be of lesser importance, such as working the scoreboard for football and basketball games. “Those,” he said, “instilled in me a desire for service.”

His preparation for Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science regional and state meetings “gave me the opportunity to train my mind for scientific thought,” Betterly said. Helping to plan programming as a part of the Catholic Schools’ Week Committee “was an outlet for my collaboration between students and staff.”

He said, “The academic rigor at Marian allowed me to flourish in collegiate-level courses. Opportunities to obtain Dual Enrollment and AP credit also made my course load easier once I got to SJU. I can even give credit to all of my math teachers, especially Mrs. Teresa Sheer, for helping me to uncover my passion for mathematics and for education.”

St. Joseph’s

“When contemplating which college I wanted to attend, I was inspired by the Jesuit mission of St. Joe’s,” Betterly said. “I wanted to work towards being a math teacher, like so many great teachers I had at Marian, as well as focusing on service to others.”

Despite starting college during the pandemic, he quickly got involved into campus activities, and never looked back.

He sang in the university’s Chapel Choir, served Mass, led the first-year Orientation, coordinated retreats for first-year students and upperclassmen through the Department of Campus Ministry, became a Resident Assistant, served on Student Government, and tutored fellow students in their math classes.

In the meantime, he was inducted into three Honor Societies - one for Mathematics, one for Education, and one only sponsored by Jesuit schools.

Betterly said, “While at St. Joe’s, I had a number of unforgettable experiences, like a 10-day pilgrimage through Spain and Rome (I even got to see the Pope only about 10 feet away from me!), singing the national anthem and alma mater for our school ceremonies like Commencement and the President’s Inauguration ceremony, meeting many inspirational donors and alumni, planning blood drives, and attending a service immersion in Kimball, West Virginia over my Spring break.”

While his schedules were always busy and sometimes hectic, he said, “I am grateful to the school for providing me the opportunities to broaden my horizons and perspectives. I have forged bonds and friendships with many classmates, professors and staff members that have definitely changed the trajectory of my life. SJU’s commitment to social justice and service is admirable, and I can only hope that my service as a teacher can help to repay that.”

Fellowship is next

This summer, Betterly will begin his fellowship at Notre Dame, taking courses towards his master’s degree, and will eventually be assigned duties at an under-resourced Catholic school in an urban setting yet to be determined.

According to Notre Dame’s ACE website, fellows like Betterly and others accepted to that program will help “sustain and strengthen under-resourced Catholic schools through leadership formation, research and professional service to ensure that all children, especially those from low-income families, have the opportunity to experience the gift of an excellent Catholic education.”

As Catholic school educators, ACE teachers will “have the opportunity to form and guide their students in their faith lives, which in turn will shape their own,” the site says.

Betterly is looking forward to spiritual growth that will include retreats, liturgies and prayer services on the ND campus, as well as classes that will help them prepare to serve as a spiritual resource for the students they will mentor.

In addition to the experience of teaching and mentoring, ACE teachers will receive a graduate fellowship culminating with a cost-free Master of Education degree from the university; obtain a teaching license in Indiana that has reciprocity with 46 states; earn a stipend of about $13,200 a year and affordable housing arranged by ACE in the (arch)diocese in which an ACE teacher serves; be eligible for loan deferment; have the support of an academic supervisor, a pastoral administrator and a community with whom the teacher lives; and will have deepened their faith in preparation of being a spiritual leader in their school.

The opportunity is one Betterly cherishes and values, as the cost of a master’s degree from the university would otherwise cost in excess of $62,000, not counting living expenses.

“I owe a lot to Marian and I owe a lot to St. Joe’s,” he said. “Because of them, I have so much to look forward to, most importantly, for me, the opportunity to help make a difference in the lives of children and the community where I will be assigned.”