Andrea Pujol, Senior Grade Dean, Math Teacher, and Cross Country Coach, was recently honored with the Michael Pressley Award for Excellence in Catholic Education from the University of Notre Dame’s Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE).

The award recognizes graduates of the ACE Teaching Fellows program who have distinguished themselves through significant contributions to the ministry of Catholic education and demonstrated an enduring commitment to its mission.

For Ms. Pujol, receiving the honor was particularly meaningful because she was already on Notre Dame’s campus as a participant in the Mary Ann Remick Leadership Program, a 25-month graduate program for educators seeking to become transformational Catholic school leaders. 

“Seeing many of my former ACE professors and current Remick professors sitting in one space together as I walked across the stage reminded me of how much I have learned about and grown in love for the ministry of Catholic schools through their example and expertise,” Ms. Pujol said.

The students at Ursuline are smart, funny, and fun. They make every day exciting and different, and I never doubt that the work I am doing is important, whether that's in the classroom, in the Dean of Students' office, or as a coach.

That growth has also shaped Ms. Pujol’s work at Ursuline, where her roles have extended beyond the Math classroom. She has served in the Dean of Students Office and as a Cross Country coach, while pursuing opportunities to strengthen the student experience, including developing a personal finance elective and creating systems for managing student data.

"They say, 'people don't quit their jobs, they quit their managers,' and I am very grateful for the leaders who have given me chances to grow professionally as well as supported me every step of the way, whether it was developing the personal finance elective or creating systems for managing student data. I never considered coaching or working in administration before coming to Ursuline, and I consider it a privilege to help lead a team and shape student life, in addition to teaching in the classroom," said Ms. Pujol.

As she begins the second year of the Remick Leadership Program, Ms. Pujol will undertake an Inquiry & Intervention Project using improvement science to identify, test, and implement meaningful change at Ursuline. Through her summer coursework in the areas of school culture, instructional leadership, executive management, and spiritual leadership, she was able to explore quantitative and qualitative data from Ursuline to narrow down her project focus.

She credits the colleagues and leaders she has worked alongside at Ursuline with encouraging her to continue growing as an educator and leader; a journey that reflects the spirit of the Pressley Award and Ursuline’s own commitment to Serviam.