EMBRACE
Enriching Many by Reaching All in Catholic Education
Mission
The mission of EMBRACE is to provide the opportunity for an inclusive education by supporting children with disabilities and learning differences in their Catholic schools.
Vision
A world where every child is embraced for their unique God given abilities and provided the Catholic education necessary to learn to their fullest potential and become the person God made them to be.
Our Story
EMBRACE (Enriching Many By Reaching All In Catholic Education) is an independent 501(c)3 organization. The organization was conceived by a group of dedicated, prayerful, and concerned parents of children with learning differences and disabilities, yearning for the opportunity for inclusion of their children in a Catholic school environment. Formed in 2013 and approved as a national non-profit in 2017, a formal board was established in 2017 and an Executive Director and staff were hired later that year.
Today, in collaboration with the Catholic School Office of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, EMBRACE offers grants and assistance to schools in the Archdiocese of Kansas. Since 2018, EMBRACE has provided over $1.3million in grants for certified staff and resources to support students with learning differences and disabilities. Trained 36 paraprofessionals across the Archdiocese from 14 Catholic schools. Specialized certified staff through grants from EMBRACE have included special education teachers, resource staff, occupational therapists, speech therapists, reading specialists, and enrichment coordinators.
A program with Benedictine College was formed in 2019 to create cohorts of teachers who are already on staff in our Catholic Schools. Upon graduation of the program, teachers qualify to test for their special education endorsement which would then be added to their Kansas teacher’s license. Teachers are able to apply for a Scholarship through EMBRACE to pay for their continued education in the Benedictine program. As of 2023 four cohorts have been formed and to date EMBRACE has provided over $300,000 in scholarships to teachers in our Archdiocese. Beginning in the 2022-23 school year EMBRACE has provided professional development and training for paraprofessionals in the Archdiocese, who work with students with learning differences and disabilities.
Through the dedication of our staff, volunteers and board, and the generosity of others, EMBRACE is able to move forward with this incredible and important ministry. If you are passionate about helping children with learning differences and disabilities receive a Catholic education in an inclusive environment, please donate, volunteer and help us make a difference for them.
Meet our Board Members
Jim Kernell
President
Lynn Dunn
Secretary
JIM HAMILTON
Treasurer
Nicole Fearing
TONJA LYNDE-KERNELL
Brian Dunn
Michael Lynch
Amanda ConnEALY
Justin Denegri
Staff
Kim Hammers
Executive Director
Kim Hammers brings a wealth of knowledge from her 30 years of experience serving in three different Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. After receiving her Bachelor of Science degree from Kansas State University, Kim was a classroom teacher for twelve years. Her passion has always lied with serving students with learning differences and disabilities. She received her School Leadership Degree from the University of Missouri Kansas City. She then served as both a principal and vice principal for 18 years in the Catholic Schools. During that time, Kim grew the resource departments of the schools she led. This enabled those schools to better serve all students. Kim is a wife and mother of two children, and her faith is at the center of all that she does. She is excited to work with the Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese to serve all of God’s children.
Join Us in prayer
Heavenly Father, we ask that you bless us with your infinite mercy and grace as we work to support learners with different abilities and varied academic, behavioral, social and emotional needs in our Catholic Schools. It is easy to open our doors, but the investment needed to truly respond to the needs of all learners is immense. We ask this in the name of your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
