February 2011 Einstein Fellows Newsletter
FEATURED STORIES
- Meeting with NSF Director
- 2011-2012 Einstein Fellowship Finalists
- Visit to CIA
- Visit to Thomas Jefferson High School
- Pennycook’s Penguins
FEATURED ORGANIZATION
STEM NEWS BRIEFS
CURRENT FELLOW NEWS
PAST FELLOW NEWS
Fellows Meet with NSF Director
Twenty-two Fellows met with NSF Director Dr. Subra Suresh and NSF Assistant Director Dr. Cora Marrett on January 20. During the discussion, the Fellows provided insight into the impact of NSF policies on K-12 education, and offered ideas on how to strengthen connections with educators in light of current STEM education initiatives and pending legislation. Dr. Suresh and Dr. Marrett both expressed appreciation for the Fellows’ efforts and requested additional information. In response, the Fellows drafted a paper outlining broad goals and specific recommendations that can be implemented by both Einstein Fellows and NSF Staff. Their recommendations include short-term and long-term objectives for NSF’s work, and resources to be better-connected to K-12 classrooms.
2011-2012 Einstein Fellow Finalists Selected
Just over 200 experienced K-12 educators interested in national education policy completed applications for the 2011-2012 Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship. After a rigorous review process, 44 candidates have been invited to interview with prospective sponsors in Washington DC during the first week of March.
Fellows spend a school year in Washington, DC sharing their professional expertise with policy makers. Fellowships are served with one of several government agency sponsors such as the Department of Energy, NASA, NOAA, the National Science Foundation, and members of Congress or Congressional Committees. The program is funded through the US Department of Energy and is administered by Triangle Coalition.
On February 26, sixteen Einstein Fellows traveled to Langley, Virginia, for a tour of the CIA headquarters. The Fellows toured the CIA Museum, the OSS Museum, the Memorial Wall, the Code Sculpture and the Directors’ Portrait Gallery. The Fellows also learned about CIA career opportunities, internships and scholarships available to STEM students. The CIA offers generous undergraduate co-op and scholarship programs as well as graduate studies programs. For more information on student opportunities, visit the CIA WEBSITE.
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Virginia, is a renowned public school focused on providing students with a concentrated STEM curriculum and a laboratory experience over the course of their four years of high school. The school is supported by several localities and operates as a Virginia Governor’s School. The Einstein Fellows were invited to tour the school and learn about TJ’s educational methods and resources.
Einstein Fellow Mark Hannum (2008-2010), who is now a Physics teacher at TJ, participated in the tour and hosted lunch in his classroom. The Fellows also had the opportunity to meet with TJ Principal Dr. Evan Glazier, as well as various teachers and students.
TJ has introduced several ways in which science and the humanities connect. The goal of CHUM (Chemistry and Humanities teachers working together) is to develop scientists who think and speak clearly. In the IBET (Freshman introductory class) curriculum, language arts teachers, biology teachers, technology teachers and counseling staff work together in a three period time block to give students a basic understanding of the well-rounded student. Each year, the entire school devotes itself to the study of one question. This year the subject is: How can we retain individuality in an increasingly technological world?
Pennycook Studies Penguin Colonies of Antarctica
Jean Pennycook (2010-2011 Fellow, NSF) who recently returned from Antarctica, is shown here observing the Adélie penguins at Cape Royds on Ross Island, Antarctica. Pennycook is the education and outreach coordinator for a long-term research program on the penguin colonies around the Ross Sea led by David Ainley. READ MORE about her trip.
FEATURED ORGANIZATION The AARL
The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) is the national association for amateur radio enthusiasts and offers The Teacher’s Institute on Wireless Technology. Fees, costs, and up to $600 in travel are covered for the 4-day institute that covers electronics, space technology, robotics, satellites, amateur radio, weather, radio astronomy and more. Check out the INFO site and see an AGENDA.
President Barack Obama’s State of the Union Message on January 26 focused on education and specifically called for greater emphasis on STEM education. To emphasize the message, four high school Science students attended the event and sat in the box with First Lady Michelle Obama. The president discussed the full range of current education issues and said, “Race to the Top should be the approach we follow this year as we replace No Child Left Behind with a law that is more flexible and focused on what’s best for our kids.” To read more analysis of the SOTU Message, go to the Triangle Coalition BLOGSPOT.
The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) has released the “Nation’s Report Card” in science for students at grades 4, 8, and 12 in 2009. Highlights of the national results show that 34 percent of fourth-graders, 30 percent of eighth-graders, and 21 percent of twelfth-graders performed at or above the Proficient level, demonstrating competency over challenging subject matter. The full report is ONLINE
LINDSAY KNIPPENBERG (2010-2011 Fellow, NOAA), STEVE SCHREINER (2010-2011 Fellow, NSF), TERRIE RUST (2010-2011 Fellow, NSF) and MIKE TOWN (2010-2011 Fellow, NSF) shared the spotlight at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars on February 2, 2011. The Fellows presented their views on “Scalability: How to Take Local Successes in Education to a State and National Level”. The fellows discussed innovative education programs from around the country that have succeeded in enhancing student performance and teacher preparedness and the ability to use those models in other communities Watch their presentation via WILSON CENTER ON DEMAND. The Wilson Center has also posted a SUMMARY.
FRED BELMONT (2010-2011 Fellow, NSF) was a featured speaker at the Rhode Island School of Design workshop “Bridging STEM to STEaM” an exploration of the idea of connecting the Arts to STEM. The workshop was organized to share collaboration models focusing on different intelligences. For more see this ARTICLE .
OF THE 38 newly-selected Space Foundation Teacher Liaisons, two are currently serving as Einstein Fellows. NANCY SPILLANE (2009-2011 Fellow, NSF) and STEVE SCHREINER (2010-2011 Fellow, NSF) were chosen for their active promotion of space and science education. ERIK RUSSELL (2010-2011 Fellow, NSF) has served as a Teacher Liaison since 2006. Teacher liaisons serve as advocates for space education and are eligible for special professional development and training opportunities.
LAURA LUKES (2010-2011 Fellow DofE), MIKE KENNEDY (2010-2011 Fellow, DOE), ERIK RUSSELL (2010-2011 Fellow, NSF) JENAY SHARP-LEACH (2010-2011 Fellow, NASA), and TIM SPUCK (2010-2011 Fellow, NSF) were on a panel of Einstein Fellows and Department of Education Teacher Ambassador Fellows who discussed the issues surrounding the term “Highly Effective Teacher” and the implications of teacher assessment measures on student success. The event was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education on February 10, 2011.
DONALD HOFF (1997 Fellow, NASA) spends his summers traveling with Earth Expeditions, made up of educators and zoo personnel. In 2009, Hoff worked with Dr. Laurie Marker and the Cheetah Conservation Fund in Namibia. In 2010 he traveled to Mongolia to work with the Pallas Cat and Przewalski’s Horse.
AWARDS
To DENNIS NEWELL (2009-2010 Fellow, NSF) the Distinguished Alumni in Education Award from Newman University.
To STEPHAN GRAHAM (2007-2008 Fellow, DOE) the 2010 Excellence in Teaching HS Award from the Colorado Association of Science Teachers.
To BEN VAN DUSEN (2009-2010 Fellow, NSF) the iSTEM Chancellor’s Award to do research on integrating the I-Pad into physics classes. Equipment is funded through a grant from Women Investing in the School of Education.