Triangle Coalition For Science And Technology Education

• Capitol Hill Fellows
• Department Of Education Fellows
• Department Of Energy Fellows
• NASA Fellows
• National Institutes of Health Fellows
• National Institute of Standards and Technology Fellows
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fellows
• National Science Foundation Fellows
  
  

CAPITOL HILL FELLOWS

Erma Anderson (1990-91)
A mathematics teacher from Pennsylvania; Served on Capitol Hill in the office of Senator Arlen Specter (PA)

Geri Anderson-Nielsen (1992-93)
A mathematics teacher from Washington, DC; Served on Capitol Hill on the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee

Samantha Barlow (2007-08)
A middle school science teacher from North Carolina; Served on Capitol Hill in the office of Representative Silvestre Reyes (D-TX)

Jennifer Berry-Rickert (2007-08)
A high school science teacher from Tennessee; Served on Capitol Hill in the office of Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT)

Al Bird (2004-05)
A secondary science teacher from Massachusetts; Served on Capitol Hill in the office of Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI)

Robert Blakely (2000-01)
A secondary science teacher from Michigan; Served on Capitol Hill in the office of Senator Patty Murray (D-WA)

Steve Boyarsky (1991-92)
A science teacher from Connecticut; Served on Capitol Hill on the House Education and Labor Committee

Bill Brent (1992-93)
A science teacher from Missouri; Served on Capitol Hill in the office of Senator Mark Hatfield (R-OR)

Patrick Canan (1992-93)
A high school science teacher from Oregon; Served on Capitol Hill in the office of Senator Mark Hatfield (R-OR)

Lynne Campbell (2007-08)
A middle school science teacher from Iowa; Served on Capitol Hill with the Committee on Education and Labor

Diane Cherkerzian Lyons (2004-05)
An elementary teacher from Massachusetts; Served on Capitol Hill in the office of Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA)

James D. Cherry (2003-04)
A high school chemistry teacher from Connecticut; Served on Capitol Hill in the office of Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN)

Frances Coleman (2000-01)
A secondary science teacher from Mississippi; Served on Capitol Hill with the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee

Greg Coppa
A science teacher from Wickford, Rhode Island 1996 Fellow, Office of Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-CA)
E-mail Greg
Greg remembers the excitement of working on Capitol Hill on important legislation such as the Telecom Act of ’96 which brought the internet into rural schools, hospitals and libraries. He also researched numerous education and science/technology issues for the Congresswoman, simplifying the content and summarizing the impact of certain proposals. He says Capitol Hill fellows were exposed to the political, academic and cultural wonders of Washington and were inspired and energized by the broadening experience. After his Fellowship, he continued as a classroom chemistry teacher and as science department chair at East Greenwich High School.  He is now associated with a communications firm in Wickford working on numerous projects, including educational and science related ones. His short story, November Christmas, became a Hallmark Hall of Fame featured film in November 2010.  (See story in Fellows Newsletter.)  Greg says, “[The Fellowship] was a life-changing experience and I am so glad that I did not miss it!  Being an Einstein Fellow gave me instant credibility back at home whenever there was discussion about the impact of funding technology for classroom use. I became a successful advocate for adopting what was then revolutionary new classroom technology. Remembe0r, this was a time when many schools did not have abundant computers and did not have Internet access. We have come so far.”

Rob Culbertson
A secondary science teacher from Richmond, Virginia 2004-2005 Fellow, the office of Senator Joseph Lieberman (CT)
E-mail Rob
Rob had the good fortune to work on Capitol Hill in the office of Senator Joe Lieberman. As a member of the Senator’s staff, he tracked down and reviewed seemingly boundless volumes of information; prepared memos and talking points for the Senator; and met with lobbyists, constituents, and student groups from Connecticut. Rob worked closely with other Congressional offices, educational non-profit organizations, universities, and the Senate Legislative Counsel’s Office to draft and garner support for several pieces of education-related legislation. He had a hand in assembling a floor debate book to prepare the Senator for amendments and other issues pertinent to the Senate’s Intelligence Reform Bill, and was on the Senate Floor during its debate. When asked about his Fellowship experience, Rob responded: “I have often thought of my Einstein Fellowship experience on Capitol Hill as a year of cultural exchange. I was enthralled by my surroundings, the activity, and especially the intelligent and dedicated people with whom I worked. In return, I was able to provide practical skills, ideas, and analysis that were valued by the Senator and his staff.”

Mark Davids
A high school science teacher from Grosse Pointe, Michigan 2002-2003 Fellow, office of Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
E-mail Mark
Mark Davids worked on key issues related to education, science and technology as well as workforce development, the environment, and defense. He met with constituents and representatives from Federal agencies including the State Department, the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy. He drafted the first version of the $1.4 billion Genomes to Life bill. He also wrote the introduction to the bill which was later read on the Senate floor. Mark also assisted in writing speeches and briefing materials for the Senator including questions regarding the Columbia shuttle investigation. He says, “I have shared train rides between the Capitol and the Senate building with various senators and I still get a rush each time.”

Amy Elverum
A middle school science teacher from Minneapolis, Minnesota.  2006-2007 House Committee on Education and the Workforce
E-Mail Amy
What are your most memorable Fellowship experiences?
Amy cites “the fantastic profession development opportunities that were part of the fellowship” as one of the most memorable aspects of her DC experience.  She also said collaborating with other fellows and learning about their past and present experiences were an important part of her Fellowship year.  At the end of her Fellowship Amy returned to teaching science to middle school students with severe emotional/behavioral disorders in the Minneapolis Public School system.  She also leads professional development sessions and ledr a successful single gender STEM after school and summer program.  Amy was appointed to the district’s K-12 Science Adoption Committee and has been part of the Middle School Science Advisory Committee.  About her Fellowship experience, Amy says, “I have a much better understanding of how national policy is developed.  I have a much deeper understanding of current education policy.  I learned about educational issues firsthand and how the same issue may present very differently depending upon the type or location of school district.  My professional network expanded nationally and internationally.”

Mickie Flores
A science teacher from Potsdam, New York 2004-2005 Fellow, the office of Senator Richard Durbin (IL)
E-mail Mickie
In the office of Senator Richard J. Durbin, Mickie’s role seemed all encompassing; she functioned in every capacity concerning Education. She met with constituents, answered phone calls and emails regarding education issues, and attended many meetings, forums, and briefings. She participated in a conference call concerning child nutrition and school lunch and she wrote talking points for the senator, letters to other members of congress as well as the secretary of defense. Within the first month of her Fellowship, Mickie had already written and submitted two floor statements for the Senator, which meant that her work is now incorporated in the Congressional record. Mickie says, “The hardest part of this experience is landing on another planet with unfamiliar terrain. I have had an insider tour of the Capitol and the Senate floor with multiple directives on how to obtain a pass, where to walk (behind the rail), and how to not sit in a chair with arms (those are reserved for Senators). My mind boggles at the thought of being armed with charts and graphs that I have generated, delivering them to the Cloak room, transferring them to the Senator, and having my work broadcast more widely than ever before. This imagined scene alters my rate of breathing. “The most rewarding is knowing my twenty years of experience afford me something of great value to share and now I have the opportunity to do that sharing. I remember the face in the third row of a classroom; I know the hopes and needs associated with that face. It is with great pleasure that I report my solitary rediscovery of the nonpublic elevator that takes one to the basement. Utilizing my Senate badge, I boarded the subway traveling toward the Capitol and puzzled my way underground from the Senate side to the furthest House side and attended a forum on “Higher Education Opportunities for Students with Disabilities.” I obtained materials to send to my “home” school and increased my own knowledge base. And as I boarded the secret subway, first car, sole passenger traveling at amusement park speed, I found myself grinning widely and suppressing a loud “Woo-hoo!!””

Elizabeth (Betty) Gasque
A mathematics teacher from Pawleys Island, South Carolina 1991-1992 Fellow, Office of Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM)
E-mail Betty

Eduardo Guevara (2009-10, 2010-11)
A high school chemistry and integrated physics teacher from Texas. Served in the offices of Congressman Mike Honda (D-CA), Congressman Solomon Ortiz (D-TX) and Congressman Tim Murphy (R-PA).

Jennifer Grogg
A high school science teacher from Normal, Illinois 1994-1995 Fellow, Office of Senator Robert Kerrey (D-NE)
E-mail Jennifer

Paula Hendry
A secondary science teacher from Arnold, Maryland 1999-2000 Fellow, Office of Representative Sherwood Boehlert (R-23rd/NY)
E-mail Paula
Paula worked on education issues and outreach. She followed education legislation in committee and on the floor for the Congressman. In order to fulfill this responsibility, she attended forums that focused on education issues in addition to answering constituent mail, which required her to research a wide variety of issues. Hendry also communicated with school districts in the Congressional district both by phone and in person. She listened to their input on federal programs and proposed legislation and was involved in helping them to find federal money and private grants. Hendry states, “By helping to make . . . [Boehlert] and his staff more aware of the important [education] issues and by helping to create wider and stronger ties to schools in his district, I feel that I had a significant impact.”

Robert Hickey
A high school physics teacher from Lexington, MA 2003-2004 Fellow, Office of Senator Joseph I. Lieberman (I-CT)
E-mail Robert
Robert cites being involved in the writing of legislation as his most memorable Fellowship experience.  He helped develop legislation for the Higher Education Act, writing a proposal to create forty new teacher development institutes throughout the country over the next five years and to establish a grant program for higher education institutions to design programs to increase minority graduation rates. He also participated in drafting a “Boomer Corps” bill to give monetary and educational assistance to retirees who perform community service  The bill, S. 2538, was introduced on the Senate floor on June 17, 2004. The floor statement that Bob wrote to introduce the bill was recorded in the Congressional Record the same day.  After his Fellowship year ended, Bob Taught high school physics for three more years.  He is now retired and looking forward to the next phase of his career.   He says, “I feel very fortunate that I was given the opportunity to play such a vital role in the education-related issues of Senator Lieberman’s office.  I gained a better understanding, and more respect, for how our government works.”

Kathryn Hilts
A secondary science teacher from Charleston, West Virginia 1999-2000 Fellow, Office of Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV)
E-mail Kathryn
Kathryn Hilts spent her second year as an Einstein Fellow in the office of U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd (D-WV). She worked with the Senator’s Legislative Division, particularly on education issues as well as some science and technology concerns. In addition, Hilts examined ways to improve the number of teachers seeking National Board Certification in rural states and was involved in programs to increase safe schools and healthy communities.

Norma Howell
A high school science teacher from Huber Heights, Ohio 2001-2002, Representative Tony P. Hall (D-3-OH)
E-mail Norma
Howell’s placement in the office of Congressman Tony P. Hall of Ohio gave her the opportunity to learn and work in a wide variety of areas, above, beyond, and including education issues. She did research on national, state, and local education issues and programs in order to effectively answer constituent requests and concerns as well as to meet with special interest groups. On top of the day-to-day work she did in the office, she was assigned major projects that required extended time frames, including follow-up to a letter to President George W. Bush to ensure sufficient allocation of funding for Science and Technology (S&T) Research within the Department of Defense (DoD). Another major project she implemented dealt with the origins of the Veterans Administration, originally known as the National Home (Asylum) for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, and the need to preserve the historic treasures currently falling into a state of disrepair around the nation. Because Congressman Hall’s district included Wright-Patterson AFT, she was also assigned to some military issues. “Although the original intent of the Fellowship may have been for me to ‘give’ of my expertise, the overwhelming outcome has been of me ‘receiving’ so much for each and every experience. It has been the adventure of a lifetime and one I would not have traded for anything.”

Ann Ifekwunigwe
A elementary school teacher from Los Angles, California 1999 Fellow, Office of Senator Patty Murray (D-WA)
E-mail Ann
Ifekwunigwe worked closely with Greg Williamson, Senator Murray’s Legislative Assistant in charge of education issues. Ann found it difficult to describe a “typical” day in this office, since things changed so quickly in the Senate. This rapid change of pace made it extremely important to be flexible and readily adaptable to whatever role she was asked to assume. Ifekwunigwe represented the Senator’s office at a variety of different meetings, functions, and special events. She has met with many different constituents from Washington state who shared concerns about local education issues. She attended commission meetings and forums where experts in the field shared current research findings. She found these meetings to be very valuable, since some of the findings presented were eventually incorporated into the Senator’s legislation. Ifekwunigwe drafted speeches, statements, and sections of legislation for the Senator. She also conducted research about specific issues, and written summaries and side by side analyses of education legislation. On several occasions, when the Senator met with her education team, Ifekwunigwe had the opportunity to contribute “my real world” classroom experience and perspective to the discussion. During the Class Size Reduction debate she was granted permission to be on the Senate Floor where she remained for the duration of the debate, until the final vote. Following the vote, she accompanied the Senator to a press conference with Senators Kennedy, Harkin, and Kerry. Sometimes her duties involved legwork–picking up bills from Legislative Council; finding archived legislation in the document room, dropping off paperwork at colleagues’ offices, circulating letters for signatures, making copies in the printing room, collecting supplies from the stationery room, but Ifekwunigwe says, “I enjoyed all aspects of my job… I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with Senator Murray. Her commitment to improving education for children is genuine, and extremely admirable.”

Arundhati Jayarao (2009-10, 2010-11)
A high school physics and chemistry teacher from Virginia; Served in the office of Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)

Sheikisha Jenkins (2010-11)
A high school biology teacher from Maryland; Served in the office of Congressman Mike Honda (D-CA)

Deborah Koolbeck
A secondary physics and astronomy teacher from Chicago, IL, 2005-2006 Office of Representative Rush Holt (NJ)
E-mail Deborah

John A. Kounas
A secondary science teacher from Sloan, Iowa 2000-2001, Office of Senator Charles E. Grassley (R/IA)
E-mail John
While in Senator Grassley’s office, John was asked to read over and prepare information summaries for a series of education reports for the legislative educational aid. He also prepared information summaries for two topic items regarding funding proposals in S.1. The first summary detailed the value and impact of the National Writing Project for teachers and students in the State of Iowa and the nation. The second provided information related to Talented and Gifted Programs regarding their impact and relevance in offering educational challenges for students that are intellectually gifted. John also worked diligently on various education and non/education issues that directly involved the people of Iowa and its students. John states, ” My Fellowship was one of those rare opportunities in life that come along, one that has provided so much in such a short time that when you start to ‘take them out,’ to list and think about all the many different things you’ve done, you find it difficult to ‘put them back’ — there just isn’t enough room.”

Michael Lach
A secondary science teacher from Chicago, Illinois 1999-2000 Fellow, Office of Representative Vernon Ehlers (R-3rd/MI)
E-mail Mike
Lach spent his Fellowship working in the office of Congressman Vernon Ehlers, a Republican from the 3rd district of Michigan. Representative Ehlers, who wrote Unlocking Our Future: Towards A National Science Policy, has held hearings and drafted legislation to address the issues of science teaching and learning. Lach coordinated the Congressman’s efforts by collecting information and best practices, holding and attending meetings, working with the staff of both the House Science and House Education and the Workforce Committees, and encouraging other groups to raise awareness of science education issues. He reports that, “Working as a Fellow in Congressman Ehler’s office was a wonderful experience. While moving from a classroom to a Congressional office is sure to be an exciting year, I felt my particular placement was particularly fortuitous. In Congressman Ehler’s office, I was given significant tasks and great responsibility, and was also encouraged to learn as much as I could about the political process and life on Capitol Hill.”

Luke Laurie
A middle school science and technology teacher from Santa Monica California.  2006-2007 Office of Representative Mike Honda
E-Mail Luke
Luke says he greatly values the opportunity to work on several exciting legislative projects in education, science, and appropriations during his Fellowship.  He met Al Gore and other well-known politicians and celebrities and was on the House Floor during the introduction and debate of an amendment that he helped draft on climate change education.  After his Fellowship, he returned to the classroom to work in the same school and became Santa Barbara County Teacher of the Year in 2008.  He continues to teach teach Junior High Science and Robotics Science and maintains a blog on education and policy at: http://lukelaurie.wordpress.com/.  He participates in local curriculum work, and runs workshops using LEGO robotics to teach science. Luke was actively involved in the planning of the Einstein Fellowship 20th Anniversary Summit.  He says that he benefited greatly “from my understanding of the complexities and nuances of the legislative process and education policy. I gained many close friends, and helped open the doors for more fellows to work with Congressman Honda and his great staff.”

Arthur Lebofsky
A science teacher from New York City, New York 1990-1991 Fellow, Office of Senator Jeff Bingaman, (D-NM)
E-mail Art
Lebofsky worked closely with Ray Rameriz, Senator Bingaman’s legislative assistant, drafting legislation related to the America 2000 effort being pushed by President Bush and Secretary of Education Lamar Alexander. Lebofsky said, “Ray and I geared up to move our two bills and create more legislation. We spent more time creating briefing books of information, possible speeches, talking points and data for Jeff”. . . . [who] read the material, but used his own unique analytical style to determine what portions of the material, if any, he would use.” Lebofsky also traveled to New Mexico for the Senator, visiting two dozen school districts, meeting in-state staff and helping Rameriz activate an association concerned with Hispanic issues. Returning to New York after his fellowship, Lebofsky has been active in statewide science education activities, has been elected to the Board of Directors of the National Science Teachers Association, and has gained “major funding and support for science education for females and minorities. Our successes in two years now have a district that is one third minority graduating a senior class where 90% have at least four years of science experience.”

Bonnie Leitch
A high school mathematics teacher from New Braunfels, Texas 1993-94 Fellow, Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee

E-mail Bonnie

Kevin J. Manning
A high school science teacher from Tulsa, Oklahoma 2001-2002, House Education and the Workforce Committee
E-mail Kevin
Manning’s Fellowship had a rocky start — the tragic events of September 11 followed by the discovery of anthrax in the building where he worked on Capitol Hill.  Kevin greatly enjoyed working with the professional staff of the House Education and Workforce Committee and its Chair, Rep. John Boehner, who is currently the Speaker of the House.  Kevin also served as a Consultant to NASA for the U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission; he was a Presenter, Moderator, and Scientific Judge for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science Regional and National Science Bowl; and he participated in Breakfast with Scientists at the National Convention for the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).  Besides visiting two different national labs, NIH, Carol Baldwin at the Smithsonian, the Capitol, behind the scenes at the Library of Congress, and a landmark case at the Supreme Court, his favorite outing was a visit to NIST where he experienced a simulation of the Bose-Einstein Condensate.  After his Fellowship, Kevin served as an Educational Program Administrator at Brookhaven National Laboratory including collaborations with Stony Brook and other universities on projects like Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (SULI), Faculty-Student Teams (FaST), Science and Society Essay Contest, and Women in Science and Engineering (WISE).  He also worked with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) with the U.S. Support Program (USSP).  He is now involved with Astrophysics, writing, and has started his own company.  Kevin says, “The incredibly enriching experiences I had during my year as an Einstein Fellow literally changed my life. I would not trade it for anything else I’ve done throughout my career as an educator and a scientist.”

Della McCaughan
A science teacher from Biloxi, Mississippi 1991-1992 Fellow, Office of Senator Thad Cochran (MS)

Kathleen McGarvey (Clark)
A high school mathematics teacher from Columbus, Mississippi 2001-2002, Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Office of Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH)
E-mail Kathy
Kathy Clark’s Einstein Fellowship on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee centered on work with the following pieces of legislation: NCLB, OERI, NSF, and IDEA. She also assisted with office work on various Senate hearings, GAO reports, and various New Hampshire issues related to NCLB. She also provided opinions and a professional perspective during meetings to assist with finalizing legislation concerning bi-lingual education, Title I programs, NAEP, and AYP. McGarvey states, “While working with the Committee, I realized just how many issues revolve around and depend upon teacher quality. I am hoping to help improve the way things are, even if it is just in the Mid-Atlantic region for now. I would have never realized how strong this passion is without my experience here.”

Margaret Merrill
An elementary teacher from Dayton, Maine, 2005-2006 Office of Senator Joseph Lieberman (CT)

Bradley Neu
A high school science teacher from Gainesville, Texas 2002-2003 Fellow, Representative Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX)
E-mail Brad
Brad Neu’s work mainly involved looking at national programs for teachers and students in order to find grant opportunities for schools in the Congressman’s district. Brad also wrote speeches and visited the Congressman’s district to conduct a teachers’ workshop. In addition, he secured support for the Excellence in Science, Technology, and Mathematics Education (ESTME) Week activities on Capitol Hill. Brad says that, “this experience has been informative, enjoyable, exciting and rewarding.”

Steve Obenhaus
A secondary school mathematics teacher from Olathe, Kansas.  2009-2010 Fellow, Senator Joseph Lieberman (I-CT)
E-Mail Steve
Steve says he particularly valued the opportunity to join Senator Lieberman on the floor of the Senate chamber during the debate on reauthorizing the Opportunity Scholarship Program in DC, and to speak at the Wilson Center event America’s Top Teachers Focus on Learning and Legislation in the Rayburn building.   After his Fellowship, Steve received a position at the University of Kansas as a Master Teacher in the UKanTeach program within the Center for Science Education in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.  He says, “I gained useful connections with policy advocates and resources relating to policy areas.  This has given me a broad base from which I can inform the undergraduate future teachers I am currently working with.  The position of Hill Fellow directly influenced my receiving my present position at the University of Kansas.”

Donna Osborn
A science teacher from West Lafayette, Indiana 1999-2000 Fellow, Office of Representative Peter J. Visclosky (D-1st/IN)
E-mail Donna
Donna Osborn served on Congressman Peter Visclosky’s staff, which gave Donna the opportunity to learn and work in many areas. All education issues – elementary, secondary, and higher education – and children’s issues were given to her. She did research and answered constituent mail on these topics. When constituents or lobbyists wanted to meet with a staff person or the Congressman, she was a part of the meeting. As news was made in these areas, she was expected to prepare a memo to brief the Congressman. As the Congressman traveled to the district for speeches, meetings, or town forums, Donna prepared information on education and children’s bills which are now laws, bills which he introduced or cosponsored, and bills which would be discussed in the future. On top of the day-to-day work that Donna did in the office, she had several projects. First, she organized and planned a grants workshop for all of the schools in Visclosky’s district in Indiana. Several Einstein Fellows and other individuals from Washington presented information regarding several topics, including federal agencies and grant funds which they provided for education. Second, since she was concerned about missing and exploited children and Congressman Visclosky was a member of the Congressional Missing and Exploited Children’s Caucus, the office began to place missing children’s pictures on the envelopes used for constituent mail. Finally, she organized a missing child alert program in Visclosky’s district in Indiana. The emergency child abduction alert plan asked radio and television stations to provide quick, police-generated reports on abducted children as a public service. When asked if her experience as a Fellow affected her professionally, Donna stated, “I have learned about education at the national level in a way that is not possible for many. I saw the work that NEA and NCTM do at a national level and understand the importance of their work. I also learned a great deal about DOE and the excellent work that they do for education. I had the opportunity to meet the leaders in education in our country. I do admire them.”

Kristina Peterson
A secondary science teacher from Seattle, Washington.  2009-2010 Fellow, House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor
E-mail Kristina
Peterson served her Einstein Fellowship with the K-12 team in the House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor, chaired by Representative George Miller of California. While with the Committee she helped to craft a series of hearings on the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. She also assisted with reviewing legislation and gathered input from constituent meetings and briefings. She was often asked to read materials with her “teacher hat on” so that staff members would have a teacher’s perspective on issues. Peterson came to the Hill “to listen, learn, and question with the aim of contributing to policy and programs that keep in mind what is best for children.”

Althea Pearlman
A mathematics teacher from Boulder, Colorado 1991-1992 Fellow, Office of Representative Howard Wolpe (MI)
E-Mail Althea
Pearlman says that “. . . in the personal office of Representative Howard Wolpe, a member of the Science, Space and Technology Committee and Chair of the Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee, I was able to continue to follow science education. For example, when I spotted a proposal to reinstate funding cut by the Department of Education for Women’s Equity in Mathematics Education, I could make certain that my Congressman would cosponsor the pending legislation. I became my office’s liaison to the Quality Education for Minorities monthly brown bag lunch meetings.” Returning to her Colorado school Pearlman wrote, “I am enormously grateful for this experience.”

Anne Pfitzner Gatling
An elementary school science teacher from Soldonta, Alaska 2002-2003 Fellow, Senator Joseph Lieberman (D-CT)
E-mail Anne
Among her favorite memories are the outings with the other Fellows when they explored other agencies and institutions.  During her year, she worked with the Children’s Digital Media Center at Georgetown University to host a symposium entitled, “What We Do and Don’t Know About the Media’s Impact on Children” at the National Press Club.  She also researched and helped to draft the Teacher Quality Bill as part of the Higher Ed Reauthorization, and wrote a Children and Media Bill with the assistance of researchers in the field. The bill became the Children and Media Research Advancement Act (CAMRA) introduced by Senators Lieberman, Brownback, and Clinton.  It was designed to provide competitive funding for researchers to examine the effect of media on children’s development. After her Fellowship year, she began work on her PhD at Boston College in Science Education. She says, “In April of 2010 I defended, had my 2nd daughter, interviewed and hired by Merrimack College and then graduated in May 2010.  Busy year.  I absolutely loved my time in Senator Lieberman’s office as an Education Fellow.  I felt that my knowledge, education, and experience teaching in the field of education was respected and appreciated.   I met many people in the field of education with whom I maintain contact.  I came to know the field from a policy perspective which has helped me as I worked on my PhD and as I teach at the university level.”   Anne is currently an assistant professor of Science Education at Merrimack College in North Andover, MA.  She and her husband have two little girls and still go home to Alaska in the summers.

William Philips
A science teacher from Dover, Delaware 1990-1991 Fellow, Office of Representative Howard Wolpe (MI)
“… I was able to assist Rep. Howard Wolpe with educational issues and legislation. As a legislative assistant in his office ALL educational issues were delegated to me — even the work on an education exchange bill.” “Benefits from my experiences on the Hill have opened many, many doors of opportunity which have benefited my students, fellow teachers and myself. I’ll enumerate a few: While in Washington I made contact with the Council for Basic Education. Through them I received a grant which enabled me to set up a series of field studies for Delaware teachers in Arizona, Montana, Alaska and Hawaii. I became a legislative consultant for the Delaware State Education Association. My knowledge of politics has enabled me to lead a drive to educate the public on environmental esthetics. My performance as a legislative assistant was instrumental in helping me to receive a fellowship as an Antarctic Researcher through the NSF… I set up a website for students in Delaware to communicate with me while I was in Antarctica. I continue to use the site for other field study programs.”

Laurie Pines
A high school mathematics teacher from San Jose, California 2002-2003 Fellow, Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and Representative Bart Gordon (D-TN)

Edward Potosnak
A high school Chemistry teacher from New Jersey, 2007-2009 Fellow, Capitol Hill, Office of Congressman Michael Honda
E-Mail Ed
In his second year as an Einstein Fellow in the Office of Congressman Michael M. Honda, Mr. Potosnak was responsible for policy in the areas of education, the environment, global warming, the interior, water, government reform, and Japanese American confinement sites. He had the opportunity to engage in many legislative and professional development activities including researching legislation, drafting legislation, and education appropriations as part of the Labor-Health and Human Services-Education FY ’09 Appropriations Bill. Mr. Potosnak’s experience as a science teacher provided a practical perspective as Congress continued its efforts to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, often referred to as No Child Left Behind.  Following his second fellowship year, Potosnak became a staff person for Congressman Honda, leaving in 2010 to become an unsuccessful candidate for the U.S. House district that includes his New Jersey home town.

Staci Richard (2010-11)
A middle school and high school school biology, ocean science, and physical science teacher from California; Served in the office of Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT)

Steven Robinson
A high school science teacher from Eugene, OR, 2005-2006 Office of Senator Barack Obama (D-IL)
E-mail Steven

Dorothy Ringer Sumner
A Secondary science and math teacher from Houston, TX 2003-2004 Fellow, Office of Senator Michael D. Crapo

Dan Schab
A high school math teacher from Williamston, MI.  2003-2004 Fellow, U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
E-Mail Dan
Dan says he will never forget that on his very first day on the job, he was asked to read and give his opinion on a bill that the HELP committee was working on.  He immediately knew that his Fellowship year would be filled with excitement and challenges.  His favorite memories involve “the great people that I had a chance to meet and work with during my fellowship year.   My fellowship year was like a crash course in education policy.  Since my year in D.C., I’ve stayed involved in policy decisions at the state, and national levels.  In 2005, I was chosen as Michigan Teacher of the Year and my duties included working with the State Board of Education on a number of issues.  At the national level, I served on a National Commission whose goal was to make recommendations for the reauthorization of NCLB. “ After his fellowship experience, Dan went back into the classroom to continue his math teaching career.    He continues to teach math at Williamston High School in Williamston, Michigan and is also the director of the Williamston Math and Science Academy.

Lisa Schunk
A middle school science teacher from Minneapolis, MN 2005-2006 Senate HELP Committee, Senator Enzi (WY) chair, Education Staff
E-mail Lisa

LaRon Smith
A high school mathematics teacher from Twin Falls, Idaho 1994-1995 Fellow, Office of Senator Mark Hatfield (R-OR)
E-mail LaRon
Smith was able to craft Senate Bill S. 624 for Senator Hatfield.  This bill would have provided professional development funds to help instructors of early education increase their math and science content and teaching effectiveness.  Although the bill did not become law, he was able to work with various committees, meet with stake holders, draft a preliminary proposal, and follow the complete legislative process.   After his Fellowship, Smith worked as the Idaho Department of Education Mathematics and Science Coordinator and is now working as a mathematics education consultant.  He lives in Meridian, Idaho.  About his Fellowship, Smith says, “The experiences and opportunities that I had were incredible.  I learned so much about the legislative process, National policies, and the workings of Congress.”

Linda Stroud
A science teacher from Raleigh, North Carolina 1996 Fellow, President’s Office of Science and Technology Policy and the office of Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM)
E-mail Linda
Linda Stroud worked on policy issues in a joint assignment in the Executive Office of the President’s Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and in the office of Sen. Jeff Bingaman. Stroud’s focus was on issues affecting the National Science Standards, educational technology, and the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring Program.  One of her challenges was to make OSTP aware of K12 issues rather than thinking only of higher education.  She especially enjoyed working with OSTP and Neil Lane from NSF on K-12i issues and working with OSTP on the PAEMST awards.  Her most memorable experience was the Fellows trip to Cape Kennedy for a space launch.  She says the greatest benefits of the Fellowship involve, “Exposure to federal agencies — their function and mission.  Also interaction with OSTP personnel with these agencies.  In Bingaman’s office, working with his state offices in NM and with the standards committee that he served on with Gov. Jim Hunt of NC.”   Following her fellowship, Linda returned to teaching at Broughton High School.  She is now a K-12 Science Safety Consultant and President of Science & Safety Consulting Services (www.sciencesafetyconsulting.com).

Robert W. Taylor
A secondary science teacher from Delta Junction, Alaska, 2000-2001 Fellow, Office of Representative Sherwood Boehlert (R-23rd/NY)
Rob stated that as a Capitol Hill Fellow, the beginning of his Fellowship seemed to have four phases: placement, scrambling to get on top of the issues, getting into the rhythm of the job, and lastly, the wrapping up of loose ends. A large part of his first month in the office was spent scrambling to read the active files on education legislation and policy, not only to be aware of what was happening in Congress in both houses, but also to get a feel for his Congressman’s perspective on education issues. As his Fellowship progressed, he became actively involved in the office. Rob made key contributions to the National Mathematics and Science Partnerships Act H.R. 1858. He fought to ensure that science standards and eventually science testing would be part of ESEA legislation, that all subjects would be remembered in ESEA legislation, and that IDEA would be funded at the level that Congress promised. He secured his Congressman’s support for rural education measures, tax credits to partially cover classroom supplies, a plan to increase dormitory fire safety, funding for school construction, funding for gifted and talented students, the We the People program, and funding for the use of educational television in the classroom. He also worked to support educational efforts at NSF, DOE, and ED-especially computerized access to programs and funding sources.

Stephanie Toney
A middle school science and mathematics teacher from Cary, North Carolina 2001-2002 Fellow, Representative Ruben Hinojosa (D-15-TX)
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Though Toney had very little involvement with national education issues or programs other than attending hearings and writing appropriate questions for the Congressman (who sits on the House Education and the Workforce Committee) to use during hearings, she more than made up for it in involvement with Representative Hinojosa’s Congressional District. Toney’s work was a part of the Congressman’s Math and Science Initiative in his District. She states that the Congressman wanted a Fellow who could take a hard, dispassionate look at the education efforts of his Congressional District and make reasonable recommendations on methods to improve the situation. Her motivation and independence were very important in this Fellowship because of the freedom that she was given. Toney states, “This has been a wonderful experience and will allow me to have a broader approach as I return to North Carolina, whether to the classroom or to an administrative position. The contacts that have been made during this year will continue to be an important part of my academic life. The other Fellows constitute a cohort of individuals that I may call on for idea generation and critiques for years to come.”

LeRoy Wenstrom
A secondary science teacher from Columbus, Mississippi.  2006-2007 Fellow, Office of Senator Trend Lott (R-MI)
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Wenstrom says the energy and enthusiasm of the Einstein fellows were fantastic, and that he will cherish the times spent with them.  He appreciated the Einstein related field trips, and events such as Bill Gates’ testimony before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pension.  He treasured the opportunity to speak to House and Senate Staff members about the National Board Certification program in the Capitol building.  After his Fellowship, he began working for the Department of Defense as an applied mathematician.  He contributed questions for the DOE National Science Bowl and chaired the American Mathematics Competition – 10 exam.  He also worked with his Capitol Hill contacts to support House Resolution 224 of the 111th Congress: A Resolution to Support “Pi Day” and recognize the continuing importance of NSF math and science education programs.   He says, “Gaining insight to the educational challenges at the National level was a fantastic experience.  I continue to find ways to contribute to and support math and science education at the local and national level.

Patrick White
A mathematics teacher from Clark Fork, Idaho.   1996-1997 Fellow, Office of Senator Jim Jeffords (R-VT)
E-mail Pat
In 1996 Pat White worked in the office of Senator Jim Jeffords and assisted the Senator on educational technology issues and was a staff representative to the Senate Educational Technology Working Group, which is developing policy on educational technology. Senator Jeffords found White to be so helpful that he requested to have White’s fellowship continue for another term. In 1997 White continued his activities in Senator Jeffords’ office and the Educational Technology Working Group. In addition, he assisted in preparing the Vocational Educational Legislation that is up for reauthorization in 1998. (White left Washington to accept the position of Science and Math Coordinator for the state of Idaho.) “I spent the first eight months of 1996 on Senator Jeffords’ staff focusing on education technology and during that time became coordinator of the Senate Education Technology Working Group (SETWG), a bipartisan forum on technology applications to improve education, formed by Senator Jeffords and Senator Robert Kerrey (D-NE). During my fellowship the Group worked to support discounted rates for schools and libraries to gain access to Internet resources through the Universal Service Provisions of the Telecommunications Act as well and to increase the funding for existing education technology legislation.” “In 1997 I was asked to return as an Einstein Fellow for a period of five months and was placed on the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee which Senator Jeffords chairs. I continued to act as coordinator of SETWG and worked with committee staff to write legislation reauthorizing vocational education.” “My experiences as a fellow taught me that teachers can have significant impact on government policies that affect education. Legislators and their staff members do listen to what teachers have to say, but far too few [educators] provide their governmental representatives with the important insights about the benefits or detriments of a particular education policy that can only come from experience in the classroom.”

Brenda Wright
A middle and secondary school science and math teacher from Henniker, New Hampshire.  2006-2007 Fellow.  HELP Committee, Senator Ted Kennedy
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June Yamashita
A mathematics teacher from Kaneohe, Hawai.  1990-1991 Fellow, Office of Senator Mark Hatfield (R-OR)
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Her favorite memories of her Fellowship year include her crusade to persuade other Senate offices to support legislation to fund the Einstein Fellowship and unsuccessful efforts to get the bill onto the Senate floor.  She also values being able to accompany Senator Hatfield to national meetings of education groups where she would introduce him before his keynote speeches and inform the audience of the Einstein Fellowship.   She greatly values experiencing the incredible camaraderie among all staffers in a well-led Congressional office, and sharing the intense loyalty to the Senator and his legislative program.  At the end of her Fellowship year, June joined the Senate Appropriations Staff and later became a meetings coordinator assistant for the American Bar Association Tax Session.  She is now retired, happy to be grandma to two teenaged grandsons.  She says, “I value my continuing friendship with the Senator, his legislative director, and some of his clerical staffers.  Developing familiarity with the Capitol buildings, legislative processes and historical perspectives made the federal government come to life for me.  I valued and admired the amazing efforts of the Triangle Coalition staff to help me make contacts and to advise me of alternative strategies to develop constituencies for the Senator’s agenda, including but not limited to the Einstein program.”

Department Of Education Fellows

Leigh Jenkins (2010-11)
A high school biology and environmental science teacher from West Virginia; Department of Education, Office of Vocational and Adult Education

Betsy Mabry
A middle school science teacher from Enid, Oklahoma. 1997 Fellow, U.S. Department of Education
E-mail Betsy

Deborah Patonai
A high school mathematics teacher from Akron, Ohio. 1997 Fellow, U.S. Department of Education
E-mail Deborah

Department Of Energy Fellows

Wendy Beavis
A middle school science teacher from Fairbanks, Alaska.   2000-2001 Fellow, U.S. Department of Energy
E-mail Wendy
Wendy’s duties as an Einstein Fellow were numerous and varied. She was active in the Undergraduate Research Participation Programs-ERULF, CCI, and PST. She also worked on website design, beta testing, and trouble shooting. She worked as a Science Judge and Moderator at regional and national Science Bowl competitions in addition to recruiting Fellows to help at the regionals and doing question validity testing. Wendy attended numerous meetings, conferences, and share-a-thons across the country where she represented the DOE Office of Science, disseminated materials, presented, etc. She was also actively involved in the Presidential Early Career Awards in Science and Engineering (PECASE).

Arlene Vidaurri Cain
A high school chemistry and physics teacher from Lake Charles, Louisiana.  1995-1996 Fellow, U.S. Department of Energy
E-mail Arlene
During her Fellowship, Arlene worked on joint educational programs between DOE and the National Science Foundation. Her assignments included developing laboratory science action items that support effective program management, monitoring science technology education issues, and working with the U.S. Global Climate Change Research Program.   She says she learned and developed better technology skills, and increased her overall understanding of the relationship between legislation, science and technology policy.   One of the highlights of her Fellowship experience was her VIP visit to the NASA STS 78 Columbia shuttle launch on June 20, 1996.  After her Fellowship, she returned to her classroom to continue teaching and she became more actively involved in curriculum development and technology integration.  She is now the Advanced Placement Online Technology Coordinator for Calcasieu Parish.  She is developing and teaching online courses for both Louisiana Virtual School and Calcasieu Parish Schools and teaches Pre-AP Biology, AP Biology and AP Physics.

J. Todd Clark
A high school science teacher from Murfreesboro, North Carolina 2001-2002, U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science
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During his Fellowship , Todd accomplished the following: (1) wrote articles in several publications to promote undergraduate research opportunities sponsored by the U.S. Department of energy; (2) managed the DOE website and online application process for undergraduate research programs; (3) assisted with the planning and implementation of the National Science Bowl and the National Middle School Science Bowl competitions at the regional and national levels; (4) advised members of the DOE’s Office of Science regarding the establishment of a program allowing in-service teachers to perform research during the summer at DOE National Laboratories; and (5) evaluated undergraduate research programs at Office of Science laboratories that run summer research programs for students.  At the end of his Fellowship, Todd continued to work at the DOE for four years with the Office of Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists, while his wife, Kathy (also a former Einstein Fellow) completed her PhD at the University of Maryland.   Todd currently serves as the Director of Race to the Top Assessments for the Florida Department of Education.  Todd says, “I benefited by gaining important experience with government programs and program management that allowed me to pursue a career in education policy leadership with a state education agency.”

Jennifer Coughlin
A secondary chemistry and physics teacher from Albuquerque, New Mexico. 2005-2006 Fellow, U.S. Department of Energy
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Jonathan Davies
A secondary school science teacher from Portland, Oregon.  2009-2010 Fellow, US Department of Energy
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During his time at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency/Renewable Energy he worked on a number of projects, a highlight of which was working to define energy literacy.  This definition, as it relates to the DOE will eventually lead to a Strategic Education Plan for the office.  It will allow program managers to assess their current involvement in education efforts and effectively target new programs and curriculum efforts to fill any gaps in their program’s overall education portfolio.  As well, he was involved in workforce development in the STEM arena as it relates to the energy sector, especially in the ‘green’ workforce.

Peter Faletra
A secondary science teacher from Warren, New Hampshire.  1999-2001 Fellow, U.S. Department of Energy
While working at the Department of Energy-Office of Science, Peter was instrumental in the creation and administration of a number of national science programs. These programs offered laboratory fellowships at the Office of Science National Laboratories to undergraduates interested in science and technology careers. He also worked with programs for students wishing to make teaching a career and junior faculty members at small colleges wishing to further their research experience. Peter also spent time traveling to the various Office of Science laboratories to find out how to improve the programs. When he was asked to describe what his workday was like he responded, “I work with a dynamic group of people whose overriding theme is providing new and interesting opportunities at one of our nation’s greatest resources . . . the National Laboratories.”

Kevin Hartmann
A secondary science and technology teacher from Williamstown, Massachusetts.  2006-2007 Fellow, US Department of Energy
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Stephan Graham
A high school science teacher from Denver, Colorado.  2007-2008 Fellow, US Department of Energy

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Graham says that the highlights of his Fellowship include traveling to the different National  Laboratories for one of his projects; leading the efforts for the Division Team Challenges at the National Science Bowl; working with SACNAS and SHPE to place students in research positions at the National Laboratories; and meeting with and working with the fellows from his year.    At the end of his fellowship, he returned to the classroom.  He continues to teach physics and chemistry in Denver.  About the fellowship, Graham says, “I got a year to think about my role as an educator from a different point of view.  I am a leader in my field and travel to conferences to give workshops.  I also stay in touch with fellows and other professionals from the different agencies in DC.”

Kathryn Hilts
A secondary science teacher from Charleston, West Virginia. 1998-2000 Fellow, US Department of Energy
E-mail Kathryn
Hilts spent her first year as an Einstein Fellow (1998-1999) working with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science. She worked with the Energy Research Undergraduate Laboratory Fellowships (ERULF) in coordination with the National Energy Laboratories and assisted in piloting a Community College Initiative. She also worked with the National Science Bowl and served as a scientific judge at both the regional (Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia) and the national finals of the competition. She served on a White House Taskforce on “Diversity for the 21st Century Workforce” and as a member of the steering committee of the collaborative efforts for the year 2000′s National Summit on Science Initiative. She helped coordinate the Faculty and Student Undergraduate Research Conference in Chicago where she also conducted a workshop on grant writing.

Kirk Janowiak
A secondary school science teacher from West Lafayette, Indiana.  2009-2010 Fellow, Department of Energy
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Kirk says that of the many memorable experiences of the Fellowship, four areas stand out:   “1) Visiting Goddard Space Center during the one of the last shuttle launches and seeing the launch from the control room was an awesome and unforgettable experience. This NASA field trip with other fellows was one of the best events of the year.  2) Attending White House subcommittee meetings on science education–as a participant–and having a voice in STEM policy-making was empowering and gave me a view into the deeper workings of our government that few ever get to see.  3) Writing white papers for larger meetings and presenting at conferences and meetings was incredibly satisfying and allowed me to use my teacher voice to explain to others what it is really like on the ground. In many of these meetings, I was the only educator with classroom experience and others showed a great deal of respect to me and my point of view.  4) Meeting international dignitaries, legislators, and other high-level policy-makers and decision-makers was a real treat. In some venues, I was able to discuss STEM issues with these people and better understand the complexities of educational policy-making.”  After completing his Fellowship year, Kirk returned to teaching in a small high school in Central Indiana.  He was also nominated for leadership in a state-wide science teaching organization, and served on an Indiana Department of Education committee to develop standards for second-level life science courses.   He found that his relationship with some members of the Indiana Department of Education has improved as they now know “that I have had experiences in the frustrations of dealing with policy-making that is not always entirely logical and is always subject to political whims.”  In addition to his current teaching duties, Kirk is working on a project with Purdue University to help teachers gain research experience in life-science laboratory and to translate that work into classroom teaching and to increase quantitative learning.  Kirk says that the benefits of the Fellowship include the development of his skills.  “I certainly further developed my analytical skills. Through the work in which I participated, I developed an increased sense of confidence that I could listen to a range of ideas and arguments and provide a detailed, articulated response that could be understood by others and used for decision-making or for persuasion during debates.  I felt that I was able to further develop my professional demeanor such that I could interact with just about any audience or group.”

Richard Jones
A high school science teacher from Billings, Montana.  2002-2003 Fellow, US Department of Energy
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Jones says that his most memorable Fellowship experiences include tossing snowballs with his son on the Mall during one of the many snow days the schools had.   Attending the launch of the Columbia was another highlight and he greatly appreciated having the opportunity to work with many great people to improve STEM Education. He lists some of his Key DOE activities as helping design the National Fuel Cell Car Challenge, co-editing the DOE Journal of Undergraduate Research, coordinating WDTS presence at NSTA, presenting Science Day Activities on the Hill and other venues, and providing analysis of education programs at several of the National Laboratories. Immediately after leaving the fellowship, Jones returned to teaching high school science in Billings, Montana where , unfortunately,  he says that he found his experience was not leveraged nor appreciated by his peers or his schools district.   Currently Jones is teaching future teachers at the University of Hawai’i-West O’ahu and lives in Kapolei, Hawaii.  “The fellowship gave me the desire to further my education and to work to move my state and district to the forefront of STEM education.  The experience also made me very aware of the process of government and perhaps more understanding of the difficulty needed to move progressive and beneficial legislation through the system.”

Kaye Kamp
An elementary and secondary science and math teacher from Post Falls, Idaho. 2002-2003 Fellow, US Department of Energy
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Mike Kennedy (2010-11)
A high school physics teacher from Illinois; Served at the US Department of Energy, Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists

Mubina Khan
A high school Biology and Psychology teacher from New York City.  2008-2009 Fellow, Department of Energy, Biological and Environmental Research Office (BER)
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During her Fellowship, Mubina Khan Schroeder was involved in a variety of programs related to cutting-edge science and science education. In the Biological and Environmental Research (BER) Office in the Department of Energy (DOE), she helped with the review and organization of graduate student speakers. She also worked with BER to help them re-think their educational outreach strategies. “I’m amazed at the amount of science research that the Department of Energy supports. Education goes hand-in-hand with producing world-class science and DOE supports that notion. I think it’s a matter of making the right connections between the scientific community and the educational community.”

Aaron Schuetz
A high school physics teacher from Roanoke, VA.  2003-2004 Fellow, US Department of Energy
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Lorna Vazquez
A high school Math teacher from Wisconsin.  2008-2009 Fellow, Department of Energy, Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists           E-Mail Lorna
Lorna Vazquez lent her teacher perspective to many WDTS projects. She served as co-editor of the Journal of Undergraduate Research, coordinating the peer review of papers, working with authors to prepare papers for publication, and managing design and formatting duties. She wrote and edited program plan documents and reviewed various proposals for funding. She traveled to several National Laboratories to learn more about the education programs offered there, touring the facilities and working with staff on improving existing internship programs. As a fully integrated member of the WDTS staff, she had the opportunity to learn about the intricacies of the operations, resources and programs of a Federal Agency and how that agency fits within the broader scope of the Federal Government.

NASA Fellows

Ann Coren
A secondary science teacher from Columbia Maryland who teaches chemistry for Montgomery County Public Schools.  2007-2008 Fellow, NASA
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Diedre Adams
An eighth grade Science and Math teacher from Terre Haute, Indiana.  2008-2009 Fellow, NASA
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Working with NASA, Diedre said, gave her the opportunity to meet people and learn things she could never have imagined. She attended briefings on Capitol Hill, corresponded with students from around the world, and met with leaders from numerous federal agencies and educational institutions. She conversed with astronauts on the space station, judged regional and national student competitions and became certified to carry moon rocks to schools around the country.  Diedre developed and presented several lessons dealing with careers in STEM, NASA products in everyday life, and the history of NASA. She traveled around the country and to Europe to make these presentations.  She said, “Traveling to conferences abroad was something that I would never have been able to do without the fellowship.”   Some of her days were spent in front of a computer researching federal documents or reviewing educational websites or CDs. Others were spent attending meetings, developing presentation materials or watching the taping of interviews with the astronauts, scientists or engineers.  But, she says, the most memorable time was that spent with the other fellows.  Through all of her experiences with NASA, Diedre accessed information and resources that she has shared with students and other teachers as well as people in her community. The fellowship, she said, gave her the opportunity to have a broader impact than the average classroom experience.  After her Fellowship, Diedre returned to the classroom and says, “I have been able to use what I got from the fellowship to educate thousands of students besides my own in STEM areas, as well as hundreds of adults.”  Diedre continues to teach and travels to present moon rocks to the general public.

Joel N Albright
A high school mathematics teacher from Rapid City, South Dakota.  1997 Fellow, NASA
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Joel especially enjoyed his work with Project NOVA, working with university teams on current teaching methods in mathematics and science and then guiding them through a grant writing process for implementing these techniques into their programs.  He also enjoyed working with the AESP program (the traveling/mobile science labs).   After his Fellowship year, he went back to the students at Douglas HS.  Inspired by his work with NASA, he wrote a grant and started a program for his students called the Space Mathematics Club. The work with Project NOVA connected him with Black Hills State University where he taught College Algebra and Calculus for the next 8 years as an adjunct. In 2006, he became the Secondary Mathematics Coordinator for Rapid City Area Schools (2nd largest district in the state). He reentered the classroom in the Fall of 2009 and currently teaches mathematics to underprivileged 6th grade students at a school with high minority and high poverty populations.  Joel says, “I benefited in the connections that I made and maintained throughout the years. The experience gave me knowledge of what government agencies, NASA in particular, were doing to support education and to ensure that future generations have the same opportunities to be inspired to pursue areas of mathematics and science. For years after the Fellowship, I was a contact person for local schools and districts that were interested in doing something with their students in space sciences. “

Liz Burton Burck
A (retired) secondary science teacher from Kenai, Alaska. 2006-2007 Fellow, NASA
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Patricia Colbert-Cormier
A high school science teacher from Lafayette, Louisiana 1998-1999 Fellow, NASA
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Naveen Cunha
An elementary teacher from College Station, TX. 2004-2006 NASA Educator Astronaut Program
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Naveen enjoyed learning about the other agencies in which the other fellows were involved.  He says it added to his toolbox of resources for the classroom.  The work he did reaching out to teachers involved in the Network of Educator Astronaut Teacher program still has a great positive impact on his teaching and classroom.  It also gave him an understanding on how ideas and programs run and get processed.  This has led to his involvement and many successes at the school and district level.  The year following the fellowship, he became a middle school science specialist and conducted professional development for teachers across the state of Texas.  After a year, he felt the need to go back to the classroom and work directly with students.  He returned to his community and helped kick off a successful math, science, and technology magnet program at the middle school level.  Naveen says, “I made connections with other teachers, professionals, and organizations that I still use and share to this day.  Working with the folks in the industry has added a solid authentic piece to my classroom and those with whom I have shared.”

Kristen Edwards (2009-10, 2010-11)
A high school biology, human anatomy, and physics teacher; Served at NASA Headquarters, Office of Education

Sonja Godeken
A secondary mathematics and astronomy teacher from Tacoma, Washington.  1999-2000 Fellow, NASA Office of Education
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During her year at NASA, Sonja helped design the NASA poster that was presented by Astronaut  Commander Eileen Collins at the Women in Aviation Annual Convention .  Sonja  attended a Space Shuttle launch and visited most of NASA’s Centers around the country.  She also assisted with national NASA-sponsored education programs.  Following her Fellowship, Sonja returned to the classroom, teaching at Bellarmine Preparatory School in Tacoma, WA. She said it was fun to have the opportunity to use some of the same materials she had helped to design during her Fellowship.   She currently teaches as an adjunct lecturer in the Mathematics Department at the University of Texas at Arlington, TX .   She says, “Personally and professionally, this was one of the, if not the most, amazing experiences of my career.  I grew in leadership skills and had the opportunity to affect national educational programs. “

Danita Guarino
An elementary science teacher from Highstown, New Jersey. 1998 Fellow, NASA
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Letitia Hoaas
A secondary science and math teacher from Shreveport, Louisiana.   2003-2004 Fellow,  NASA
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Letitia says her most memorable Fellowship experiences include flying on the KC135 and presenting at a Virtual Education conference in Maynooth, Ireland. Immediately after the Fellowship, she worked at NASA Langley Research Center as a coordinator for 17 NASA Explorer Schools in NASA Langley’s five-state region.  She is currently a Studio Teacher working with minors who are employed by the movie industry.   She says, “My Fellowship year gave me a better understanding of policy-making and lots of practice in adjusting on the fly while remaining focused on the goal.”

Donald L Hoff
A high school science teacher from Velva, North Dakota.   1997 Fellow, NASA
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Don’s favorite memories of his Fellowship include experiencing life and politics inside the beltway, his travel to many of the NASA sites, and a view from the VIP section of a shuttle launch.  After a year of national politics and programs, Don returned to  teaching high school science.  He now lives in Valley City, ND and is an Associate Professor teaching Geology,
Chemistry, and Science Teaching Methods. He also supervises student science teachers at Valley City State University and is the state coordinator for the Presidential Award for  Excellence in Math and Science Teaching (PAEMST).   He spends his summers traveling with Earth Expeditions (see story in Fellows Newsletter).   Don says, “I learned so much about how our national government works and even more about NASA and its role in education. I continue to share what I have gained with my students and fellow educators.”

Anne M. Holbrook
An elementary science and math teacher from West Chester, Ohio. 1999-2001 Fellow, NASA
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Anne had her Fellowship extended for a second year at NASA. During her Fellowship, she designed two Flight Education/Centennial posters, organized the membership for the National Middle Level Science Teachers Association, and networked with different enterprises in a diplomatic fashion to increase NASA student/teacher opportunities. She also attended and participated in 12 national or congressional briefings on science and/or mathematics education. Anne helped to develop curriculum and reviewed website information for the NASA Student Involvement Program and participated in development committees for both MathCounts and National Engineer’s Week. Additionally, she reviewed proposals and was chair for the National Science Teachers Association’s regional convention in Columbus, OH. One of the highlights of Anne’s Fellowship was the opportunity to travel to Singapore to observe mathematics and science teachers and students in their learning environment

Leesa Hubbard
A science and special education teacher from Lebanon, Tennessee. 2002-2003 Fellow, NASA
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Jenay Sharp Leach (2010-11)
An elementary science teacher from Virginia; Served at NASA Headquarters, Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate

Caryn Long
An elementary school science teacher from Indian Trail, North Carolina. 2002-2003 Fellow, NASA
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Pam Newberry
A high school mathematics and technology education teacher from Wytheville, Virginia. 1996 Fellow, NASA
E-mail Pam
“I worked . . . with Deborah Gallaway, Director of Pre-Service and In-Service Programs for Teachers . . . participate[d] in NASA Educational Workshops for Elementary School Teachers and for Mathematics, Science and Technology Teachers . . . . and I coordinated the use of mathematics materials with other materials from the NASA Educational Database. “. . . opportunities to collaborate with the other Einstein Fellows, three of whom worked in the legislative branch, permitted me to make connections and develop a greater understanding of the importance of being informed about how our government works. “My professional life has made major turns due to my opportunities as an Albert Einstein Fellow.” Newberry reports that she has been selected to work as Senior Research Associate with the International Technology Education Associations Technology for All Americans Project. She works with the Appalachian Education Laboratory to train teachers in implementing and promoting the standards for science and mathematics, and has become active in the Virginia Technology Education Association’s Government Relations Committee which she co-chairs.

Erin Peters-Burton
A middle school science teacher from Springfield, Virginia.  2006-2007 Fellow, NASA – Exploration Systems Mission Directorate
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Erin says her most important experiences during her Fellowship came when she was working with Patty Currier, who is now a Payload Scientist at Kennedy Space Center.  Erin found Patty to be an amazingly strategic thinker who pushed Erin to open her horizons to educational research.  At the end of her Fellowship, Erin became an Assistant Professor of Educational Psychology and Science Education at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA.   She is now an educational researcher and professor at GMU. Her research agenda is based in social justice and she pursues projects that help students who feel excluded in science classes to become more aware of the scientific enterprise and how scientific knowledge is generated. She is particularly interested in the nexus of the nature of science, science teacher pedagogical content knowledge, and educational psychology.  She also teaches science teaching methods classes, educational research classes, and human development (educational psychology) classes at the master’s and doctoral levels.   She says, “Being an Einstein Fellow broadened my perspective of education from the classroom to the nation. I gained a great deal of knowledge and skills from understanding how national curriculum are designed, marketed and distributed.”

Judy Sink
An elementary science teacher from Boone, North Carolina. 1998-1999 Fellow, NASA
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While as an Einstein Fellow with NASA, Judy states that she experienced first hand the application of science, math, and technology skills for research and development in seven of the ten NASA Centers across the U.S. At Headquarters, she worked in the Education Division writing and editing materials for the educational community and assisting with preparations for the NASA Education summer workshops. She believes her greatest contribution was working with the Mars Millennium Project, a joint initiative between NASA, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Department of Education. Judy believes that because of her experiences, she returned the following year to her district prepared to implement new programs in her school, to share knowledge and new ideas with colleagues, and to provide greater leadership within her state.

Cassandra Soeffing
A secondary science teacher from Sioux Falls, SD. 2005-2006 Fellow,  NASA Science Mission Directorate, Earth-Sun Systems Division
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Jamalee Stone
A high school math teacher from Gordon, NE.  2003-2004 Fellow, NASA
E-mail Jami
Jami’s Fellowship at NASA was marked by her assignment to promote the Centennial of Flight and to be in North Carolina for the celebration finale.  President George Bush introduced his I Vision for Space Exploration during her Fellowship and she resultantly had the opportunity to see how a President’s decision could put an agency into major reorganization.  She says that the greatest benefits from her Fellowship involved learning to be more independent and making connections with people from other governmental organizations.  After her Fellowship, Jami returned to school to earn her doctorate and was a graduate research assistant for the Math in the Middle NSF-MSP at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln.  She is now an assistant professor in Math Education at Black Hills State University, Spearfish, South Dakota, and is also Common Core State Standards professional development trainer for the South Dakota Department of Education.

Tyson Tuchscherer
A secondary math teacher from Lakeview, OR.   2005-2006 Fellow, NASA Explorer Schools
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Karol Yeatts
An elementary mathematics teacher from Miami, Florida. 1998 Fellow, NASA
E-mail Karol

National Institutes of Health Fellows

Heidi Coleman
A secondary science teacher from Caldwell County, NC.   2005-2006 National Institutes of Health
E-mail Heidi

Peggy Deichstetter
A high school biology teacher from Chicago, IL   2003-2004 Fellow, Office of Science Education, National Institutes of Health
E-mail Peggy
While at NIH, Peggy traveled throughout the country presenting workshops to teachers on the Teaching Supplements developed by NIH. She also field tested and reviewed new supplements and polled teachers about how to improve the supplements at national teacher conventions. She also actively worked to align the supplements to State Science Standards. Peggy says, “The NIH Office of Science Education depends on independence and motivation. When told, ‘There is a workshop I need you to do in New Jersey in April,’ the office knows that I will be there and be prepared.” She was also involved in all aspects of the development of new curriculum supplements.

George Dewey
A science teacher from Fairfax, Virginia.  1996 Fellow, Office of Science Education, National Institutes of Health
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JoAnne Dombrowski (Mowczko)
A high school science teacher from Yuma, Arizona.   1997 Fellow, Office of Science Education, National Institutes of Health
E-mail JoAnne
JoAnne was  asked to develop an online hands-on lab curriculum project  that included creation, field testing, teacher training and implementation.  The on-line health curriculum targeted minorities and women and was tested at three high schools during her Fellowship.  On a personal level, JoAnne says the most memorable event was the Fellows trip to watch the space shuttle launch. JoAnne says that living in Washington DC and working for a government agency broadened her experience base and the six Fellows that year became friends and each other’s support system.    After her Fellowship, JoAnn returned to her teaching and chair positions    She is now retired but continues to develop curriculum and educational materials in Yuma and for the Achuar indigenous people of Ecuador.

Barbara Houtz
A secondary science teacher from State College, PA.  2005-2006 Fellow, National Institutes of Health, Office of ScienceEducation
E-Mail Barbara
On the very first day of her Fellowship, Barbara and another new NIH Fellow, Heidi Coleman, were sent to San Juan, Puerto Rico, to deliver a 6.5 hour workshop on one of the NIH curriculum supplements.  They had to plan the entire workshop without knowing how well  the audience could understand English. Much to their surprise, the first half of the workshop went well.  After a leisurely lunch, they were told that no one had showed up for the afternoon session but that they were not to worry.  They were expected to go enjoy the sunshine and beauty of Puerto Rico. They couldn’t fly out until Monday morning, so they spent their first week as Einstein Fellows enjoying the beaches of San Juan.   Following her Fellowship year, Barbara was hired full-time in the same position she held as an Einstein Fellow in the Office of Science Education.  As a consultant to NIH, she continued to work on her Fellow’s project for the next 2 years, and traveled the country presenting teacher workshops at conferences and universities.  She continued to advise federal and state agencies on STEM education.  Barbara is now the Director of Outreach in the College of Science at her alma mater, Penn State.  She organizes and implements multiple K-20 STEM education programs: summer camps, teacher workshops, on-site school visits and laboratory activities, teacher professional development programs in local schools, and large events for the general public: http://science.psu.edu/outreach.  She has written two books on science teaching for Shell Education, and teaches a graduate-level class for post-docs and NIH Research Fellows titled “Scientists Teaching Science” about pedagogy and best practices in post-secondary science education.  About her Fellowship experience, Barbara says, “I’ve often likened it to the first two years of a doctoral program.  I learned a wealth of information about K-20 STEM education, international programs, and research funding agencies. I also networked like crazy, and ended up with a government contract and a book contract after my year.”

Ruth Rand
A chemistry and physics teacher from Albuquerque, New Mexico. 1999-2000 Fellow, Office of Science Education, National Institutes of Health
E-mail Ruth
Ruth Rand helped with curriculum development at NIH, including development of an online collaborative nutrition study. This was a new way of teaching nutrition to high school students in which  students would record and analyze nutrient intake; pool data online with participating students in their own school and across schools; and would compare analysis of personal dietary intake with dietary components recommended for disease prevention and health maintenance.   Rand also played a major role in the development of the NIH Health Science Virtual Mentor. The goals of the NIH Virtual Mentor is to foster career success for students who are, or who may be, interested in health professions and to connect students with others interested in health careers   She also helped to develop teacher training for the NIH Health Science Curriculum Supplements. After leaving the Fellowship, Ruth continued teacher training in her home state by coordinating a Distance Learning Workshop which was presented by NIH scientists broadcasting live from Bernalillo, New Mexico to four other sites in the state.  She says, “It’s hard to believe that I was an Einstein Fellow a decade ago. I retired from Albuquerque Academy in 2006 but still have a busy schedule.  My work as a Fellow led to interaction with rural and inner-city underserved schools.  I became involved with a high school on the Navajo reservation in hopes of improving their science program.  As I learned while doing my NIH research, nutrition is a major problem, on the reservation contributing to a very high incidence of diabetes.  We had hoped that our interactive nutrition analysis website would help to address that problem.  That was too much to expect. It is disappointing to see that poor nutrition and poor exercise patterns have gotten worse in the last decade, and the incidence of diabetes and cardiovascular disease has increased in the entire country. Happily, we have a First Lady who is meeting the problem head-on.  She certainly will have more opportunity to change such things as school lunches than we did.  I think many of the Fellows thought we could do more, and do it quickly.   We learned that Washington moves at its own pace.  That does not mean we were disappointed with the Fellowship program, but, we did have a lesson in reality.”

National Institute of Standards and Technology Fellows

Celani Dominguez
A high school science teacher from Austin, Texas.  2001-2002 Fellow, National Institute of Standards and Technology
E-mail Celani
Celani Dominguez states that she found the Einstein Fellowship an invaluable learning experience. While working at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, she accomplished the following: She participated on the team addressing issues for the Baldrige National Quality Award in Education and gained valuable expertise in the application of the Baldrige Criteria for Performance excellence in education settings. Dominguez co-presented a work session on applying for the Baldrige National Quality Award at the national convention for the Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development in addition to presenting at a National Seminar of the American Association of University Women on the challenges of leadership in K-12 schools. Additionally, she presented at various educational workshops and seminars. She also served as a National Science Foundation (NSF) K-12 Grant Reviewer Panelist for educational organizations applying for NSF Research Grants. Dominguez is applying the valuable lessons learned through application of the Baldrige Criteria for Excellence in her present university setting and future education settings as well. Dominguez has finished her Ph.D. and is now at Clark University in Massachusetts helping prepare future teachers and working with math and science teachers to improve their practice in the Worcester Independent School District through action research projects in math and science.

Carolyn Schwennsen
A high school chemistry teacher from Omaha, NE.   2003-2004 Fellow, National Institute of Standards and Technology
E-mail Carolyn

Linda Selvig
A high school science teacher from Boise, Idaho.   2002-2003 Fellow, National Institute of Standards and Technology
Linda performed low-level radiochemistry research at NIST. She also learned the techniques necessary to carry out analytical procedures in the laboratory. She presented her published paper on the research at the Mark VI Radiochemistry Conference in Kona, Hawaii in April 2003. She also developed radiochemistry contacts for networking and edited a textbook chapter on Quality Assurance and mentored two undergraduate students placed in the laboratory for the summer. She says of her experience, “Once the scientists know that I am a teacher, they are eager for me to learn about what they are doing and willing to share their knowledge and skills.”

Ann Swain
An elementary teacher from Woodinville, WA.  2005-2006 Fellow, National Institute of Standards and Technology
E-mail Ann

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fellows

Kirk Beckendorf
An 8th grade Science teacher from Texas.   2008-2010 Fellow, NOAA Office of Education
E-Mail Kirk
Beckendorf began his fellowship working with the Environmental Literacy Grants Team to help develop and plan future funding opportunities and he led the effort to evaluate the office’s historic grants portfolio.  He also edited NOAA’s 2009 Strategic Education Plan and reviewed the public comments as they were submitted.  His sponsor asked him to stay a second year to help develop a new NOAA Education website.  During this second fellowship year, he was significantly involved in the website’s design and development. Beckendorf organized a focus group of teachers (including Einstein Fellows) to help guide this process and he also performed a literature review of the research on teacher use of websites and the efficacy of education websites. As a result he wrote a white paper to guide NOAA’s online education resources. As a member of the NOAA Outreach Team, Beckendorf was an exhibiter and presenter at all eight of the NSTA conventions over the two years.  Presentation topics included Climate Change, Coral Reefs, the Teacher At Sea Program, and using NOAA Data in the Classroom. In addition, he was asked to be a member of the Hurricane Awareness Tour, flying onboard (and actually flying) a NOAA Hurricane Hunter P3-Orion aircraft.

Rene’ Carson (2005-06)
A middle level science teacher from Arkansas; Served at NOAA in the Office of Education

Christine Donovan
A high school science teacher from Tucson, Arizona.  2007-2008 Fellow NOAA
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Beth Jewell
A secondary science teacher from Burke, VA, 2005-2006 Fellow, NOAA
E-mail Beth

Judy Reeves
A secondary school science teacher from Montgomery, Alabama.  2006-2007 Fellow, NOAA

Joseph Shewmaker
A secondary school science teacher from West Palm Beach, Florida.  2006-2007 Fellow, NOAA
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Joyce Stark
A science teacher from Sunnyside, Washington 2004-2005 Fellow, NOAA
E-mail Joyce

National Science Foundation Fellows

Pam Abreu
An elementary teacher from Las Vegas, NM.  2005-2006 Fellow, NSF Division of Elementary, Secondary, and Informal Education
E-Mail Pam
Pam says that being involved with the PAEMST program was the most memorable part of her year.  She and her colleagues were charged with working with OSTP personnel to revamp the PAEMST application and it took many attempts before OSTP was satisfied.  She enjoyed helping with the National Selection Committee for PAEMST, making preparations for Award Week, attending menu sampling at the various caterers who were vying for the PAEMST contract, and planning the week of activities.   She says she was a real tourist while in DC, visiting historic locations and museums.  She attended concerts, became a Kennedy Center patron, attended NSF bootcamp, and became a proficient city driver.  Coming from a small town of 14,000 people, it was an accomplishment for Pam to drive and travel throughout the DC region.   After completing her fellowship, she returned for one year to her school district in accordance with an earlier agreement.  She found that her superintendent did not value what she had learned, did not allow her to go back to the classroom, and gave her an office job she did not enjoy.  It was a  difficult transition.  Fortunately she had the opportunity to travel  back to DC several times to serve on panels, she conducted a professional development workshop in New York City and learned as much as she could about testing data, how to disaggregate it, how to interpret it, and how to make it understandable for parents and useful for teachers.  After that year, she taught at a University and did national consulting.  She is now teaching math and science in a tiny (only 65 students grades K-7) rural school.  She says, “It is very challenging and very rewarding.  I recently was awarded a grant to purchase science kits for the school and am looking forward to capitalizing on the children’s natural interest in their surroundings to turn them on to science.  [Because of the Fellowship] I have the confidence to interact on all levels from rural children to my Congressmen.  I learned so much about education all over the country by attending NSTA and NCTM regional conferences all over America [during my fellowship].”

Cherlynn Anderson
A middle school science teacher from Cayce, South Carolina.  2007-2008 Fellow,  NSF Office of Informal Science Education
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As an Einstein Fellow, Cherlyn was involved in the daily operations of the Office of Informal Science Education as well as continuing her professional growth.  During her Fellowship year, Cherlyn reviewed curriculum materials for ISE project awards in development, assisted CAISE (Center for the Advancement of Informal Science Education) in an analysis of the ISE portfolio of awards, specifically awards which have a linkage to formal education or professional development for K-12 educators, as well as an analysis of active NSF awards with direct or indirect components linking to informal science education.  Cherlyn produced a K-12 Educator Resource Companion which featured classroom appropriate educational resources available from ISE funded projects and presented a NSF “Brown Bag” Seminar entitled “Informal Science Education’s Connections to the K-12 Classroom.”
Outside of the Office of ISE, Cherlyn served on a division team that administers the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST.) She was also able to serve as an ISE preliminary proposal reviewer, full proposal reviewer and panelist, ITEST (Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers) proposal reviewer and panelist, and as a panelist on the National Selection Panel for the PAEMST awards. She continues to serve on review panels when requested.
Some of the opportunities presented to Cherlyn while in DC were:

• Featured panelist for the National Science Foundation’s IGERT (Integrative Graduate Education Research Traineeship) Program Annual PI Meeting, “Strategies for Successful K-12 Education Outreach”
• Focus Group member for National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
• Featured panelist for Congressional Nanotechnology Caucus briefing on “Nanotechnology, Education and Public Understanding”
• Interagency team member responsible for developing a Climate Change Toolkit for Formal and Informal Educators, (NASA, NOAA, EPA, NPS, FWS, NSF)
• Focus Group member for the development of a Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars seminar, “Building Blocks: How Schools and Businesses Can Partner to Improve American Education”

Upon Cherlyn’s return to South Carolina, she accepted a position as a Science Specialist with the regional education support centers (S2MART Centers SC- Support Services for Making a Real Transformation.) In this position she provides support and training to Instructional Coaches and District/School Leadership Teams around the state. She also served on the LiteracySC panel and is a current Advisory Board Member for the NSF funded Middle School Portal project.

Julie Angle
A high school Science teacher from  Oklahoma.  2008-2009 Fellow, NSF, Office of Cyberinsfrastructure
E-Mail Julie
During her Fellowship, Angle had the opportunity to work on the strategy and policy side of pre-college, undergraduate and graduate cyber-enabled learning.  She found that her opportunities were enhanced by the timely publication of a new NSF Cyberlearning report, “Fostering Learning in the Networked World: the Cyberlearning Opportunity and Challenge”.  She names her most memorable Fellowship experiences as:  “Attending President’s Tree lighting ceremony,  serving as a volunteer for President Obama’s inauguration,  meeting Thomas Friedman and going to the DC Mall any weekend I wanted” .  She says she will always be grateful for the experience of living in the DC area and that her fellowship “provided me with a political view of education by allowing me to work with individuals who make the educational decisions for the nation. Working at NSF also afforded me the opportunity to see first hand how the grant process is conducted.”  Other benefits of the Fellowship, she says, are that it “allowed me to meet 14 other amazing educators from across the U.S. and as a result of my Fellowship with NSF, I received an offer from several universities as an assistant professor.”  She accepted a tenure track faculty position at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma where she is the coordinator for the secondary science education program.

Cathy Barthelemy
An elementary science and mathematics teacher from Southlake, Texas.   2001-2002 Fellow , NSF Informal Science Education,
E-mail Cathy
While at the National Science Foundation, Barthelemy’s Fellowship activities included: reviewing proposals for several NSF divisions, attending Informal Science conferences and meeting with conferees, facilitating a GK-12 program meeting, reviewing and making recommendations for the Math and Science Partnership solicitation, preparing a report on the history of Supplemental Research Awards, critiquing NSF-sponsored videos for staff development, reviewing training videos for the Presidential Awards program, assisting with all aspects of the Presidential Awards program, creating web lessons for NASA’s Centennial of Flight program, and attending a wide range of NSF-sponsored lectures and presentations. Barthelemy states, “I have tried to make every minute of my experience count; and because of this, I believe that I have gained many things that will help me in the future. The Fellowship has given me numerous opportunities to open doors that would have remained closed otherwise. I will value this experience always.”

Fred Belmont (2010-11)
A middle school math teacher from Illinois; Served at the National Science Foundation, CISE – Information and Intelligent Systems (IIS)

Susan Brown
A middle school science teacher from Annapolis, Maryland.  2007-2008 Fellow,  NSF-Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship Program
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Nick Cabot
A secondary science teacher from Seattle, Washington.  2001-2002 Fellow, NSF Division of Undergraduate Education
E-mail Nick
While at the National Science Foundation (NSF), Cabot spent most of his time working on and supporting activities associated with NSF Teacher preparation initiatives. He was an active member of grant selection and program review committees that affected the training of pre-service K-12 math and science teachers. His biggest project was the preparation of a comprehensive report of “best practices” stemming from the work of the NSF-funded Collaboratives for Excellence in Teacher Preparation. Cabot states, “This has been a great learning opportunity for me, both as to the role of the government in science education reform and in my own professional development as an educator.”

Marti Canipe (2009-10)
Served at the National Science Foundation in the Office of Polar Programs

Daniel Carpenter
A secondary science teacher from Lincoln, NE.  2005-2006 Fellow, NSF, GK12
E-mail Dan
Dan says the most important aspects of his Fellowship involved the travel and interactions he had every day with organizations in DC and around the country. He greatly values the conversations he had about data that helped shape policy and outcomes for programs.  He greatly enjoyed watching policy take shape because of these interactions and appreciates the impact on educational systems.  Following his Fellowship, Dan returned to Lincoln, Nebraska where he continues to teach AP Biology.  He says that he works in a very conservative community that does not recognize shifting policy and political view and therefore his fellowship outcomes had little or no application to his teaching job.   He says, “Using some of the fellowship experiences for my own personal growth helped me to know and understand the connection between policy and practice in both the government and in the classroom.”  He continues to advise NSF, NOAA and other organizations in panels when requested.  He plans to complete work on his PhD during this next year.

Carrie Chiappetta
A middle school Mathematics teacher from Stamford, Connecticut.  2006-2007 NSF- GK12
E-Mail Carrie
Immediately after her fellowship, Carrie was asked to be the Curriculum Associate for Secondary Math.  This included creating a rigorous, standards-based math program (6-12th grade) and also developing and implementing a math coach model.  She is currently working as an administrator in the Central Office of her school district.  She says that during her Fellowship, “I learned about the way NSF worked, about the national view of teachers, and about the various programs at NSF.”

Buffy Cushman-Patz (2010-11)
A middle school and high school science teacher from Hawaii; Served at the National Science Foundation, Office of Legislative and Public Affairs

Charlene Dindo
An elementary school Science teacher from Fairhope, Alabama.  2002-2003 Fellow, NSF Teacher Enhancement Program
E-mail Charlene

Carol Engelmann
A science teacher from Omaha, Nebraska.  2004-2005 Fellow, NSF Division of Elementary, Secondary, and Informal Education
E-mail Carol

Linda Ewing
A middle and high school science teacher from Boynton Beach, Florida.  2002-2003 Fellow, NSF Graduate Teaching Fellowships in K-12 Education Programs
Linda’s main responsibilities centered on the GK-12 program. She organized several National Science Foundation-sponsored meetings for the program including the fall meeting (over 300 participants), an evaluators meeting (50 independent evaluators), and the Principal Investigators meeting for newly funded projects. She monitored the GK-12 projects through site visits and reviewed grants for other divisions throughout NSF. She also assisted with the NATO grants program and the Graduate Research Fellowships program. Linda attended over two dozen lectures, presentations and training sessions as part of her fellowship. She says that, “the working atmosphere has been one of acceptance, humor and encouragement. It has truly been a uniquely satisfying experience.”

Kent Franklin
A secondary science teacher from Minnesota.  2007-2008 Fellow, NSF Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship Program
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Sandra Geisbush
An elementary teacher from San Antonio, TX. 2003-2004 Fellow, NSF  Division of Research, Evaluation, and Communication,
E-mail Sandra

Docia Generette
A secondary science teacher from Memphis, Tennessee.  2006-2007 Fellow, NSF PAEMST Program
E-Mail Docia

Kathleen Gorski
A middle school science and technology teacher from Hampden, Massachusetts.  2007-2008 Fellow NSF Office of Polar Programs
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Mark Greenman (2009-10, 2010-11)
A high school physics teacher from Massachusetts; Served at the National Science Founation, Undergraduate Education Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program and Math and Science Partnership (MSP) Program

Mark Hannum
A high school Math and Science teacher in the District of Columbia, 2008-2009 Fellow, NSF Graduate Teaching Fellowships in K-12 Education Programs
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During his fellowship year, Hannum had the opportunity to explore the relationship between cutting edge scientific research and its implementation in the K-12 classroom. He examined the questions of how teachers can be exposed to, and then use the results of scientific research to raise student engagement, use real data, address social and societal needs, explore the nature of science, and expose students to the life of a scientist.  Mr. Hannum has also used his year as a fellow to explore the issues of underrepresented minorities in the STEM fields. Through his work at the NSF he has developed a better understanding of the issues facing the STEM pipeline with special emphasis on opportunities for minorities and women to move into Science, Technology, or Engineering professions.  Hannum now teaches at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Arlington, Virginia.

Katylee Hoover-McInerney
An elementary science teacher from Greensboro, North Carolina. 1998-2000 Fellow, NSF Division of Undergraduate Education
E-mail Katylee
Katylee worked with the Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE)  One of her duties included monitoring the on-going evaluation component of the Collaboratives for Excellence in Teacher Preparation (CETP) that began with a conference in 1998 and continued as a national effort to measure outcomes and gather Government and Performance and Results Act (GPRA) data regarding the activities of the Collaboratives. Another of her duties was site visits to Collaboratives, including on-site observation of K-16 classrooms including discussion with K-12 teachers, preservice students, and college and university faculty with formal written reports to the NSF of all site visits. She compiled necessary information about the Collaboratives for the Committee of Visitors to the NSF. Katylee also assisted in the planning of national meetings for the Principal Investigators of CETP projects. Her job entailed daily interaction with university professors, Project Managers, Principal Investigators, community college instructors, preservice teachers, and K-12 teachers involved in the Collaboratives for Excellence in Teacher Preparation.

Jenelle Hopkins
A science teacher from Las Vegas, Nevada.   2004-2005 Fellow, NSF GEO
E-mail Jenelle
Jenelle worked directly with the Program Officer in charge of Geosciences Education and Diversity Programs. She read and summarized reports, organized data, planned and attended meetings. She helped with K-12 solicitations, did background research for working group meetings, hunted for statistical reports and summarized the findings. She attended many meetings and conferences and was frequently asked to give a classroom science teacher perspective. During her Fellowship, Jenelle said, “Professionally, the most rewarding part of this Fellowship is getting a chance to be involved with cutting edge research in all aspects of the Geosciences. I have the time to read about research programs that are advancing our geologic knowledge of Planet Earth. And I am meeting researchers from around the country and am able to talk with them personally about their programs.”   In retrospect, she says that her interactions with the other Fellows had the most profound effect on her life.   She says, “I made life-long friends.  I am still in contact with the NSF Fellows.  We have visited each other in our home states and share vacation time.  We find ways to work together on various educational venues so that we can have mini-Fellow reunions.  They are such an inspiration and support to me as I continue to work in the classroom. “  She also values her knowledge of grants, something that continues to impact her ability to teach.  “I learned a great deal about grants – how they are developed, who offers them, how they are awarded.  So I have used this information to become a better grant writer.  This is very important in times of budget cuts – if I want to do something innovative in my classroom I need grant support.”  Jenelle returned to the classroom after her Fellowship.  She continues to be a high school Earth Science teacher who advocates for geosciences education and representation in K-12 education.

Kathleen House
A high school mathematics teacher from Frederick, Maryland.   2001-2002 Fellow, NSF ESIE
E-mail Kathleen
Kathleen was one of the Fellows whose Fellowship year was profoundly affected by working in a US Government institution on and immediately after 9/11.  Her work at NSF primarily focused on the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAESMT). She revised the application packet and disseminated the changes in the application to state coordinators, curriculum coordinators, and prospective applicants. She was also involved in the plans for the PAEMST week activities.  She says, “My responsibilities for the Presidential Awards for Math and Science were amazing.  I was involved in every aspect from the selection to the final event which included reading the names of the awardees as they walked across the stage at the Kennedy Center.”  House also reviewed and critiqued proposals and videos for NSF teacher programs and participated in the national conferences for both science and math teachers.  She also recalls that she was excited to go to Congress and listen to various groups present the results of research or projects.  After her Fellowship, Kathleen returned to the classroom and continued teaching secondary math.  She has been teaching the Governor’s Academy for the Maryland Department of Education and continues teaching at Hood College in both the Math and Education Department.  She also writes items for ETS.  She says she benefited from her Fellowship and “returned to my County with a much better understanding of what was going on nationally with respect to curriculum and staff development.  I had the opportunity to investigate the various new curricula and the results of different methods.  I was even more confident when I was asked to present staff development at national, state or local levels.  I was asked to return to NSF to serve on panels and I was a member of an Expert Panel on the Mathematics Education Portfolio at NSF.”

John A. Jackson
An elementary science teacher from Altadena, California. 2000-2002.  Fellow, NSF Graduate Teaching Fellowships in K-12 Education Programs
E-mail John
John especially remembers the site visits to key research universities and learning first-hand about scientific research e.g. Nanotubes experiments and the joy of meeting top researchers, distinguished professors and Nobel laureates, which greatly added to his understanding of STEM education.  After completing his fellowship, John eventually returned to the classroom and spent summers as a Park Ranger.  He is now retired from the Public Schools and spends his summer as a Park Ranger in Yosemite National Park, California.  Read more about John in the Fellows Newsletter.  He says, “My main benefit was the realization of the profound role of STEM education in building America’s competitiveness. “

Kera Johnson
A high school Mathematics teacher from Maryland.   2008-2009 Fellow, NSF Division of Research on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings
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Johnson was selected as an Einstein Fellow in 2008 and served in the National Science Foundation’s Directorate for Education and Human Resources in the Division of Research on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings with the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching Program.  At the end of her Fellowship, Kera was invited to return as a 2009-2010 Einstein Fellow to support various aspects of the CISE Pathways to Revitalized Undergraduate Computing Education (CPATH) program.   In her new role, Kera has helped facilitate PI meetings and conferences, assisted with research and data collection of CPATH projects, and prepared summary information for current and historical awards through the program.  Additionally, Kera provided support to the CISE Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Sites program.

Melvina Jones
An elementary science teacher in the District of Columbia.  2007-2008 Fellow, NSF- PAEMST
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David Kapolka
A mathematics teacher from Grand Rapids, Michigan.  2004-2005 Fellow, NSF Division of Elementary, Secondary, and Informal Education
E-mail David
David’s work was focused around the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) Program. His role at NSF was to work on all aspects of the Presidential Awards Program. He was involved in the preparation for awards week and participated in many of the activities during the week. David communicated with former Presidential Award winners and worked on presentations for the program. He gave numerous presentations and spoke at many regional and national conferences. In addition, spoke at the Michigan Council of Teachers of Mathematics Annual Conference and in Grand Rapids at the Math-in-Action Conference.  David’s other duties involved NSF-TPC (Teacher Preparation Continuum), where he was involved with grant proposals and review panels. Einstein Fellows cannot officially write a panel review, but they do write “ad hoc” reviews, which may also be included in reports and evaluations. David worked on the review panel process for evaluating grant proposals for possible funding in mathematics as well as the Presidential Awards program.  David says, “The Einstein Fellowship afforded me the opportunity to work with some of the most respected math and science experts in the United States. I was privileged to meet and work with senators, congressmen, astronauts, Nobel Laureates, and was especially thrilled to attend a ceremony attended by and honoring Stephen Hawking. My work at NSF prepared me to deal with large scale projects with major impact on the nation’s schools. It was valuable training for my new career as a national technology consultant in mathematics.”

Tina King (2010-11)
A middle school integrated science teacher from Tennessee; Served at the National Science Foundation, EHR / HRD – Research on Gender in Science and Engineering Program

Mark Klawiter
A science teacher from Ladysmith, Wisconsin.  2004-2005 Fellow, NSF Division of Research, Evaluation, and Communication
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Mark says his most important Fellowship experiences were the events and interactions with the other Fellows.  He says the camaraderie and collegiality were unforgettable and in many cases are ongoing.  He also valued building working relationships with the program officers in REC. He enjoyed the field trips and the many meetings that focused on educational policy that helped guide his career path.   After his Fellowship, Mark returned to teaching.  He is now enrolled as a PhD student, working on a Math-Science Partnership (MSP) grant from NSF. The grant involves improving pedagogical content knowledge and leadership potential among teachers from 3 urban school districts in Michigan.  He says, about the benefits from his Fellowship year, “Contacts, both professional and personal, have contextualized many aspects of my post-EF years. As a classroom teacher returning to the field but not to the same school, I was more aware of the landscape, including grants, initiatives, trends, strategies, and policy. My current trajectory (PhD student) was set in motion primarily because of these contacts and the concomitant lessons learned.  Leadership, at all levels, has been bolstered significantly.”

Nicole D. LaDue
A high school Earth Science teacher from Cross River, New York, 2007-2009 Fellow.  NSF, Directorate for GeoSciences
E-Mail Nicole
Nadine says the fellowship gave her a bird’s eye view of the science education machine.  She learned about policy and the legislative process from attending Capitol Hill briefings and conferences.  She gained a bigger perspective on science education research during her time at NSF.  While working for the Directorate for Geosciences, she came to know the geoscience education community very well and was able to grasp the needs of scientists seeking to do education and outreach activities.  Helping to facilitate the merit review process helped her learn more about project management, writing skills, project budgets, evaluation, as well as a wealth of existing programs and resources available in geoscience education. Following the fellowship, she moved to East Lansing, Michigan to pursue a PhD in geoscience education.  She is studying the relationship between spatial ability and Earth science and her thesis committee is composed of geoscientists, a science education research and a cognitive scientist.  This interdisciplinary approach challenges her to integrate research from multiple domains to impact learning in the sciences.   Nicole says, “The fellowship transformed my thinking about teaching through interactions with the other fellows as much as through the learning I gained from my professional activities.  The other fellows gave me great insights about other teaching environments and state-level issues and approaches to problems that were new to me.  The travel that I was able to do during the fellowship personally transformed my world view and professionally opened up many possibilities for future opportunities. “

Dan Manelly (2010-11)
A middle school science teacher from New York; Served at the National Science Foundation, Office of Cyberinfrastructure

Camsie McAdams (2009-10, 2010-11)
A high school algebra teacher from New York; Served at the National Science Foundation, CISE – Broadening Participation in Computing Program

Ruth McDonald
A middle school math, science and technology teacher from Yachats, Oregon.  2007-2008 Fellow, NSF Office of International Science and Engineering
E-mail Ruth
Ruth’s most memorable Fellowship experiences include meeting the Shuttle Endeavour Astronauts and Jane Goodall, and being able to attend numerous STEM professional development events in DC and throughout the country.  She also valued attendance at congressional briefings, lectures at the National Academies, Carnegie Institute and The Wilson Center.  She says that being able to spend an entire year learning and working with top STEM researchers and professionals, including the Einstein Fellows, impacted her  ideas on STEM education and allowed her to provide the teacher’s view to her agency to help increase their understanding and focus on K-12 education.  Upon returning to her district, Lincoln County School District in Newport, Oregon, she assumed the position of Curriculum Resource Liaison focused on developing  Ocean Science partnerships with local universities, non-profits and other government agencies and providing teacher professional development in science.  She also received a grant and directed her district’s New Teacher Induction program to mentor and support novice teachers. She has written and now directs a 3- year U.S. Dept. of Education Math Science Partnership grant, the Oregon Coast Aquatic and Marine Science Partnership that will continue through the 2011-12 school year.  She also continues to coordinate the Mentor Project to support beginning teachers. The partnership has been awarded the Coastal America Presidential Award for Excellence.  Ruth says, “During my time at NSF I met and collaborated with top scientists from all over the world.  I learned firsthand about STEM education in other countries. I developed a thorough understanding of the NSF proposal and review process and assisted with RFP’s panels and presentations.  I learned how to write a congressional brief.  Reading and assisting in the review process of NSF proposals has had a positive impact on my skills as a proposal writer.  The networking and professional connections forged during the year have continued to be of importance in my work since my return home. “

Joseph McInerney
An elementary science and mathematics teacher from Acton, Massachusetts.  1998-2002 Fellow, NSF Division of Research, Evaluation, and Communication
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Joseph McInerney began his Fellowship with the Division of Elementary, Secondary and Informal Education at the National Science Foundation (NSF) where he worked with the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) program. One year later, in 1999, he began working in the Division of Research, Evaluation and Communication (REC) where he was involved in a myriad of programs and projects including the GK-12 Evaluation (Graduate Research Fellows in K-12 Education), CSEMS Evaluation (Computer Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Scholarships), and NSDL Evaluation (The National Science, Mathematics, Engineering, and Technology Education Digital Library). He was also on the Federal Interagency Committee on Education (FICE) which seeks to coordinate all federal programs, policies, and administrative practices affecting education. Mr. McInerney feels that the most important thing an Einstein Fellow can do is “to bring the voice and knowledge of an experienced classroom teacher to the educational efforts of the federal government.” He describes many professional highlights regarding his Fellowship years including writing the draft report for REC/NSF regarding science education in the G-8 nations; meeting mathematics educator Liping Ma in China and introducing her to a standing-room audience at NSF a few months later; speaking at plenary sessions on evaluation for two GK-12 Principal Investigators Annual Meetings; and writing five curricular pieces on the Wright Brothers for the 2003 NASA Centennial of Flight. As for personal highlights, McInerney continues, “I made many extraordinary friends at NSF and among the Fellow cohorts. The greatest blessing of all was meeting the love of my life, Katylee Hoover. We were the first Einstein Fellows to marry!”

Mimi McClure
A technology educator from Apopka, Florida.   2003-2005 Fellow, NSF Division of Graduate Education
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Mimi was very busy at NSF, “It was my responsibility to jump in and be the extra hands wherever I was most needed. There was no sitting around and waiting for someone to assign tasks. There was no sitting around!” She worked with all three of the graduate education programs. After her fellowship ended, she joined the staff at NSF.  “I do a lot of what I did as a fellow but now I do it for all the programs instead of just GK12. I still spend a lot of time looking at the information that our division collects and deciding where and how it should be disseminated. The job is exciting. I love being in this environment. It provides an exciting view of the education realm.  Our programs are charged with supporting the frontiers of science, research and education.  As a successful classroom teacher, I was fortunate to be on the front end of what was taking place in the classroom, the school, and the district. In this

Tiah E. McKinney
A secondary science teacher from Detroit, Michigan.  2006-2007 Fellow, NSF Directorate for Geosciences
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Tiah says she truly enjoyed the full array of her Einstein Fellowship experiences.   Three areas of activity stand out:  1) participating in the “Boot Camp” for New Directors (7-day Retreat) hosted by NSF; 2) having the funding support to travel and attend international conferences related to her field of interest in Geoscience education; 3) being immersed in the NSF grant review process and participating as a grant reviewer for NSF and other national agencies.  After her fellowship concluded in 2007, Tiah accepted a position as Project Director for a national education organization where she hired a team to develop and successfully launch a Digital Library to house ten years of secondary level educational curriculum materials and teacher resources related to the field of Biotechnology.  She currently lives in Fairfax, Virginia where she is completing her Ph.D in Education Policy and International Education/Health Equity at George Mason University.  She also serves as Executive Director for The McKinney Foundation, a nonprofit organization with a core focus to address educational equity as it relates to ensuring ‘access and opportunity’ to quality programs for all metro Detroiters in the areas of health, entrepreneurship, and the environment.  Tiah says she benefited from the Fellowship in many ways, “I was afforded an opportunity to gain a different perspective of STEM education from the federal level at an agency that plays a prominent role in moving the agenda forward in STEM education PreK-20 both nationally and internationally, which was truly a unique learning experience for me.  Further, as a bi-product of my daily duties and responsibilities, I functioned as a Program Director, and was expected to represent the agency at various meetings, conferences and speaking engagements. My new experiences were challenging as well as thrilling and I grew professionally and personally as a result.”

Allan Miller
A middle and secondary school science teacher from Alaska.  2006-2007 Fellow, NSF  Office of International Science and Engineering
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John Moore (2010-11)
A high school earth systems and environmental science teacher from New Jersey; Served at the National Science Foundation, Directorate for Geosciences

Egda Morales
A secondary science teacher from San Juan, Puerto Rico.   2005-2006 Fellow, NSF Division of Molecular & Cellular Biosciences
E-mail Egda

Dennis Newell
A middle school science and math teacher from Emporia, Kansas.  2009-2010 Fellow, NSF
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Newell says he greatly values his Fellowship at the National Science Foundation,  Lifelong Learning Cluster,  Informal Science Education office.  He especially values the brown bag discussions, working on funding panels, PAEMST committee work, and interactions with other Einstein Fellows.  He says the Fellowship improved his understanding of the national system of government and connection with education.  Newell returned from his Fellowship to his school district’s virtual school encouraged by the use of cyber learning as a way to learn anytime, anywhere.  He teaches all of the math, science and other courses to grades 9-12 at his virtual high school.  In 2011, Newell served as President of Kansas Earth Science Teachers Association, and was elected Vice President of the Kansas Association of Teachers of Science.

Bernadine Okoro (2010-11)
A high school chemistry and earth science teacher from Washington, DC; Served at the National Science Foundation, Division of Industrial Innovation and Partnerships

Heather Pacheco
A high school science teacher from Massachusetts.  2009-2010 Fellow, NSF Directorate for Geosciences
E-Mail Heather
Pacheco spent her Fellowship year with the Directorate for Geosciences at the National Science Foundation where, in addition to the Geoscience Education and Opportunities for Enhancing Diversity in the Geosciences programs managed by her sponsor’s office, she focused on three main arenas: Best practices for broader impacts involving K-12, Climate Change Education and Earth Systems Science in America.   Pacheco is currently attending Arizona State University in pursuit of a PhD in Science Education. She is involved in both in the College of Education and the School of Earth and Space Science.  She is currently funded through the American Geological Institute and her research is focused on teacher professional development offered through federal agency programs..

Nancy Pejouhy
A middle and high school mathematics teacher from Woodstock, Vermont.  2002-2003 Fellow, NSF
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Anthonette Pena
An 8th grade Science teacher from Florida.  2008-2010 Fellow, NSF Division of Research and Learning in Formal and Informal Settings
E-Mail Anthonette
In 2008 Peña was selected as an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow and was assigned to the Division of Research on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings at the National Science Foundation (NSF) where she helped to coordinate the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching (PAEMST) program.  She was asked to return for a second year and continued to be a member of the PAEMST team.  In her role as an Einstein Fellow, she assisted with coordinating the National Selection Committee meeting where panelists came to NSF to read, review and select PAEMST awardees.  She has helped to plan and coordinate Recognition Week when the PAEMST awardees come to Washington DC to celebrate their award and participate in a professional development program.  She  also participated in the planning and coordination of the PAEMST State Coordinators Meeting as well as updating and revising the application. Upon completion of her fellowship, Anthonette accepted a teaching position in DC Public Schools, where she currently teaches 8th grade Science.

Kitchka Petrova
A middle school Science teacher from Florida.  2008-2009 Fellow, NSF Graduate Teaching Fellowships in K-12 Education Programs
E-Mail Kitchka
During her fellowship year, Kitchka Petrova had the opportunity to visit colleges, universities and schools throughout the US.   Petrova was the first foreign-educated Einstein Fellow and found the visits to numerous schools to be very beneficial, allowing her to understand better the status of science education in the US.  She visited schools in the impoverished Appalachian region, in Newark’s inner city, in rural Louisiana, in South Carolina, Georgia, Delaware, District of Columbia, Virginia and Arizona.  Petrova found her fellowship year to be “an amazing experience to see the passion and dedication that college professors and administrators, graduate students, teachers and principals put into improving science education.”

Richard Pieper
A secondary math teacher from Cokeville, WY.  2003-2004 Fellow, NSF
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Terrie Rust (2010-11)
A middle school technology teacher from Arizona; served at the National Science Foundation, Division of Research and Learning in Formal and Informal Settings - Lifelong Learning Cluster

Stephen Scannell
A middle school and high school Science teacher.   2008-2009 Fellow, National Science Foundation, Division of Research and Learning in Formal and Informal Settings - Lifelong Learning Cluster
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As an Einstein Fellow, Stephen’s projects at the NSF included work on the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST), Informal Science Education (ISE), and the Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST) programs. He coordinated a group of NSF Einstein Fellows to develop recommendations and strategies around K12 issues addressing NSF’s focus on Cyberlearning.  In addition to work at the NSF, Stephen was very active in attending special briefings on Capitol Hill on STEM education, attending conferences, and learning about education policy.  He was particularly interested in how STEM, as a conceptual framework, could be used to improve math skills and achievement, to attract and engage students who are struggling in school, and to provide a relevant framework for students to integrate their learning.

Steve Schreiner (2010-11)
A middle school science and technology teacher from Washington; Served at the National Science Foundation, Office of International Science and Engineering

Wanda Shaffer (2000-01)
A middle school science teacher from California; Served at the National Science Foundation, Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST)

Kevin Simmons (2009-10, 2010-11)
A high school aerospace science, chemistry and physics teacher from Florida; Served at the National Science Foundation, Industrial Innovation and Partnerships

Rhonda Spidell
A secondary science teacher from Albuquerque, NM.  2005-2006 NSF Division of Earth Sciences
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Nancy Spillane (2009-10, 2010-11)
A high school chemistry, life science and physical science teacher from Connecticut; Served at the National Science Foundation, Research on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings, PAEMST Program

Kevin Swanson
A middle school science teacher from Minnesota.  2006-2007 Fellow, NSF Graduate Teaching Fellowships in K-12 Education Program
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Jennifer Thompson (2008-09)
A kindergarten and first grade teacher from Alaska; Served at the National Science Foundation, Office of Polar Programs (OPP)

Tonia Thompson (1997-98)
An elementary science teacher from New York; Served at the National Science Foundation, Division of Elementary, Secondary, & Informal Education

Chris Tolbert (2009-10)
A high school engineering and technology teacher from North Carolina; Served at the National Science Foundation, Office of Cyberinfrastructure

Mike Town (2010-11)
A high school environmental science teacher from Washington; Served at the National Science Foundation, National Science Board

Benjamin Van Dusen (2009-10)
A high school science teacher from Colorado; Served at the National Science Foundation, Engineering Directorate, Industrial Innovation and Partnerships (IIP)

Kerry R. Venegas (2000-01)
A secondary science teacher from New Mexico; Served at the National Science Foundation, Division of Educational Systems Reform

Sue Whitsett (2010-11)
As a high school biology teacher from Wisconsin; Served at the National Science Foundation, Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences

Sarah Yue (2008-10)
A high school chemistry teacher from California; Served at theNational Science Foundation, Office of International Science and Engineering (OISE)

 

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