During the FY12-13 academic year, sixteen (16) K-12 science and mathematics teachers participate as Fellows of the Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship program in various directorates/offices across the National Science Foundation (NSF). The fellowship program is a congressionally-mandated program under the auspices of the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE). NSF participates in this program through a grant to the Triangle Coalition (TC) that assists DOE with the management of the program.
The objectives of the program are to: (1) provide outstanding STEM teachers the opportunity to bring to Congress and appropriate branches of the federal government the insights, extensive knowledge, and practical experience of classroom teachers; (2) increase the understanding, communication, and cooperation between Congress and Federal agencies; (3) increase the understanding, communication and cooperation between the Federal government and the science, technology and mathematics education community; and (4) gain insights and an understanding of national educational issues which can then be transferred back to the classroom. While at NSF, the Fellows gain general as well as discipline-specific knowledge based on their placement within Foundation.
During the 11-month fellowship, Fellows engage in a wide range of STEM experiences, work-related tasks, and activities organized by their host sponsor and the Triangle Coalition. These Fellows also have access to a wealth of experiences provided by NSF and other federal and education agencies in the greater Washington, DC area. In FY12-13, the Fellows represent 13 states and Washington, DC (Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington, and Virginia).
Other agencies participating in the program include NASA, NOAA, and DOE.
("AEF")is a federal agency fellowship program for outstanding K-12 STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) teachers. Each Fellow spends an academic year engaged in STEM policy while being immersed in a professional development (PD) program that provides practical, transferrable classroom skills. The Einstein Fellowship program exposes participants broadly to STEM education policy, advances in pedagogy, STEM topics, and thought leadership that enhances their content and practice knowledge, improves their teaching methods, and strengthens their STEM leadership and policy influencing capabilities. Einstein Fellow brings to NSF a thorough understanding of the needs of K-12 students and teachers, evaluative insights into effective K-12 activities, and the ability to interpret the language of STEM education policy. Further, Fellows provide to NSF the unique perspective of the practicing teacher during project conceptualization and in administration of established programs. By statute, the AEF program is organized around four key goals: to connect STEM teachers (practitioners) to the federal government (policy); to improve communication on STEM policy between Congress and the agencies; to improve communication between federal policymakers and the STEM education community; and to develop STEM policy and practical skills that may transfer back to the classroom. Triangle Coalition, founder of the AEF program, provided program and administrative services to Fellows on behalf of NSF, working in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy. These services include monthly professional development programming, oversight of individual professional development plans and participant reports, outreach, recruitment, interview, and placement of incoming Fellows, and financial administration of stipends, professional travel and education expenses. The AEF program endows participants with STEM policy knowledge, professional connections, and leadership skills that are critically important as the education community strives to meet American, and indeed global, STEM needs. Fellows leave the AEF program with a practitioner's understanding of STEM policy-making and a comprehensive STEM portfolio to share with local leaders, colleagues, and students. This includes contacts with STEM policy leaders, information on undergraduate and graduate internships, scholarships, lab research, contests and resources which can inspire teachers and students toward careers in STEM.
