November 2004, Issue #34

Opportunities for Teachers

An Opportunity for K-12 Science and Math Teachers

The Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Act was signed into law in November 1994. The law gives the Department of Energy responsibility for administering a program of distinguished educator fellowships for elementary and secondary school mathematics and science teachers. Selected teachers spend a school year in a Congressional Office, the Department of Energy (DOE), or a federal agency such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Science Foundation (NSF), or the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Albert Einstein Fellows bring to Congress and appropriate branches of the federal government the extensive knowledge and experience of classroom teachers. They provide practical insights and "real world" perspectives to policy makers and program managers developing or managing educational programs. Fellows receive a stipend of $5000 per month plus travel and moving expenses.

Some of the outstanding contributions of Einstein Fellows have included:

• Drafting legislation and influencing policy that seek to improve K-16 education in the United States;

• Initiating collaborations and establishing partnerships between federal agencies;

• Designing and implementing national science, math, and technology education programs;

• Creating web-based science education programs;

• Establishing and evaluating national and regional programs centered on school reform and teacher preparation in science, mathematics, and technology; and

• Creating and producing educational curricula and products with national distribution.

The Triangle Coalition for Science and Technology Education assists in the administration of the Einstein Fellowship program. The Triangle Coalition in coordination with the Office of Science handles the recruitment of teachers, the application process, the selection process, and the placement and orientation of the Fellows. The Triangle Coalition will regularly monitor and evaluate the quality of experiences the Fellows are receiving in their respective positions. The Office of Science remains the ultimate steward of the program's management. Information about the current and past Fellows, how to contact them, their duties, and day-to-day activities can be found at the Triangle Coalition web site: http://www.triangle-coalition.org/ein.htm

Expectations of Fellows

• behave in a responsible and professional manner

• complete the ten month appointment

• submit three written reports; an initial placement report, an interim report and a final report on their Fellowship duties and experiences

• participate in all scheduled enrichment meetings and activities

THIS IS NOT A JOB... IT IS A FELLOWSHIP AND IS INTENDED TO SUPPORT THE INTELLECTUAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF TEACHERS WHO HAVE A SINCERE DESIRE TO CONTRIBUTE THEIR EXPERTISE OF AND BE INVOLVED IN THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE, MATH AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION.

Duration of Fellowship

Additional Information

2004-2005 Einstein Fellows