Teachers representing 11 states have been selected to apply their classroom experience to federal, congressional and executive branch offices.

Fifteen K-12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) teachers from across the United States have been named 2024-2025 Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellows. Selected Fellows will spend 11 months serving in a federal agency or U.S. Congressional office in Washington, DC, engaged in the national STEM education arena.

The Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship (AEF) Program provides a unique opportunity for accomplished K-12 STEM educators to apply their extensive classroom knowledge and experiences to their host offices to inform federal STEM education efforts.

The 2024-2025 Einstein Fellows are as follows:

Jorge Ambriz

Phoenix, AZ

Veena Black

Atlanta, GA

Judy Butcher

Lubbock, TX

Sarah Compton

Chicago, IL

Nathan Diehl

Boyds, MD

Jessica Fries-Gaither

Hilliard, OH

Dara Gardner

Colorado Springs, CO

Janet Kahn

Falls Church, VA

Katherine Mauro

Brookfield, CT

Zachary Minchow-Proffitt

Leesburg, VA

Ralph Pantozzi

Millington, NJ

Nancy Penchev

West Park, FL

Victoria Thomson

Niantic, CT

Selene Verhofstad

Pasadena, TX

Charles Wang

Pearland, TX

The 2024-2025 Einstein Fellows come from K-12 schools across the country and represent diverse teaching backgrounds—with expertise in science, engineering, computer science and mathematics. Federal agencies and U.S. Congressional Offices will benefit from Fellows’ real-world experiences as educators. In return, Einstein Fellows will gain understanding of the role of the Federal Government in the U.S. education enterprise, knowledge of resources available to students and educators, and broader perspectives on national education issues that can be applied to the classroom or to leadership positions in their districts or elsewhere.

The AEF Program, now celebrating its 34th year of operation, is managed by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science’s Office of Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists in collaboration with the sponsoring agencies and the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE).

Sponsoring agencies for the 2024-2025 Einstein Fellows include DOE, the Library of Congress, the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Geological Survey, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. In addition to sponsoring placements at DOE headquarters, DOE sponsors five placements in U.S. Congressional offices.

Applications will open on August 9, 2024, for the 2025-2026 cohort. Additional information about the program, including eligibility requirements, program benefits, application requirements and access to the online application system may be found at https://science.osti.gov/wdts/einstein.

The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) is a world-class DOE institute designed to strengthen a scientific workforce; promote the integrity of scientific research through peer review; provide 24/7 medical response to radiation accidents; evaluate human health data to protect workers from occupational hazards; and conduct independent environmental cleanup assessments.

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Michael Holtz 865-466-0701 Michael.holtz@orau.org