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A Group of the Nation’s Most Accomplished STEM Teachers Selected as Albert Einstein Educator Fellows

Fifteen Teachers representing 13 states have been selected to apply their classroom experience to federal, congressional, and executive branch offices.

15 K-12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) teachers from across the United States have been named 2025-2026 Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellows. Selected Fellows will spend eleven months serving in a federal agency or U.S. Congressional office in Washington, D.C., 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 2025-2026 Einstein Fellows are as follows:

Rachell Ashley

 

Brooklyn, NY

Natasja Brown

 

Ocean Springs, MS

Phillip Cook

 

Valparaiso, IN

Diana De Paula

 

Brooklyn, NY

Candace Jackson

 

Spring, TX

Kyle Kuhlers

 

Urbana, IA

Michael Lowry

 

Chattanooga, TN

Kwesi Matthews

 

Redford, MI

Robert Mayne

 

North Stonington, CT

Michael Smith

 

Chagrin Falls, OH

Lora Taylor

 

Chattanooga, TN

John Tietjen

 

Lebanon, NH

Sequoyah Wharton

 

Selden, NY

Shane Wines

 

Lusby, MD

Natalie Woods

 

Idaho Falls, ID

The 2025-2026 Einstein Fellows come from K-12 schools across the country and represent a wide variety of 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 35th 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 2025-2026 Einstein Fellows include DOE, the Library of Congress, and the U.S. Department of Defense. In addition to sponsoring placements at DOE headquarters, DOE sponsors eight placements in U.S. Congressional offices.

Applications will open on August 8, 2025, for the 2026-2027 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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