Idaho Teacher Named 2013-2014 Einstein Fellow

An Idaho teacher is one of 27 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) educators from across the country who have been selected for the 2013-2014 Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program, according to the Triangle Coalition for Science and Technology Education.

Shawn Tiegs, a teacher at Nezperce Joint School District in Nezperce, Idaho, and other selected educators will serve in Washington, D.C. for 11 months beginning September 1, 2013 at sponsoring federal agencies which include the Department of Energy (DOE), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the National Science Foundation (NSF). Einstein Fellows provide practical classroom insight in guiding education programs and policies, especially those related to STEM education.

Tiegs will serve as a Congressional Fellow, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science, with program support from Brian O’Donnell.

Founded in 1990, the Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program is a paid fellowship for K-12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics educators with demonstrated excellence in teaching. Fellowships aim to increase understanding, communication, and cooperation between the legislative and executive branches of the government and the STEM education community. The Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Act, authorized by Congress in 1994, gave DOE federal responsibility for the program. The Triangle Coalition for Science and Technology Education administers the Program for the DOE Office of Science in partnership with the other participating federal agencies.

The 2013-2014 Einstein Fellows were selected through a rigorous application and interview process from a competitive, nationwide pool of nearly 200 applicants. Of the 27 fellows in the 2013-2014 cohort, five are returning fellows invited to serve for a second year in their sponsoring agencies.

The Triangle Coalition recently announced the names of the 22 newly selected Einstein Fellows as follows:

• Six, including Shawn Tiegs of Idaho, will serve as Congressional Fellows, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy.
• Two will serve at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) office.
• Fourteen will serve at the National Science Foundation.