Einstein Fellowship Application is OPEN!

Please spread the word: the application for the 2012-13 Einstein Fellowship program is OPEN.

The Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program offers current; public or private; elementary and secondary; science, technology, engineering, and mathematics classroom teachers with demonstrated excellence in teaching an opportunity to serve in the national public policy arena. Fellows provide practical insight in establishing and operating education programs. Fellowships increase understanding, communication, and cooperation between legislative and executive branches and the science, mathematics, and technology education community.

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. During the Fellowship, each Einstein Fellow receives a monthly stipend of $6000.00 plus a $1000.00 monthly cost of living allowance. In addition, there is a moving/relocation allowance as well as a professional travel allowance.

ELIGIBILITY: Each applicant must:

• Be a U.S. citizen at the time of application (no later than January 5);
• Have a minimum of five years full-time classroom teaching experience prior to completing the application;
• Have been teaching full time in a public or private elementary or secondary school for at least five of the last seven years in a STEM discipline (science, technology, engineering or math)
• Be currently employed as a full-time teacher in a public or private elementary or secondary school or school district.
• Provide three recommendations one of which is from a school or district official;

KEY DATES:

October 21, 2011:                  On-line application opens

January 5, 2012:                    Deadline for fellowship application    

5-6 Weeks:                             Application Review

Mid-February, 2012:             Approximately 35 semi-finalists will be notified and travel arrangements made to interview in Washington, DC

March 3-5 , 2012:                   Interviews in Washington, DC for all Fellowship positions

April, 2012:                            Fellows selected and notified

May-Sept., 2012:                   Congressional Fellows interviewed and placements finalized

August, 2012:                        Fellows arrive in Washington, DC

Aug. 28-31, 2012:                  Orientation meeting for the 2012-2013 Einstein Fellows

SELECTION CRITERIA: Fellowship selections are based on evidence of:

• Demonstrated excellence in teaching science, mathematics, or technology;
• An experimental and innovative attitude in their approach to teaching;
• Sustained professional growth in the art of teaching in a STEM discipline;
• Professional involvement and leadership in a chosen field;
• Demonstrably strong interpersonal and communication skills needed to serve in a public policy environment; and
• Knowledge of local, state and national policies which affect education.

Albert Einstein Fellows bring to Congress and federal government agencies the extensive knowledge and experience of classroom teachers. Fellows provide practical insights and “real world” perspectives to policy makers and program managers developing or managing educational programs. During the Fellowship, each Einstein Fellow receives a monthly stipend plus a cost of living allowance (see below for details). In addition, there is a moving/relocation allowance as well as a professional travel allowance for each Fellows. (See the FAQs for more detailed information)

Some of the outstanding contributions of Einstein Fellows include:

• Designing and implementing national science, math, and technology education programs;
• Drafting legislation and influencing policy that seek to improve K-16 education in the United States; Initiating collaborations and establishing partnerships between federal agencies;
• 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;
• Creating web-based science education programs.

DURATION OF FELLOWSHIP: Einstein Fellows spend a school year (11 months: September-July) in a professional staff position in the host Agency’s sponsoring office. Currently Fellows are serving at the Department of Energy (DOE), NASA, NOAA and the National Science Foundation. In upcoming years, additional positions may be available at other federal agencies such as the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

STIPEND: Fellows receive a monthly stipend of $6,000 along with a $1,000 monthly cost of living allowance. In addition, there is a moving/relocation allowance as well as a professional travel allowance. Moving budgets over the past two years have averaged approximately $3,000.

Please contact the Program Staff einsteinfellows@tirangle-coalition.org at Triangle for any questions/issues regarding eligibility or application content.  For questions or issues with the technical aspects of the on-line application, contact the Program Staff http://science.energy.gov/wdts/einstein/contact/ at the Department of Energy.