History

Click here to view Fellowship Act.

The Triangle Coalition for Science and Technology Education has an extensive history of fostering science, mathematics, and technology education initiatives.  An important element of the Coalition's work has been to inform members of Congress and their staffs about the educational importance of legislation supporting mathematics, science, and technology education.  As the Coalition pursued its non-partisan education advocacy it became evident that Congress was passing laws that committed billions of dollars to programs aimed at educators without receiving any direct input from the classroom educators to be affected by their action. 

In the late 1980s we discussed our concerns with several people in Congress including Congressman Tom Sawyer (D-OH) and Senator Mark O. Hatfield (R-OR) and their staffs, and received their enthusiastic support for our proposal to select a few outstanding secondary school science, mathematics, and technology teachers to serve on the staffs of members of Congress.  Other members of Congress joined Hatfield and Sawyer as advocates of the proposed program.  

Support to initiate an Albert Einstein Congressional Fellowship program in 1990 was provided through a grant to the Triangle Coalition from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation with partial matching money from other sources.  

In the spring of 1990, invitations to apply for the Congressional Fellowships were sent to outstanding teachers, primarily those who had received Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics or Science Teaching.  Committees of professional scientists, mathematicians, and science / mathematics / technology educators reviewed the applications and selected the top applicants as Fellows.  

Beginning in September 1990 and every year since, a few teachers have been selected to leave their classrooms to come to Washington, DC to contribute their professional expertise to Congressional offices and committees. 

In October 1994 Congress passed and the President signed into law a bill establishing an expanded Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship program to be administered by the Department of Energy and funded through the Department's education budget.  The authorizing legislation expanded the program to twelve Fellows per year.  Four of them were to serve in the Congress and the remaining eight in several government agencies.  The Congress that was convened in January of 1995 had a new majority party and a new philosophy and did not appropriate funds for the Department of Energy's national education activities.  The Department of Energy, however, continued to provide funding for a few Fellows each year from its general budget.  In addition, NASA, the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Education, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology have also used some of their education budgets to fund Fellows for their own agencies.  

The Department of Energy authorized the Triangle Coalition for Science and Technology Education to assist 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, the placement, and orientation of the Fellows, and monthly Fellows briefing.  The Triangle Coalition has also entered into agreements with NASA, the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and the Department of Education, and various federal agencies to provide similar administrative services for the Fellows places in these agencies.

1990-1991 Congressional Fellows


Erma Anderson  Mathematics, PA - Senator Specter, PA
Arthur Lebofsky  Science, NY - Senator Bingaman, NM
William Philips  Science, DE - Representative Wolpe, MI
June Yamashita  Mathematics, HI - Senator Hatfield, OR

1991-1992 Congressional Fellows


Steve Boyarsky  Science, OR - House Education and Labor Committee
Betty Gasque  Mathematics, SC - Senator Jeff Bingaman, NM
 Della McCaughan  Science, MS - Senator  Thad Cochran, MS
 Althea Pearlman  Mathematics, CO - Representative Wolpe, MI

1992-1993 Congressional Fellows


Geri Anderson Nielsen  Mathematics, DC - Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee
Patrick Canan  Science, OR - Senator Mark Hatfield, OR

1993-1994 Congressional Fellows


Bill Brent  Science, MO - Senator Mark Hatfield, OR
Bonnie Leitch  Mathematics, TX - Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee

1994-1995 Congressional Fellows


Jennifer Grogg  Science, IL - Senator Robert Kerrey, NE
LaRon Smith  Mathematics, ID - Senator Mark Hatfield, OR

1996 Albert Einstein Fellows


Arlene Cain  Mathematics, LA - Department of Energy
 Gregory Coppa  Science, RI - Representative Zoe Lofgren, CA
George Dewey Science, VA - National Institutes of Health
Pam Newberry  Mathematics, VA - NASA
Linda Stroud  Science, NC - President's Office of Science and Tech. Policy and Senator Jeff Bingaman, NM
Patrick White  Mathematics, ID - Senator Jim Jeffords, VT

1997 Albert Einstein Fellows


Joel Albright  Mathematics, SD - NASA
Joanne Dombrowski (Mowczko) Science, AZ - National Institutes of Health
Donald Hoff  Science, ND - NASA
Betsy Mabry  Science, OK - Department of Education
 Deborah (Phillips) Patonai  Mathematics, OH - Department of Education
Patrick White  Mathematics, ID - Senator Jim Jeffords, VT

1997 - 1998 Albert Einstein Fellows


Tonia Thompson  Elementary Science, NY - National Science Foundation

1998 Albert Einstein Fellows


Danita Guarino  Elementary Science, NJ - NASA
Karol Yeatts  Elementary Mathematics, FL - NASA

1998 - 1999 Albert Einstein Fellows


Patricia Colbert-Cormier  Secondary Science, LA - NASA
Kathryn Hilts  Secondary Science, WV - Department of Energy
Katylee Hoover-McInerney  Elementary Science, NC - National Science Foundation
Joseph McInerney  Elementary Science, MA - National Science Foundation
Ruth Rand  Secondary Science, NM - National Institutes of Health
Judy Sink  Elementary Science, NC - NASA

1999 - 2000 Albert Einstein Fellows


Peter Faletra  Secondary Science, NH - Department of Energy
Sonja Godeken  Secondary Math/Science, WA - NASA
Paula Hendry  Secondary Science, MD - Rep. Sherwood Boehlert, NY
Kathryn Hilts  Secondary Science, WV - Senator Robert Byrd, WV
Anne Holbrook  Secondary Science, OH - NASA
Katylee Hoover  Elementary Science, NC - National Science Foundation
Ann Ifekwunigwe, Elementary Science/Technology, CA - Senator Patty Murray, WA 
Michael Lach  Secondary Science, IL - Rep. Vernon Ehlers, MI
Joseph McInerney  Elementary Science, MA - National Science Foundation
Donna Osborn  Secondary Mathematics, IN - Rep. Peter Visclosky, IN
Ruth Rand  Secondary Science, NM - National Institutes of Health

2000 - 2001 Albert Einstein Fellows


Wendy Beavis  Middle School Science, AK - Department of Energy
Robert Blakely  Secondary Science, MI - Senator Patty Murray, WA
Frances Coleman  Secondary Science, MS - Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee
Peter Faletra Secondary Science, NH - Department of Energy  
Anne Holbrook Secondary Science, OH - NASA
Katylee Hoover Elementary Science, NC - National Science Foundation
John Jackson  Elementary Science, CA - National Science Foundation
John Kounas  Secondary Science, IA - Senator Charles E. Grassley, IA
Joseph McInerney Elementary Science, MA - National Science Foundation  
Wanda Shaffer  Middle School Science, CA - National Science Foundation
Peggy Steffen  Secondary Science, IA - NASA
Robert Taylor  Secondary Science, AK - Rep. Sherwood Boehlert, NY
Kerry Venegas  Secondary Science, NM - National Science Foundation

2001 - 2002 Albert Einstein Fellows


Cathy Barthelemy  Elementary Science and Math, TX - National Science Foundation
Nick Cabot  Secondary Science, WA - National Science Foundation
Jess Todd Clark  Secondary Science, NC - Department of Energy
Celani Dominguez  Secondary Science, TX - National Institute of Standards and Technology
Kathleen House  Secondary Math, MD - National Science Foundation
Norma Howell  Secondary Science, OH - Representative Tony P. Hall, OH
John Jackson  Elementary Science, CA - National Science Foundation
Kevin Manning  Secondary Science, OK - House Education and the Workforce Committee
Kathleen McGarvey  Secondary Math, MS - Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee
Joseph McInerney  Elementary Science and Math, DC - National Science Foundation
Peggy L. Steffen  Secondary Science, IA - NASA
Stephanie Toney  Middle Science and Math, NC - Representative Rubén Hinojosa, TX

2002 - 2003 Albert Einstein Fellows


Mark Davids Secondary Science, MI - Senator Maria Cantwell, WA
Charlene Dindo Elementary Science, AL - National Science Foundation
Linda Ewing Middle/Secondary Science, FL - National Science Foundation
Leesa Hubbard Elementary/Secondary Science/Special Ed, TN - NASA
Richard Jones Secondary Science, MT - Department of Energy
Kaye Kamp Elementary/Secondary Science/Math, ID - Department of Energy
Caryn Long Elementary Science, NC - NASA
Jaime Malwitz Elementary Science, WI - National Science Foundation
Bradley Neu Secondary Science, TX - Rep. Rubén Hinojosa, TX
Nancy Pejouhy Middle/Secondary Mathematics, VT - National Science Foundation
Anne Pfitzner Gatling Elementary Science, AK - Senator Joseph Lieberman, CT
Laurie Pines Secondary Mathematics, CA - Senator Jeff Bingaman, NM and Representative Bart Gordon, TN
Linda Selvig Secondary Science, ID - National Institute of Standards and Technology

2003 - 2004 Albert Einstein Fellows


James Cherry Secondary Chemistry, CT, Office of Senator Coleman, MN
Peggy Deichstetter Secondary Biology, IL, National Institutes of Health
 Sandra Geisbush Elementary, TX, National Science Foundation
 Robert Hickey Secondary Physics, MA, Office of Senator Lieberman, CT
 Letitia Hoaas Secondary Science and Math, LA, NASA
 Efrenia Fé MacLean Elementary, MI, National Science Foundation
Mimi McClure FL, National Science Foundation
 Richard Pieper Secondary Math, WY, National Science Foundation
 Jamalee Stone Secondary Math, NE, NASA
 Dorothy Ringer Sumner Secondary Science and Math, TX, Office of Congressman Burgess, TX, and Office of Senator Crapo, ID
 Daniel Schab Secondary Math, MI, Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee
 Aaron Schuetz Secondary Physics, VA, U.S. Department of Energy
 Carolyn Schwennsen, Secondary Chemistry, NE, National Institutes of Standards and Technology

2004 - 2005 Albert Einstein Fellows


Al Bird Secondary Science, MA - Senator Daniel Akaka, HI
Diane Cherkerzian Elementary, MA - Senator Maria Cantwell, WA and U.S. Department of Energy
Robert Culbertson Secondary Science, VA - Senator Joseph Lieberman, CT
Naveen Cunha Elementary, TX - NASA
Carol Engelmann Middle School Science, NE - National Science Foundation
Mickie Flores Secondary Science, NY - Senator Richard Durbin, IL
John Henry Secondary Technology, NJ - NASA
Jenelle Hopkins Secondary Science, NV - National Science Foundation
David Kapolka Secondary Mathematics, MI - National Science Foundation
Mark Klawiter Secondary Science, WI - National Science Foundation
Mimi McClure Middle School Science, FL - National Science Foundation
Joyce Stark Secondary Science, WA - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

2005 - 2006 Albert Einstein Fellows

Pam Abreu Elementary, NM, National Science Foundation
Daniel Carpenter Secondary Science, NE, National Science Foundation
René Carson Secondary Science, AR, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administraion
Heidi Coleman Secondary Science, NC, National Institutes of Health
Jennifer Coughlin Secondary Science, NM Department of Energy
Naveen Cunha Elementary, TX, NASA
Barbara Houtz Middle Level Science, PA, National Institutes of Health
John Jackson Secondary Science, CA, National Science Foundation
Beth Jewell Secondary Science, VA, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administraion
Deborah Koolbeck Secondary Science, IL, Office of Representative Rush Holt
Margaret Merrill Elementary, ME, Office of Senator Lieberman
Egda Morales Secondary Science, PR, National Science Foundation
Steven Robinson Secondary Science, OR, Office of Senator Barack Obama
Lisa Schunk Middle Level Science, MN, Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee
Cassandra Soeffing Middle Level Science, SD, NASA
Rhonda Spidell Middle Level Science, NM, National Science Foundation
Ann Swain Elementary, WA, National Institute of Standards and Technology
Tyson Tuchscherer Middle Level Science, OR, NASA

2006 - 2007 Albert Einstein Fellows


Elizabeth Burck, Secondary Science, AK, NASA
Carrie Chiappetta, Middle School Science, CT, National Science Foundation
Jeffery Dilks, Secondary Science, IA, Department of Energy
Amy Elverum, Middle School Science, MN, House Education and the Workforce Committee
Docia Generette, Secondary Science, MS, National Science Foundation
Kevin Hartmann, Secondary Science, IL, Department of Energy
Luke Laurie, Middle School Science & Mathematics, CA, Off of Representative Michael Honda
Tiah McKinney, Secondary Science, MI, National Science Foundation
Allan Miller, Elementary/Middle School Science, AK, National Science Foundation
Erin Peters, Middle School Science, VA, NASA
Judy Reeves, Secondary Science, AL, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Joseph Shewmaker, Secondary Science, FL, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
LeRoy Wenstrom, Secondary Mathematics & Physics, MS, Office of Senator Trent Lott
Brenda Wright, Elementary/Middle School Science & Mathematics, NH, Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

2007 - 2008 Albert Einstein Fellows

Cherlyn Anderson, Middle School Science, SC, National Science Foundation
Samantha Barlow, Middle School Science, NC, Office of Rep. Silvestre Reyes
Jennifer Berry-Rickert, Secondary School Science, TN, Office of Senator Bernie Sanders
Susan Brown, Middle School Science, MD, National Science Foundation
Lynne Campbell, Middle School Science, IA, House Committee on Education and Labor
Ann Coren, Secondary Science, MD, NASA
Christine Donovan, Secondary Science, AZ, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Kent Franklin, Secondary Science, MN, National Science Foundation
Kathleen Gorski, Middle School Science, MA, National Science Foundation
Stephan Graham, Secondary Science, CO, Department of Energy
Melvina Jones, Elementary Science, DC, National Science Foundation
Mubina Khan, Secondary Science, NY, Department of Energy
Nicole LaDue, Secondary Science, OR, National Science Foundation
Ruth McDonald, Middle School Science, CT, National Science Foundation
Edward Potosnak, Secondary Science, NJ, Office of Rep. Mike Honda
Karen Stiner, Middle School Mathematics, OR, Department of Energy
Kevin Swanson, Middle School Science, MN, Department of Energy