More Resources Program website: bios, photos, video and more Fellowship Summit photos

U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings today announced 25 teachers have been selected for Teaching Ambassador Fellowships (TAF) with the U.S. Department of Education for 2008-2009. Five Washington Fellows will become full-time U.S. Department of Education employees in Washington, D.C., for one year, and 20 Classroom Fellows will remain in their classrooms and participate in the program through part-time projects. Throughout the year, Fellows will engage in education policy discussions, work with department officials in various program offices and participate in a variety of education projects.

More than one thousand teachers across the U.S. applied for the Fellowships, which offer highly motivated, innovative public school teachers the opportunity to contribute their knowledge and experience to the national dialogue on public education.

"I look forward to welcoming the Fellows to Washington next week and know we will benefit from their knowledge and experience in the classroom. While the Department offers multiple avenues for teachers to participate in policy discussions, this is truly a unique opportunity," said Secretary Spellings. "This program was inspired and designed by a White House Fellow and former teacher -- someone whom I wish I had met and hatched this idea with years ago. I believe this program will be successful, and I hope it becomes part of the fabric at the U.S. Department of Education for years to come."

Following are the five Washington Fellows:

• Stephanie Canada teaches elementary physical education at Will Rogers Elementary School in Shawnee, Okla.
• Jonathan Eckert teaches 7th grade science at Poplar Grove 5-8 Middle School in Franklin, Tenn.
• Steven Hicks teaches kindergarten and first grade at Accelerated Charter School in Los Angeles, Calif.
• Bobbi Houtchens teaches high school English and English as a Second Language (ESL) at Arroyo Valley High School in San Bernardino, Calif.
• Julie Shively teaches gifted 4th and 5th grade math at Margaret Winn Holt Elementary School in Lawrenceville, Ga.

Following are the 20 Classroom Fellows:

• Steven Berbeco teaches Arabic language, U.S. and world history, AP government and politics at Charlestown High School in Charlestown, Mass.
• Jennifer Cloud teaches math at South Kingstown High School in Wakefield, R.I.
• Jeanine Gelhaus teaches 8th grade science at Medford Middle School in Medford, Wis.
• Amy Goodman is a middle school literacy teacher expert in the Anchorage School District in Alaska.
• Keil Hileman teaches American and world history to 6th-8th grade students at Monticello Trails Middle School in De Soto, Kan.
• JoLisa Hoover teaches 4th grade at Grandview Hills Elementary School in Leander, Texas.
• Hector Ibarra teaches 6th and 7th grade science at West Branch Middle School in West Branch, Iowa.
• Cheri Isgreen is a K-5 art instructor at both Cottonwood Elementary and Northside Elementary Schools in Montrose, Colo.
• Jennifer Kellogg-Andrus teaches AP and Freshman Biology at Watertown High School in Watertown, S.D.
• Eric Kinne teaches English and pre-AP English at Fairfax High School in Fairfax, Va.
• James Liou is a history teacher, working primarily with seniors as part of their capstone projects at Boston Community Leadership Academy, a pilot school within the Boston public schools.
• Maya Martin-Bugg teaches 8th grade language arts, with a focus on American literature and writing, at Durham School of the Arts in Durham, N.C.
• Nicora Placa will be teaching math at Emolior Academy, a new middle school in the Bronx, N.Y.
• Tammie Schrader teaches 7th grade math and science at Cheney Middle School in Cheney, Wash.
• Luther Sewell will be teaching 5th grade math this fall at a start-up charter school, Prestige Academy in Wilmington, Delaware.
• Scott Sherman teaches world history at Hanna High School in Brownsville, Texas.
• Anne Claire Tejtel teaches honors biology and health at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute in Maryland.
• Stephanie Vickers teaches 6th grade math and reading at Pioneer Ridge Middle School in Independence, Mo.
• Anna Walker teaches 3rd grade, with an emphasis on reading and math, at Songo Locks Elementary School in Naples, Maine.
• Kristina Walrath teaches 6th grade and is the Reading Curriculum Coordinator for Shaw Middle School in Philadelphia, Pa.

After an evaluation and interview process, Teaching Ambassador Fellows were selected based upon their record of leadership, impact on student achievement and potential for contribution to the field. The 25 Fellows represent 22 states across the country. Eight of the Fellows are high school teachers, 10 are middle school teachers and seven are elementary school teachers. The Fellows represent teaching expertise in a range of subject areas - three are general elementary school teachers, six have math expertise, five specialize in reading and language arts, five are science teachers, three teach social studies, one provides art instruction, one brings knowledge of critical language instruction and one is a physical education teacher. Many of the Fellows have experience teaching special education students, as well as non-native English speakers.

The program for the 2008-2009 Fellows kicks off in Washington, D.C., on July 14 with a one week orientation and policy conference. The events planned include a roundtable discussion with Secretary Spellings, briefings with senior Department officials on timely policy matters and opportunities to share best practices and local educational challenges.

For more information about the Teaching Ambassador Fellowship program, please visit http://www.ed.gov/programs/teacherfellowship/programoverview.html.

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