Educators play a critical role in U.S. cybersecurity: An Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship conversation

The Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency is one of the latest government agencies where Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellows are serving. in this episode of the ORISE Featurecast, host Michael Holtz and guest host Amy Szczepanski talk to Jess Hexsel and Ashley Benitez-Smith about their time at CISA, the role educators can play in cybersecurity, some of the educational materials they've developed, and why they chose to apply to be part of the Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship. Jess Hexsel is currently a Curriculum Development Specialist for CYBER.ORG and is a former high school math and computer science teacher. With a BA in Mathematics and Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with an Educational Technology concentration, Jess taught Geometry, AP Computer Science, and Functional and Object-Oriented Programming in Palo Alto, Calif., for 12 years. Ashley Benitez-Smith is a secondary computer science and cybersecurity educator from Maryland, with over 11 years of experience. She believes every student can learn in a fun, safe, and engaging classroom environment and wishes to bring cybersecurity education into multiple STEM curricula to prepare students and educators for an ever-changing digital landscape. Amy Szczepanski, a high school teacher from New York City, is currently serving as the Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator at the Department of Energy (DOE) in the Office of Workforce Development of Teachers and Scientists (WDTS). Currently, Amy is working on supporting the programs WDTS provides as well as expanding her own professional development as an educator. The Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Act gives the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) the responsibility for managing the Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship. The DOE Office of Science’s Office of Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists (WDTS) manages this program for DOE in collaboration with the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) and the partnering Federal agencies, which, at the time of this recording, included the Department of Defense (DOD), the Department of Energy (DOE), the Library of Congress (LOC), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the US Geological Survey (USGS), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the National Science Foundation (NSF). The DOE sponsors five placements in congressional offices. To learn more about the Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship, visit https://science.osti.gov/wdts/einstein.