An Arlington educator was honored by county school leaders this week after being selected to participate in a prestigious federal fellowship program.
Daniel Bernhardt, who teaches science at Swanson Middle School, has been selected as an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow and appointed teacher in residence at the Library of Congress for the 2026-27 school year.
Administered by the U.S. Department of Energy, the fellowship program recognizes exceptional educators from across the nation and provides opportunities to support science education through federal agencies and institutions.
Bernhardt “has been leading a nationally recognized program at Swanson,” Superintendent Francisco Durán said at Thursday night’s School Board meeting.
“This recognition is not about one teacher,” Bernhardt said at the School Board meeting. “It’s a celebration of what happens when a school district truly invests in science education. I mean that from the bottom of my heart.”
During his career, Bernhardt’s students have advanced to regional, state, national and international competitions, including the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair.
During the 2025-26 school year, nine Swanson students advanced to the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, including eighth-grader Laura Saperstein.
Her older sister, Margaret Saperstein, a former student at Swanson now at Washington-Liberty High School, represented the school division at the 2026 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair this past spring, where she earned top international honors in chemistry.
“Watching 11, 12, 13-year-olds at Swanson go from an idea at a lab table to something they can build, something they can make, something they can present to the broader community — to the state, national and international [level] — is just amazing,” Bernhardt told School Board members.
Bernhardt will remain an Arlington Public Schools employee while completing the fellowship during his year-long educational leave of absence.
He plans to serve as a conduit for APS students, teachers and families, showcasing educational resources at the Library of Congress through classroom collaborations, workshops and student-learning experiences.
“We are sad to see him go for a year, but we know he’s going to stay connected,” Durán said.
Bernhardt was one of 14 K-12 educators nationally selected for participation in the program. Kirsten Salonga, an educator with Fairfax County Public Schools, also will represent Virginia for 2026-27.
In addition to the Library of Congress, participating federal agencies include the Department of Energy, Department of Defense, U.S. Geological Survey and congressional offices.
Fellows receive a stipend of $8,200 per month for the duration of the 11-month program, plus funding for educational expenses and travel to conferences or for other professional-development opportunities.
