This post is by Daniel Bernhardt, a 2026-27 Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow at the Library of Congress
Tell us a bit about yourself
I grew up in the Beach Cities region of Southern California. I earned my Bilingual Authorized Teaching Credential from San Diego State University and a Master’s in Secondary Science Education from CSU Northridge. My career led me to teach and travel all over the world. I taught at a university in Saudi Arabia, a bilingual school in Guatemala, and all levels of middle school science in Title I Schools in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. For the last 4 years, I taught 8th grade science at Swanson Middle School in Arlington, Virginia. When I’m not working, I enjoy adventuring with my family, playing music, and digging in my garden
How has using primary sources changed your teaching?
Without realizing it, I have been using primary sources in my science classroom for years – though I sure wish I’d taken a Teaching with Primary Sources workshop a decade ago!
Using primary sources shows students that STEM isn’t merely a set of static facts – it starts with observation. When students look at Galileo’s first published telescopic drawing of the moon from 1610, they might realize that great breakthroughs can begin with a simple observation, a pencil, and a scrap of paper.
What prompted you to apply to be an Einstein Fellow?
This was my first year applying. My wife was an Einstein Fellow in 2021-22, which brought us to D.C., but I never felt I was “Einstein material” because I wrongly assumed applicants needed to have built massive programs from scratch to be considered. I’ve come to learn that my application was uniquely valued because of my diverse classroom and linguistic experience.
If you’re reading this and thinking about applying, just take the shot! You never know what the agencies are looking for.
What are your goals for your year as an Einstein Fellow?
I am excited to assume a beginner’s mindset within an institution like the Library of Congress, which promotes curiosity and academic freedom. I will encounter opportunities I’ve considered, as well as those yet to surface. Additionally, I am excited to participate in the intentional leadership opportunities that the Einstein Fellowship provides.
What advice would you give to teachers who want to use primary sources in classroom activities while still meeting standards and preparing students for standardized tests?
Primary source analysis promotes robust critical thinking and contextual perspective. These skills remain more valuable than ever. STEM teachers: You don’t have to abandon your curriculum to use primary sources. You can use these Library protocols as a warm-up, an exit ticket, or a way to shift students’ focus to understanding that science is a human endeavor, practiced by humans. Try asking students to compare Dimitri Mendeleyev’s original 1869 publication of the periodic table of elements to the modern table to prompt them to ask questions about how models change over time.
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