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Daniel Bernhardt is a nationally recognized STEM educator, curriculum strategist, and Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow with over 15 years of classroom leadership across major U.S. school districts and international institutions. Combining a B.S. in Business Administration (Marketing) with a Master’s in Secondary Science Education, Daniel founded Nova Ethos as a practitioner-owned consultancy designed to shape the future of teaching and learning.

Currently serving as an Einstein Fellow and Teacher in Residence at the Library of Congress, Daniel contributes to national K–12 science initiatives by integrating primary source inquiry with cutting-edge STEM education. His career spans leadership roles across four of the nation’s largest urban school districts—San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Arlington—as well as international teaching posts in Saudi Arabia, Guatemala, and Hong Kong.

A specialist in experiential field science, bilingual instruction (Spanish), and K–12 science research pathway design, Dan has expanded ISEF-aligned programs, collaborated with federal agencies like the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), and provided strategic governance for multi-million-dollar outdoor education campaigns. Having explored all 50 U.S. states and over 40 countries, he integrates nature, storytelling, and strategic thinking to help educators and institutions lead with purpose and innovation

Daniel Bernhardt|LinkedIn 

Dr. Christine Hirst Bernhardt is a nationally recognized STEM educator, curriculum designer, and education policy leader with over two decades of experience advancing science literacy, astronomy education, and interdisciplinary learning. Combining a rich background in planetary science with high-level policy expertise, Christine partners with educators and organizations to build transformative, inquiry-driven STEM programs.

Her career bridges classroom innovation and national leadership. A former Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow and Congressional Education Policy Advisor, Christine recently accepted a leadership role with the Maryland State Department of Education. She currently chairs the U.S. National Astronomy Education Coordinators and serves as President-Elect of the National Earth Science Teachers Association. An expert grant writer, she has secured over $2 million in educational grants to fund STEM initiatives, international research, and high-impact teacher professional development.

Christine’s work spans extraordinary field experiences—from flying aboard NASA’s SOFIA airborne observatory to serving as an international astronomy ambassador in Chile and architecting high-altitude balloon programs, student space symposia, and international space camps. A UC Regents Fellow and former two-time national champion mountain biker, she brings visionary leadership, an ethos of equity, and deep research-backed strategy to every Nova Ethos engagement.

Christine Hirst Bernhardt Ph. D. | LinkedIn