Thunder Ridge teacher brings national STEM experience back to Eastern Idaho

A Thunder Ridge High School math teacher is back in Eastern Idaho after spending nearly a year in Washington, D.C., working with the U.S. Air Force on national STEM education efforts.

Natalie Woods was selected from a nationwide pool of educators for the 2025-26 Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship. The 11-month program places accomplished STEM teachers in federal agencies and congressional offices, where they bring classroom experience into national education work while gaining a broader understanding of federal programs and resources. Woods served with the Department of the Air Force in its Air & Space K-12 STEM Outreach office.