Incoming Cristo Rey teacher Maria Chal, 27, has been selected by the highly competitive Knowles Science Teaching Foundation’s to be a teaching fellow. She will be one of 34 early-career science and math teachers selected for their knowledge, exemplary teaching practices, and qualities of a leader.

Chal earned her Masters of Education in secondary biology from Harvard University this year after moving to Boston from Cincinnati in June of 2015. This will be her first year at Cristo Rey teaching biology. She is passionate about the subject and the school on Savin Hill Avenue.

“I think that Cristo Rey has a unique model,” said Chal. “The students go to internships once a week and they have the opportunity to develop other skills that they can’t develop in the classroom. The school has a common focus and it’s a very positive environment to learn in, they are all working towards a common goal.”

Chal applied for the KSTF fellowship because of the professional and financial support it provides to its awardees. “The application process is very long and intense. After our selection interview, they flew all of the finalists to Philadelphia and we had three days of face-to-face interviews,” she said. “When I received it I was honored, really excited, and relieved to know that I was going to have that support system starting my career.”

For the next five years, Chal and the other 2016 fellows will gain access to mentoring and support, grants for teaching materials, funds for further professional development, and an overall community across 40 states of like-minded peers.

When asked what she was most excited and most nervous about going into her first year of teaching this fall, she said, “I think it’s probably meeting the kids. Every time I start a new teaching job, it’s that. Until that time, I am always nervous, but it’s the most exciting to form relationships with your new students.”