Press Releases
Educators from the Bronx and Manhattan recognized for advancing mathematics and science teaching across New York City and beyond
NEW YORK, NY – Math for America (MƒA) today announced that Dr. Jude Julien, a high school chemistry teacher at Virtual Innovators Academy in the Bronx, and Gabe Rosenberg, a high school mathematics teacher at Bard High School Early College in Manhattan, have been named recipients of the 2026 MƒA Muller Award for Professional Influence in Education. Presented annually to two exceptional New York City public school teachers, the award recognizes MƒA Master Teachers whose influence, leadership, and professional contributions have had a lasting impact on mathematics and science education.
Dr. Julien and Rosenberg will each receive a $20,000 award at a ceremony this week, honoring their commitment to inspiring students, strengthening teaching communities, and advancing excellence in STEM education. In recognition of the broader networks that support their work, an additional $5,000 will be awarded to each recipient’s nominating organization: Virtual Innovators Academy for Dr. Julien and Illustrative Mathematics for Rosenberg.
The MƒA Muller Award is made possible through the generous support of MƒA Board Member Peter Muller and his family through the Dancing Tides Foundation.
2026 MƒA Muller Award for Professional Influence in Education Winners
Dr. Jude Julien, 13-year MƒA Master Teacher
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Dr. Jude Julien is a science educator, teacher leader, and scholar who has served New York City Public Schools for 26 years. A native New Yorker who grew up in Brooklyn in a first-generation Haitian American household, Dr. Julien is a proud advocate for public school education and the transformative opportunities it provides for students and communities.
He currently teaches Chemistry and Earth Science at Virtual Innovators Academy, New York State’s first fully remote high school, where he works to expand equitable access to high-quality STEM instruction for diverse learners across the city. Dr. Julien earned his Ph.D. in Science Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, where his research focused on culturally responsive-sustaining education in science curriculum design.
Dr. Julien serves as an adjunct professor at CUNY, supporting the development of future educators. Through MƒA and other professional organizations, he has mentored teachers, facilitated professional learning, and presented at conferences on culturally responsive STEM practices, educational technology integration, and gamification strategies to increase student engagement in science classrooms. Dr. Julien earned a BS in chemical engineering from Columbia University and a MS in science education from Teachers College, Columbia University. He is a former Sloan Award recipient and Big Apple Award semi-finalist.
Dr. Julien represents the standard for Muller Award impact, demonstrating broad, varied, and meaningful influence across the STEM education field. This includes union leadership with the United Federation of Teachers, noteworthy and invaluable work with incarcerated youth, and helping to launch the first fully virtual high school in New York City, where students learn across the city using it as their classroom. This innovative model redefines and broadens the possibilities for strong teaching and learning. He has also authored a policy brief and continues to teach and mentor educators who are new to the profession, helping to strengthen the STEM teacher pipeline.
“Science education is more critical now than ever. In a world where misinformation spreads rapidly, students need the skills to distinguish fact from fiction and make informed decisions about issues that impact their lives and communities. Even if students do not pursue STEM careers, scientific literacy empowers them to think critically, ask questions, evaluate evidence, and participate thoughtfully in society. Helping students develop that understanding is one of the most important responsibilities we have as educators.
I am deeply grateful to Jim and Marilyn Simons, the Simons Foundation, and Peter and Jillian Muller for their extraordinary support of teachers and STEM education."
- MƒA Master Teacher Dr. Jude Julien
Gabe Rosenberg, 19-year MƒA Master Teacher
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Rosenberg is a Professor of Mathematics at Bard High School Early College-Manhattan. He has taught there since 2004 introducing courses on Finite Groups, Graph Theory, Knot Theory, Cryptology, Voting Theory, and a course he developed that uses some of math’s most beautiful theorems to bridge high school and college mathematics. He helped to write a popular high school curriculum with Illustrative Mathematics and is currently working with them on a version tailored to New York state standards.
For many years Rosenberg led professional development for teachers at the Park City Mathematics Institute and he has spoken on teaching mathematical proof at both CMC-South and NCTM. At MƒA, he has led mini-courses on Pascal’s Triangle as well as Graphs and Groups, his former area of mathematical research.
Rosenberg earned a BA in mathematics from Rice University and a Ph.D. in mathematics from Columbia University under Hyman Bass. He previously taught at City College of New York, Yale University, and Columbia University. This summer he will again be teaching at Camp Sierpiński, a National Math Camp for advanced 11-14 year olds.
Rosenberg has contributed directly and substantively to the current Illustrative Mathematics curriculum and has provided meaningful support to teachers through the Park City Mathematics Institute. His nomination highlights substantive impact that extends beyond the local level, including the development of Mathematics teaching and learning tools with the potential for national influence. He has a rare ability to bring mathematicians and pedagogical experts together in productive and meaningful collaboration.
“We do a disservice to our students when we pretend math boils down to a bunch of formulas and rules to be memorized. Mathematics is a beautiful subject, universally studied throughout human history, that is all about coming up with creative solutions to interesting puzzles. As teachers, we must remember to allow and encourage students to explore that beauty. They will become better thinkers, problem solvers, and human beings through that endeavor.
I am so honored to be receiving the MfA Muller Award and am incredibly grateful to MfA for all of the opportunities and support it has provided me to go out and have an impact beyond my school."
- MƒA Master Teacher Gabe Rosenberg
An external committee selected the finalists for the award by considering the nominees’ contributions to the math or science teaching profession, including their ability to have a positive impact within their school community and drive change outside of their own classroom, leadership within the broader teaching community, and influence on inspiring other teachers to stay in the profession. A committee of the MƒA Board of Directors and MƒA President Maria Klawe chose the two winners, one in math and one in science.
The external committee is also comprised of experts in mathematics and science education, including:
- Sylvain Cappell, Professor of Mathematics, Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, NYU
- Jeanne Garbarino, Executive Director of Science Outreach, Rockefeller University
- Po-Shen Loh, Professor of Mathematics, Carnegie Mellon University
- Latasha Wright, Executive Scientific Officer, BioBus
The MƒA Muller Award for Professional Influence in Education is awarded annually to two teachers, in math and science, who have taken a prominent role as leaders among the MƒA teacher community and beyond. Read more about the award and past winners here.
At MƒA, we’ve created fellowships for accomplished mathematics and science teachers. Our model is based on the belief that collaboration, continued learning, and genuine respect enables teachers to grow professionally and provides long-term career satisfaction. This is a remarkable community of teachers who stay in the profession longer and define what teaching excellence means. These are teachers who inspire and motivate their colleagues. They change the lives of their students.