The Graduate Teaching Fellows in K-12 Education (GK-12) Program provides funding to graduate students in STEM disciplines to acquire additional skills to prepare them for professional and scientific careers in the 21st century. NSF developed the GK-12 program recognizing that in addition to being competent researchers, STEM graduate students must be able to communicate science and research to a variety of audiences. To support this goal, the program supports GK-12 Fellows, who develop enhanced communication and teaching skills working alongside high school teachers in the classroom up to 10 hours per week. The graduate students are expected to also inspire broad based scientific discussion in the K-12 learning environments and stimulate interest in science and engineering among the students.