Newsmaker: Diane Briars

Residence : Fox Chapel

Family : Husband, James Staszewski

Occupation : Briars is a mathematics education consultant and president of the National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics, a 3,000-member international organization. She is co-director of the Algebra Intensification Project, a joint venture of the Learning Science Research Institute, University of Illinois at Chicago and the Dana Center, University of Texas at Austin.

Education : Bachelor's degree and master's degree in mathematics and a doctorate in mathematics education, all from Northwestern University.

Background : Briars was the mathematics director for the Pittsburgh Public Schools with responsibilities for all aspects of the K-12 mathematics programs. She was a member of the National Commission on Mathematics and Science Teaching for the 21st Century. She is a former director of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

Noteworthy: Briars received the Outstanding Contributions to Mathematics Supervision award last month during the annual meeting of the Pennsylvania Council of Supervisors of Mathematics in Green Tree.

Quote : "I love being involved with mathematics education. My job is to help support teachers in increasing mathematics achievement. It's in all of our best interests to help all students understand and use mathematics."