NEWTON, MA | May 4, 2010
For his contributions to mathematics education over four decades, Mark Driscoll of Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC), has been awarded the Ross Taylor/Glenn Gilbert National Leadership Award from the National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics (NCSM). Driscoll received the award last month at the annual NCSM conference in San Diego.
In nominating him for the award, Driscoll’s longtime EDC colleagues cited his work to improve mathematics achievement for urban students—both by influencing curriculum, instruction, and assessment in the classroom and by improving communication among students, teachers, and administrators to spur program improvement. Colleagues describe Driscoll as “curious about how others see the world, interested in expanding his own thinking, and sure there is something of value to learn from each other’s work…genuinely collaborative, and a role model for how educators in pursuit of a common goal could act—with deep respect, humility, and appreciation for one another.”
Driscoll, who has spent 25 years at EDC, began his career in St. Louis as a math teacher while completing his PhD in differential geometry at Washington University. Highlights of his career include publication of Research within Reach, a series of books that summarized research in response to practitioners’ questions about mathematics teaching and learning; his technical assistance to the Urban Mathematics Collaboratives, school-business-university partnerships in 16 U.S. cities; the development of Fostering Algebraic Thinking and its accompanying toolkit for teachers; and creation of a coaching institute to help math coaches hone their leadership skills.
“Mark Driscoll’s work at EDC and his many contributions to the field have distinguished him among his colleagues here and across the country,” said EDC President and CEO Luther Luedtke. “This is indeed well-deserved recognition.”
NCSM received more than a dozen letters in support of Driscoll’s nomination, in which he was cited as “ahead of the curve” in identifying and tackling important issues in math education. Said one, “Mark Driscoll is an exemplary mathematics education leader who has had a far-reaching influence on individuals within and outside of mathematics education.” Another called him a “rock star of the mathematics education world.”
Driscoll currently directs an EDC research project in 30 cities, funded by the National Science Foundation and focused on strengthening mathematics learning for students who are English language learners.
Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC) is a global nonprofit organization that addresses some of the world’s most urgent challenges in education, health, and economic development. EDC manages 350 projects in 35 countries. Visit www.edc.org.
