Chicago High School Math Teacher Makes Hollywood Debut, Films Walk-On Role on CBS Show 'NUMB3RS'
CHICAGO, Sept. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Adding to the excitement of the back-to- school season, Oak Park and River Forest High School math teacher Sheila Hardin soon will make her Hollywood debut on the hit CBS TV show "NUMB3RS" thanks to her success in inspiring students to learn more about math and how it impacts their everyday lives.
Hardin won the role of a lifetime through a Texas Instruments and CBS Paramount Network sweepstakes, "Use 'NUMB3RS' Every Day for a Hollywood Get-Away." The sweepstakes was part of "We All Use Math Every Day(TM)," a mathematics education program developed by TI and CBS, in association with the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM). The program encourages teenagers to study and learn more about math and provides free classroom activities that help students explore the math derived from the concepts featured in the show.
Hardin will film her guest appearance in Hollywood on Sept. 7-9, 2006. The episode will air during season three of the series this fall.
Hardin's ninth grade student, Kevin Binder, nominated her for the prize and earned extra sweepstakes entries by answering additional math questions online. Hardin and Binder won grand prize trips to Hollywood with their families to tour the "NUMB3RS" filming location and meet the cast.
"I am inspired that Kevin has taken such an interest in 'NUMB3RS' through the 'We All Use Math Every Day' program that he completed the math activities on his own time," said Hardin, who teaches geometry and Advanced Placement calculus. "I hope that my experience will inspire all of my students to be excited about learning and applying math to their daily lives."
Thousands of educators across the nation are downloading the classroom activities from cbs.com/numb3rs each week and more than 32,000 have signed up for teacher kits, encouraging over three million students to become more engaged and interested in math.
"TI congratulates Sheila and Kevin for winning the sweepstakes, and more importantly, for inspiring students and educators to achieve more in math and learn how the subject prepares them to succeed in life," said Melendy Lovett, president, Educational and Productivity Solutions business, TI.
Educators can visit cbs.com/numb3rs to download the classroom activities; to sign up to receive a teacher kit which includes program information, activities, a classroom poster and bumper sticker; and to register for a weekly e-mail packed with classroom activities and exclusive insider information about the "We All Use Math Every Day" program. | 
