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The National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics (NCSM) is an organization focused on providing a forum of networking and support for mathematics education leaders. The ultimate goal of NCSM is to move mathematics education forward to a level that ensures student success. Therefore, it is NCSM's vision to create a cadre of perceptive leaders of mathematics education, within the organization, who are well trained and broadly informed at all levels of mathematics. These mathematics leaders will exemplify a spirit of servitude and leadership roles that will move mathematics education to the forefront. As the Awards Chair for NCSM, I have the distinct honor of working with a committee to select individuals to receive the highest honor in math education leadership, the Ross Taylor/Glenn Gilbert National Leadership Award, which recognizes those who have made substantial contributions to this Great Spirit. In addition to recognizing these significant contributions, the Awards Chair's role also includes awarding grants to new members to attend the NCSM Annual Conference and experience the great benefits that this organization has to offer. As a former Iris Carl Grant recipient, I am a product of NCSM's position of encouraging and promoting the growth of leaders. I am honored to serve new members who will benefit from the contributions we make to the leaders that can affect the teachers that touch the everyday lives of math students. Truly, we are engaged in noble work with a vision to move our country forward.

NCSM honors Iris Carl, NCSM Past President, Glenn Gilbert Awardee, and International Leader, through the NCSM Iris Carl Grant. This grant gives support to mathematics educators and future leaders in mathematics education to attend an NCSM Annual Conference, thus supporting the NCSM vision of a cadre of well trained, broadly informed and perceptive leaders of mathematics education at all levels. NCSM cares greatly about young members and is very open to tapping them to serve in various capacities to bring new growth to the organization.

As an Iris Carl Grantee in 2007, I am testament of the fruits of the Iris Carl Grant and the NCSM philosophy. I have had great mentors during my career to encourage me to be an active member of the math organizations at the national level. While a mathematics specialist at the Education Service Center in Region 2 in Corpus Christi, Texas serving 47 school districts in the mid 1980's, it was Iris Carl who first introduced me to the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. It was during Iris Carl's NCTM presidency (1990-1992) that Iris Carl nominated me to serve on two national committees, Reaching All Learners (1991) and Comprehensive Mathematics Education for Every Child (1992-1994). While I stayed as a member of NCTM, both ESC 2 and my current employer, the Harris County Department of Education, had a policy of no travel for out-of-state conferences. Then another NCSM member, whom I met at these committees, Kay Gilliland (NCSM Past President and Newsletter Editor) encouraged me to join NCSM. I later applied for and received the Iris Carl Grant to attend my first national conference in 2007. Miriam Leiva, an NCSM Glenn Gilbert Awardee, also encouraged me to become an active member. I then served on the TODOS Board, an affiliate of NCTM, from 2007-2010. I've always had great people and mentors to encourage me to serve. Now, Suzanne Mitchell, current President of NCSM and I served as Board members for a number of years for the Southwest Education Laboratory's SCIMAST project-a five State Math/Science Consortium. I was very honored when she asked me to be an appointed member of her team. It is indeed a privilege and a pleasure to come full circle with Iris Carl and be the Awards Chair of NCSM for the next two years. It is indeed the best organization for leaders of all levels in mathematics education.