By the 'NUMB3RS': FVCC instructor is consultant for a new CBS drama

How did a mild-mannered, community college math instructor get involved with a prime-time, crime-solving CBS drama?

How did a mild-mannered, community college math instructor get involved with a prime-time, crime-solving CBS drama?

Flathead Valley Community College instructor Karen Longhart finds herself surprised at the turn of events.

Its amazing, the doors that have opened, she said.

Longharts passion for helping math teachers improve their methods started her down the path to Numb3rs, a CBS drama that airs at 9 p.m. Fridays on KCFW (Channel 8).

Math plays a key role in every episode, and viewers find the show engaging and exciting.

Its in its second season, she said. Last season, it was the most-watched Friday-night prime-time show.

Each week, FBI agent Don Eppes (Rob Morrow), tackles crimes with the assistance of his math whiz younger brother, Charlie (David Krumholtz), a college professor. Longhart was a fan of the show before she became a consultant.

What I like about the show is its not all blood and guts, she said. Plots often go into the college classroom it throws some humor into it.

Through a joint effort of CBS, the National Council of Teachers of Math and Texas Instruments, Longhart coordinates teams that create activities for teachers or parents to use each week in conjunction with the show.

The writers send us a synopsis of the math two to three weeks before the show airs, she said. But we arent told the plot.

For instance, this Fridays episode, Assassin, includes decrypting a message. Charlie recognizes the code as a cipher in which letters are substituted for other letters, keyed to a number.

Longhart and her teams came up with math activities, such as one called code cracker, that they hope tie directly to the mystery presented.

We always look forward to seeing how well we guessed, she said with a laugh. Most of our activities have nailed it.

Longhart was tapped to work on this education initiative through the National Council of Teachers of Math. She had traveled across the country for the organization, putting on development workshops for teachers.

Through her teacher education travels, she had earlier worked on a video production with WNET New York called Insights into Algebra I: Teaching for Learning.

It was just a fluke, she said. A fellow from PBS said, Do you want a job?

According to Longhart, the idea for the education project tied to Numb3rs came up at a conference for mathematics teachers she attended this spring in Anaheim, Calif. The stars of the series appeared at the conference.

The guy who plays Charlie walked right between me and my husband, she said.

Cathy Seeley, president of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, offered Longhart the coordinator position. The goal, she was told, was to show that everyone uses mathematics, not just a brilliant few.

Its meant to be an extra-credit activity to try to get kids enthusiastic about math, she said.

Longhart said the big challenge is always to bring the math down to the middle- and high-school levels.

Its not your traditional math at all, she said. Theres good math but done in a different way.

Longhart became well-versed in the classroom, teaching first at Columbia Falls High School and then at Flathead High School.

She began teaching part time at the community college in 2001. This fall, Longhart became a full-time instructor, teaching several courses, including mathematics for elementary-school teachers.

This is my real job, Longhart said as she sat in the campus cafeteria.

She said her prime-time consulting would pay well if it actually took only the 10 to 15 hours a week it was supposed to consume. Instead, she is working closer to 20 to 30 hours.

But its been fun, she said. Its such creative work.

Those interested in her teams creations may log on to www.nctm.org and click on Numb3rs activities in the lower left corner of the home page.

There are always resources so a student can pursue the topic at a higher level, she said. Were offering a whole range of activities.

Since Longhart got involved in the show, her mother has gotten hooked on the Friday night series.

She will call me and ask me, Do you understand whats written on the board? she said.

Longhart told her mom that some of the math is at such a high level that only about 10 people in the world would understand. Yet a whole lot of people keep tuning in each week.

They do a nice job of trying to explain the math theyre doing on the show, Longhart said.

Although she doesnt know how many hits are received at the CBS Numb3rs activities Web site, www.cbs.com/primetime/numb3rs/ti/, she has received many fan e-mails from teachers and others using episode-linked exercises.

All the glamour of rubbing elbows with network TV writers hasnt dimmed her enthusiasm for teaching at Flathead Valley Community College. Her passion remains exciting educators about teaching math.

Its so important, Longhart said. You have to go into the classroom with enthusiasm for math.

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com.