Mark grew up in San Jose, California and taught mathematics in grades 6-12 in northern California public schools for six years, becoming a National Board Certified Teacher in Early Adolescence Mathematics in 1999. He earned his Ph.D. in Education from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill in 2005. His passion for education is fueled by the belief that all students are capable of making sense of foundational mathematical knowledge and that it is our responsibility as educators to support them in doing so. He was elected in 2010 to serve on the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Board of Directors from 2011-2014.Mark has taught mathematics education coursework for elementary and secondary teacher candidates and experienced teachers, earned over $3,000,000 in grants to support work with mathematics teacher development focusing on foundational mathematics, and made dozens of presentations about mathematics teaching and learning across the U.S. He has worked with teachers and school districts throughout southern California to support teachers in creating learning environments that engage learners in making sense of mathematics. In collaboration with Tara Barnhart and Leslee Milch, he has helped support National Board candidates (educators working toward documenting evidence of meeting the standards for National Board certification). In addition to two books, Understanding National Board Certification and Mathematics for Every Student: Responding to Diversity (Grades 6-8), Mark's publications have appeared in Mathematics Teacher, The Mathematics Educator, Teaching Children Mathematics, Professional School Counseling, Teachers College Record, Learning Environments Research, Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School, and The High School Journal.