Rate My Professor Diane Barrett

Diane Barrett is a Professor of Education in the School of Education at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, part of the College of Arts and Sciences. She holds a B.S. from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona in 1990, an M.S. from the same institution in 1995, and a Ph.D. from Claremont Graduate University in 2004. Before joining academia, Barrett worked as a high school mathematics teacher for ten years. At UH Hilo, she teaches mathematics and science education courses to undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students pursuing teacher certification, and supports in-service teachers through the Master of Education program. She delivers professional development workshops for K-12 teachers on mathematics instruction aligned with Common Core State Standards. Barrett collaborated with UH Hilo colleagues to develop high school mathematics curricula for the state of Hawaiʻi, authoring course outlines for Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II; she led the geometry outline, which contributes to the state's high school exit exam. She has served as Director of the School of Education and currently advises students in the Master of Arts in Teaching program for the Secondary Education Track (Grades 6-12). In 2014, she was promoted to Professor of Education. Barrett has also participated in the Graduate Council from 2018 to 2021.

Barrett's research centers on mathematics education, encompassing inquiry-based methods in mathematics and science classrooms, pedagogical content knowledge, assessment practices, the effects of teacher collaboration on student achievement, and math anxiety. In 2010, she secured a $769,700 grant from the National Science Foundation for the Hawaiʻi Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program (HiNTS), the only such program in Hawaiʻi. HiNTS offers stipends, educational technology, professional development, and mentorship to aspiring secondary mathematics teachers targeting high-needs schools, with a focus on culturally responsive pedagogy for Hawaiʻi's diverse populations, including students of Hawaiian ancestry. Models from the program are disseminated nationally through conferences and publications. Her publications include "Effect of Experience-based School Learning Gardens Professional Development Workshop on Teachers' Attitudes toward Sustainability Education" (2013), "A qualitative inquiry: Teachers’ attitudes and willingness to engage in professional development experiences at different career stages" (2013), "Teachers' Evaluation of a Technology- and Scenario-Based Math Summit" (2012), and "Pedagogical Content Knowledge as a Foundation for an Interdisciplinary Graduate Program" (2009). During the COVID-19 transition to remote learning, she adapted hands-on mathematics instruction using sanitized manipulative kits and household items, maintaining student engagement in courses like ED 343.