Who developed Math-a-Minuteİ? Frustrated by trying to teach math facts as group instruction, Neal Kirby (then a 3rd grade teacher) developed Math-a-Minuteİ to individually teach students. Kirby has implemented the program in four buildings over the past 20 years, each time watching math scores spike up after MAMİ implementation. Kirby received a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from the University of Washington in 1977 where he focused on early childhood development. He also received his teaching certificate at that time. In 1987, Kirby received his Masters in Education Administration at the University of Washington along with his principal's certificate.

Teaching 3rd grade for five years in Oroville, Washington, Kirby was promoted to be the Federal Projects Director and ran the Title, Migrant, and ESL programs for another four years. Kirby began his principal's career in Inchelium, Washington, at a K-12 school on the Colville Indian Reservation where he worked for four years.

Kirby was principal at Centralia Middle School for eight years in Centralia, Washington. Kirby is now principal at Edison Elementary in Centralia where he is in his fifth year. While at the middle school, Kirby's Math-a-Minute program was recognized by the Washington State Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

Kirby has had a wide range of other interests including being appointed a state representative during the 1990 Washington State legislative session. Prior to that, he led the effort to bring school levy equalization funding into law for the benefit of property poor school districts which have received over $1 billion since enactment of the law in 1987. He is the father of two sons, who as of 2004, are sophomores, one in high school and one in college.